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Proxies: your first request

Start with your account key and some proxy credit. Your website password and general account credit are different from proxy credentials and the proxy balance.

The guide below starts with Standard over HTTP. Use the existing Proxies dashboard to find your credentials and check access. Sign in and verify your email when prompted.

  1. 1

    Copy and run

    Run this example in your terminal. Replace YOUR_PROXY_KEY with your account key.

    Open my proxy setup
    curl --silent --show-error --fail --max-time 30 \
      --proxy 'http://YOUR_PROXY_KEY:standard@proxy.privatebyte.com:3128' \
      'https://api.ipify.org?format=json'
    Replace YOUR_PROXY_KEY with your own account key.

    Requires cURL. Running uses a small amount of proxy credit. Copying sends no request.

    Connection details & options
    HTTP proxy
    proxy.privatebyte.com:3128
    Username
    YOUR_PROXY_KEY
    Example tier
    Standard $2.50/GB · paid from your proxy balance
  2. 2

    Check the response

    Illustrative responseJSON
    { "ip": "203.0.113.42" }

    Example only. Your response shows the proxy’s exit IP.

    Look for an IP in the response, then try your own target before scaling up.

    Need help?
    Credentials rejected

    Copy the account key exactly. Use it as the proxy username and the generated tier settings as the proxy password. Do not use your website password. Check connection format

    No proxy credit or access

    Check your proxy balance, not just account credit. Confirm the top-up or eligible trial is available before retrying. Open Proxies or read about proxy credit.

    Timeout or cannot connect

    Check the host, port, client proxy settings, DNS and local firewall. This HTTP example uses port 3128. SOCKS5 clients use port 1080 and different configuration. Protocol guide

    The target website refuses the request

    Try this IP-check endpoint first. If it works, your destination may be restricting the request. Screening does not guarantee target access. Review the target, your client and the tier limits. Acceptable-use policy

    Still stuck? Open a support ticket without sharing your key.

Try your next connection.

Free proxy credit for eligible new proxy users. No card required. Review the amount and conditions before claiming.

Get free proxy credit →

Explore proxy tiers and paid credit

Related

Proxy connection format and tiersWhat goes in the username and password, and what each tier is for.Using SOCKS5Port 1080, the same credentials, and the two things SOCKS5 cannot do.Sticky sessionsKeep the same IP across requests, for logins and multi-step flows.

Still stuck? Open a ticket — tell us what was missing and the article gets fixed.

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