How to use a US IP address in Chrome without a VPN app

Quick terms first

An IP address is your internet address; websites use it to guess where you are. A proxy is a middleman server: your browser sends traffic through it, so websites see the proxy's address instead of yours. A VPN does something similar for your whole device and also encrypts the traffic.

Before you start: two things to know

• A proxy changes your address, not your security. Most proxies don't encrypt traffic like a VPN does. Sites with the padlock (HTTPS) are still encrypted between you and the site. On public Wi-Fi you're unsure about, stick to padlocked sites.
• Use it for your own stuff, within the rules. Reaching your own accounts and work tools from abroad is the common, legitimate reason. Don't use a different address to get around a service's terms or your employer's policies; it can get accounts closed.

Option 1: A proxy extension (easiest)

Chrome extensions can send just the browser's traffic through a proxy, and you flip a switch to turn it on and off. Popular general-purpose ones include FoxyProxy and ZeroOmega. Many proxy providers also offer their own extension; ours, IDNI Proxy Service, is free and works with other providers' proxies too.

How it works:

1. Get proxy details from a provider. You'll usually get an address, a port, a username and a password.
2. Install the extension from the Chrome Web Store.
3. Paste in the details and switch it on.
4. Check a "what is my IP" site to confirm you now show a US location.

Pros: Quick to set up. Only affects the browser, so your other apps stay on your normal connection. Easy to switch off for local sites.

Cons: Only covers that browser. Desktop apps like Outlook or Teams, and your phone, need their own setup. Only one extension can control Chrome's proxy at a time, so turn off others.

Edge users: Microsoft Edge can install extensions from the Chrome Web Store. Allow "extensions from other stores" when it asks. Step-by-step: browser setup guide.

Option 2: Windows or Mac proxy settings (covers more apps)

On Windows, Chrome and Edge use the system proxy settings by default. So if you set a proxy in Windows, your browser follows, and so do many other apps.

On Windows 10 or 11:

1. Open Settings, then Network & internet, then Proxy.
2. Under "Manual proxy setup," click Set up (or Edit).
3. Turn on "Use a proxy server," enter the proxy address and port, and save.
4. Open Chrome. If it asks, enter the proxy username and password.

On a Mac: System Settings, then Network, then your connection, then Details, then Proxies. Turn on "Web proxy (HTTP)" and "Secure web proxy (HTTPS)," enter the details, and save. Chrome on Mac follows these settings.

Full walkthroughs: Windows, Mac, and apps that ignore system settings.

Pros: Covers Chrome, Edge and many other apps at once.

Cons: Easy to forget it's on. Some apps ignore system proxy settings. Work laptops may lock these settings; if so, ask IT rather than fight it.

Option 3: Remote desktop to a computer in the US

If you have a computer that stays in the US (for example at the office, or with family), you can remote into it and use its browser. Websites see that computer's address.

Pros: Uses a US connection you already have. Works for any app on that computer.

Cons: The computer has to stay on and online; if the power goes out, you're stuck. It can feel laggy from far away, especially for video. Your company may have rules about remote desktop tools, so check first.

Option 4: Your own server in the US

Tech-savvy folks set up a small device on an internet line they control in the US (or at a family member's place) and route traffic through it, using tools like Tailscale or a router with a built-in VPN server.

Pros: The address belongs to an internet line you control. No monthly fee beyond the hardware and that line.

Cons: Setup takes real time. If the device or the internet line goes down while you're away, nobody may be there to fix it. Not ideal if you're not comfortable troubleshooting networks.

Which one should you choose?

• You just need a few websites: a proxy extension.
• You need the browser plus desktop apps: system proxy settings, or a remote desktop.
• You're technical and have a reliable spot in the US: your own server.
• You need full encryption on public Wi-Fi: that's a VPN's job. Some people use a VPN and a proxy for different things.

Tips that make any of these work better

• Keep the same address every day. Many sites are more relaxed with addresses they've seen before, while shared or rotating addresses can trigger more checks.
• Expect time zone prompts. If your clock says Tokyo and your address says Dallas, some sites ask for extra checks. That's normal.
• Check for WebRTC leaks. Browser video-call features can reveal your real network. Search "WebRTC leak test" with your proxy on.
• Use the HTTP port in Chrome. Chrome doesn't support SOCKS5 proxies that need a username and password, so if your provider offers both, use the HTTP port.
• Remember Incognito. Extensions don't run in Incognito unless you allow it in the extension's settings.

Where IDNI fits

Disclosure: IDNI is our product. We provide dedicated, static IP addresses in the US and 73 other countries. Each one is used by only one person and stays the same every day. Private Address is $10/month and Private Address Premium is $15/month (Premium is faster, better for video calls and work VPNs).

Our free extension, IDNI Proxy Service, is on the Chrome Web Store and works in Chrome and Edge, with IDNI or with other providers' proxies. With IDNI you paste one line from your welcome email, flip the switch, and a "Check it works" button shows the location websites see. It also points out big time zone differences. It's not Chrome-only: you can use your IDNI address in Windows proxy settings, on a Mac, iPhone, Android and other apps, with step-by-step setup guides.

The usual honest notes apply. It's a proxy, so no full encryption. It's an address we provide, not your own internet line. Some detection services flag proxy addresses, so we can't promise any particular site will accept it. If you'd like to test it on your own accounts, there's a free 3-day trial with no card needed (one per person, on a shared US trial address).