ProxyPal

Advanced proxy management with auto-switching rules

ProxyPal - Advanced Proxy Management Extension Overview ProxyPal is a powerful and feature-rich Chrome extension designed to give you complete control over your browser's proxy settings. Whether you're a developer testing geo-specific features, a privacy-conscious user managing your online footprint, or a professional navigating corporate network requirements, ProxyPal provides an intuitive and flexible solution for all your proxy management needs. Unlike basic proxy switchers, ProxyPal offers advanced automation capabilities, multiple profile types, intelligent rule-based switching, and a modern, user-friendly interface. With support for HTTP, HTTPS, SOCKS4, and SOCKS5 protocols, PAC scripts, and sophisticated auto-switching rules, ProxyPal adapts to even the most complex network configurations. Key Features 🚀 Multiple Profile Types ProxyPal supports four distinct profile types to cover every use case: 1. Direct Connection Bypass all proxies and connect directly to the internet Perfect for local network access or when you need maximum speed Essential for troubleshooting connectivity issues 2. Proxy Server Configure individual proxy servers with full control Support for multiple protocols: HTTP, HTTPS, SOCKS4, SOCKS5 Optional authentication with username and password Specify custom host, port, and protocol for each profile Test and validate proxy configurations before applying 3. PAC Script (Proxy Auto-Configuration) Use remote PAC script URLs for centralized configuration management Write custom PAC scripts with JavaScript for complex routing logic Perfect for enterprise environments with existing PAC infrastructure Full support for standard PAC functions like FindProxyForURL() Inline PAC script editor with syntax support 4. Auto-Switch Create intelligent rules that automatically switch proxies based on URLs Define multiple conditions using wildcards, regex, or IP ranges Set fallback profiles for unmatched traffic Reorder rules with drag-and-drop priority management Perfect for accessing region-locked content or routing specific domains through dedicated proxies ⚡ Smart Auto-Switching Rules ProxyPal's auto-switching capabilities set it apart from simple proxy switchers. Create sophisticated routing rules based on: Host Wildcard Matching Match domains with wildcard patterns like *.example.com Perfect for routing entire domains or subdomains through specific proxies Simple syntax that's easy to understand and maintain URL Regular Expressions Use powerful regex patterns to match complex URL structures Match based on paths, query parameters, or any URL component Built-in regex tester to validate patterns before saving Ideal for advanced users who need precise control IP Range Matching Route traffic to specific IP ranges through designated proxies Use wildcard notation like 192.168.*.* for subnet matching Essential for corporate networks and VPN configurations Support for both IPv4 address patterns Rule Priority & Management Rules are evaluated from top to bottom Drag and drop to reorder rules and change priority Set a default profile for traffic that doesn't match any rule Visual rule list with condition and profile preview Edit or delete rules with a single click 🔒 Bypass List Management Take granular control over which destinations should bypass your proxy: Define hosts, domains, and IP addresses that should connect directly Support for multiple pattern formats: Exact hostnames: example.com Wildcard domains: *.local, 192.168.*.* IP addresses: 127.0.0.1, localhost CIDR notation: 10.0.0.0/8 Quick-add common bypass patterns with one click Perfect for excluding local network traffic from proxy routing Essential for VPN users who need split-tunneling functionality 🎨 Modern, Intuitive Interface ProxyPal features a beautiful, dark-themed "Cyber" interface that's both functional and visually appealing: Popup Interface Quick access to essential controls from any page Real-time status indicator showing active profile and connection state One-click profile switching without opening full settings Visual statistics showing profile count, rule count, and status Color-coded profiles for easy identification Current proxy information display (protocol, host, port) Full Settings Page Comprehensive configuration interface for advanced features Organized sections: Profiles, Rules, Bypass List, Import/Export, Settings Collapsible sections to focus on what matters Responsive design that works on any screen size Visual feedback for all actions with success/error notifications Visual Design Elements Cyber-themed dark mode with accent colors Smooth animations and transitions Color picker for profile customization Status badges and indicators Card-based layout for easy scanning Modern, clean typography 💾 Import & Export Settings Never lose your configuration with ProxyPal's backup and restore features: Export Capabilities Export all settings to a JSON file with one click Includes profiles, rules, bypass list, and preferences Timestamped filenames for easy version management Human-readable JSON format for manual editing if needed Import Options Restore settings from previously exported JSON files Upload files via file picker or paste JSON directly Validation to ensure data integrity before import Warning prompts to prevent accidental data loss Perfect for syncing settings across multiple machines or browsers Use Cases Backup configurations before making major changes Share proxy configurations with team members Migrate settings when switching computers Keep different configuration sets for different scenarios Disaster recovery and quick restoration 🌍 Multi-Language Support ProxyPal speaks your language with comprehensive internationalization: English (en) - Default language Русский (ru) - Russian Українська (uk) - Ukrainian Deutsch (de) - German Español (es) - Spanish Italiano (it) - Italian 日本語 (ja) - Japanese Português (pt_BR) - Brazilian Portuguese 简体中文 (zh_CN) - Simplified Chinese The extension automatically detects your browser language and displays the appropriate translation. All UI elements, notifications, and messages are fully localized. ⚙️ Customizable Settings Fine-tune ProxyPal's behavior to match your preferences: Notifications Optional notifications when switching profiles Desktop notifications with profile information Configurable notification behavior Status Badge Display active profile indicator on extension icon Visual confirmation of current proxy state Quick status check without opening popup Startup Behavior Remember last used profile Always start with direct connection Use a specific default profile Choose what works best for your workflow Appearance Dark (Cyber) theme - Modern, eye-friendly design Light theme - Traditional bright interface System default - Follow OS theme preferences Consistent design language across all pages How to Use ProxyPal Getting Started Install the Extension Install ProxyPal from the Chrome Web Store The extension icon will appear in your browser toolbar Click the icon to open the popup interface Create Your First Profile Click the Settings icon in the popup Navigate to the "Proxy Profiles" section Click "Add Profile" Fill in the profile details (name, type, configuration) Click "Create" to save Activate a Profile Open the ProxyPal popup Use the profile selector dropdown to choose your profile Toggle the main switch to enable proxy functionality The status indicator will show "Active" with a green dot Creating Different Profile Types Direct Connection Profile Type: Direct No additional configuration needed Use for bypassing all proxies HTTP/HTTPS Proxy Profile Type: Proxy Server Protocol: HTTP or HTTPS Host: proxy.example.com Port: 8080 Auth (optional): username and password Save and activate SOCKS Proxy Profile Type: Proxy Server Protocol: SOCKS4 or SOCKS5 Host: socks.example.com Port: 1080 Note: Chrome doesn't support SOCKS authentication via extensions For authenticated SOCKS, use without auth or switch to HTTP/HTTPS PAC Script Profile Type: PAC Script Option 1: Enter PAC URL (e.g., http://example.com/proxy.pac) Option 2: Write custom PAC script directly Example PAC script: function FindProxyForURL(url, host) { if (shExpMatch(host, "*.example.com")) { return "PROXY proxy.example.com:8080"; } return "DIRECT"; } Auto-Switch Profile Type: Auto Switch Set a default profile for unmatched traffic Add switching rules with conditions Configure which proxy to use for each rule Test with real URLs to verify behavior Managing Auto-Switch Rules Create Auto-Switch Profile Add a new profile with type "Auto Switch" Select a default profile (used when no rules match) Add Switching Rules Click "Add Rule" in the Auto Switch Rules section Choose rule type: Host Wildcard: *.github.com, *.google.* URL Regex: https://.*\.example\.com/api/.* IP Range: 192.168.*.*, 10.0.0.* Enter the pattern/condition Select which profile to use when this rule matches Save the rule Organize Rules Drag and drop rules to change priority order Rules at the top are evaluated first First matching rule wins Edit or delete rules as needed Test Your Rules Use the regex tester for complex patterns Visit websites to verify correct proxy selection Check browser network tools to confirm proxy usage Adjust rules based on actual behavior Configuring Bypass List Open Bypass List Settings Go to full settings page Navigate to "Bypass List" section Add Bypass Patterns Enter one pattern per line Supported formats: localhost - Exact hostname 127.0.0.1 - IP address *.local - Wildcard domain 192.168.*.* - IP range <local> - All local addresses Quick Add Common Patterns Click quick-add buttons for common patterns Automatically adds local network ranges Includes localhost and common private IPs Save Changes Click "Save Changes" to apply Bypass list affects all proxy profiles Direct connections ignore bypass list Advanced Features Profile Color Coding Assign unique colors to profiles for quick visual identification: Each profile can have a custom color Colors appear in dropdowns and profile lists Use color picker or enter hex codes manually Makes switching between many profiles easier Authentication Support ProxyPal handles proxy authentication securely: Username and password stored locally Encrypted storage using Chrome's built-in security Per-profile authentication settings Important: SOCKS proxies don't support authentication through Chrome extensions HTTP/HTTPS proxies fully support authentication Network Performance ProxyPal is designed for minimal performance impact: Efficient PAC script generation No unnecessary background processes Direct Chrome proxy API integration No external dependencies or tracking Lightweight footprint (~500KB total) Privacy & Security Your privacy and security are paramount: No data collection: ProxyPal doesn't collect or transmit any user data Local storage only: All settings stored locally in Chrome No external servers: No communication with external services No tracking: No analytics, no telemetry, no cookies Open source: Code is transparent and auditable Minimal permissions: Only requests necessary Chrome APIs Secure authentication: Credentials encrypted by Chrome's storage API Technical Details Supported Protocols HTTP - Standard HTTP proxy (port typically 8080, 3128) HTTPS - Encrypted HTTP proxy (port typically 8080, 3128) SOCKS4 - SOCKS version 4 protocol (port typically 1080) SOCKS5 - SOCKS version 5 protocol (port typically 1080) Chrome API Integration ProxyPal uses official Chrome Extension APIs: chrome.proxy - Proxy configuration management chrome.storage - Local data persistence chrome.notifications - User notifications chrome.i18n - Internationalization chrome.runtime - Extension lifecycle chrome.webRequest - URL pattern matching (for auto-switch) PAC Script Generation Auto-switch profiles generate optimized PAC scripts: Efficient JavaScript code generation Minimal regex usage for better performance Fallback handling for unmatched requests Support for bypass list integration Standard PAC function compatibility Browser Compatibility Chrome: Fully supported (version 88+) Chromium: Fully supported Edge: Fully supported (Chromium-based) Brave: Fully supported Opera: Fully supported (Chromium-based) Firefox: Not supported (different API) Frequently Asked Questions Q: Why isn't my SOCKS proxy with authentication working? A: Chrome's extension API has a limitation - it doesn't support authentication for SOCKS proxies. This is a Chrome/Chromium restriction, not a ProxyPal limitation. Solutions: Use SOCKS without authentication Switch to HTTP/HTTPS proxy which fully supports authentication Use system-level SOCKS proxy configuration instead Q: Can I use multiple proxies simultaneously? A: Chrome allows only one active proxy configuration at a time. However, you can: Use auto-switch profiles to route different domains through different proxies Use PAC scripts for complex multi-proxy routing Quickly switch between profiles as needed Q: Will ProxyPal slow down my browsing? A: ProxyPal itself adds negligible overhead. The extension uses efficient Chrome APIs and generates optimized PAC scripts. Any speed impact comes from the proxy server itself, not from ProxyPal. Q: How do I know which proxy is being used? A: Multiple ways: Check the popup - shows current profile and proxy details Look at the extension icon badge (if enabled) Use browser DevTools Network tab - shows connection details Websites like "whatismyip.com" show your effective IP address Q: Can I share my proxy configuration with colleagues? A: Yes! Use the Import/Export feature: Export your settings to a JSON file Share the file via email, cloud storage, etc. Colleagues import the file to get identical configuration Perfect for team standardization Q: What happens if I delete the default profile? A: ProxyPal prevents deleting critical profiles. You cannot delete: The currently active profile The default "Direct" profile (if it exists) Edit the profile or switch to another one first, then delete Q: Does ProxyPal work with VPNs? A: Yes, but understanding the interaction is important: Proxies are application-level (browser only) VPNs are system-level (all network traffic) If both are active, traffic typically goes: Browser → Proxy → VPN → Internet Use bypass list to exclude VPN addresses from proxying Q: Can I use ProxyPal for business/commercial purposes? A: Yes! ProxyPal is free to use for both personal and commercial purposes. No licensing restrictions apply. Q: How often is ProxyPal updated? A: We actively maintain ProxyPal with: Regular security updates Bug fixes as reported New features based on user feedback Chrome API compatibility updates