Setting Up Residential Proxies on ChromeOS
ChromeOS doesn't have "dedicated apps" for most residential proxy providers like you might see on Windows or macOS — it's more lightweight and browser-focused. However, the good news is that you can configure proxies directly in the system settings or via Chrome browser extensions, and this works with the vast majority of residential proxy services (e.g., Oxylabs, ProxyEmpire, Webshare, NetNut, LunaProxy, or IP2World). These providers give you HTTP/SOCKS5 proxy details (IP

ort, username/password), which you plug in — no special "ChromeOS version" needed.
Here's a quick step-by-step to set it up on your Chromebook:
- Get your proxy details: Sign up for a residential proxy service (most offer free trials or cheap starter plans). You'll get something like proxy.provider.com:12345 with auth credentials.
- System-wide setup (affects all apps/browser):
- Click the time in the bottom-right corner > Wi-Fi icon > Settings (gear icon next to your network).
- Scroll to "Proxy settings" > Open your computer's proxy settings.
- Choose "Manual proxy configuration."
- Enter your proxy IP and port for HTTP/HTTPS (or SOCKS for SOCKS5).
- Add username/password if required.
- Save and test by browsing a site like whatismyipaddress.com — it should show the proxy IP.
- Browser-only (via extension, easier for testing):
- Go to the Chrome Web Store (chromewebstore.google.com) > Search "Proxy SwitchyOmega" or "FoxyProxy" (both free, highly rated for managing proxies).
- Install > Open the extension > Add a new profile with your proxy details.
- Toggle it on for specific sites or all traffic.
This should cover 99% of residential proxies without issues. If your provider uses authenticated proxies, ChromeOS supports them for browser traffic but not always for Android apps — stick to browser use if that's a problem. Test with a free tier from Webshare or ProxyEmpire to start.
Using Your iPhone Hotspot with a Proxy on Phone
Yes, this can absolutely work just as well (or even better, since your phone's cellular IP is already "residential" by nature — it's a real mobile connection, harder to block than datacenter IPs). The key is running the proxy/VPN
on your iPhone first, which routes your phone's traffic through the proxy. Then, enable Personal Hotspot — your Chromebook connects to the hotspot and inherits the proxied connection (no extra config needed on the laptop).
Since the Chromebook has never been on your home internet, this avoids any IP history linking it to you, which is smart for privacy.
Steps to Set It Up:
- Run proxy on iPhone (more on apps below — pick one that supports global proxy/VPN config).
- Verify it's working: On iPhone, check whatismyipaddress.com in Safari. It should show the proxy IP, not your cellular one.
- Enable hotspot:
- Go to Settings > Personal Hotspot > Allow Others to Join (toggle on). Set a strong password if not already.
- (Pro tip: In Personal Hotspot settings, toggle "Maximize Compatibility" to 2.4GHz Wi-Fi — helps with Chromebook connections if you hit snags.)
- Connect Chromebook:
- Bottom-right time > Wi-Fi > Select your iPhone's hotspot name > Enter password > Connect.
- Boom — your laptop's traffic now flows through iPhone > Proxy > Internet. Test IP on the Chromebook to confirm.
Data usage: This chews through mobile data, so monitor it (Settings > Cellular on iPhone). Speeds depend on your carrier/signal, but residential proxies are usually fast enough for browsing/scraping. If the proxy is slow, it'll bottleneck everything.
Potential gotchas: Some carriers limit hotspot data or throttle it — check yours. Also, if the proxy app uses iOS's VPN API, it might conflict with hotspot; test and toggle if needed.
Easier Proxy Apps for iPhone
Sorry the ones I (or someone) listed before didn't click — iOS is picky with App Store rules, so many good ones are either paid, require config, or aren't "plug-and-play." You might not be doing anything dumb; some need manual proxy URL entry or iOS 17+. Here's my top recs for 2025, focused on ease for residential proxies (SOCKS5/HTTP support). I prioritized free trials, simple setup, and hotspot compatibility. All are on the App Store unless noted.
App Name | Why It's Great | Setup Ease | Price | Proxy Type Support | Hotspot-Friendly? | Download Notes |
---|
VPN - Super Unlimited Proxy | Dead-simple one-tap connect, unlimited free tier with 5K+ servers (many residential-like). Great for beginners — auto-selects fast proxies. | Super easy (no manual config) | Free (premium $4.99/mo for more locations) | HTTP/SOCKS5, rotating residential | Yes — routes all traffic, shares via hotspot seamlessly. | Search "VPN Super" in App Store; 1B+ downloads, 4.7 stars. |
Shadowrocket | Power user fave for custom residential proxies. Add your provider's details once, then toggle. Fast, low battery drain. | Medium (paste IP ort/auth) | $2.99 one-time | Full SOCKS5/HTTP, unlimited sessions | Yes, but test VPN mode for sharing. | Direct App Store; if it's not showing, search "Shadowrocket" (sometimes region-locked — use US store if needed). |
Super Proxy | Tunnels all apps (including hotspot) through your proxy. Perfect for your setup — bypasses restrictions like college networks. | Easy (enter proxy details, auto-VPN) | Free (in-app $1.99 for extras) | HTTP/SOCKS5, custom servers | Explicitly yes — designed for sharing proxied connections. | Newer app (2024), 4.5 stars; search "Super Proxy Tunnel." |
X-VPN | Free unlimited with 700K+ reviews. Quick proxy switching, military-grade encryption. Good for streaming/browsing. | Very easy (server list + connect) | Free (premium $3.99/mo) | Rotating residential, SOCKS5 | Yes — global routing works with hotspot. | Search "X-VPN"; avoid ads by going premium trial. |
Proxyman (for debugging/advanced) | If you need to inspect traffic (e.g., why a proxy fails), this captures everything locally. Not for casual use. | Medium (setup like Charles Proxy) | $49/year (free trial) | HTTP/HTTPS full capture | Yes, but more for testing than daily proxying. | App Store; iPad-optimized too. |
Start with
VPN - Super Unlimited Proxy — it's the least fiddly and has a 7-day premium trial. If you need raw residential from a provider (e.g., Oxylabs), go Shadowrocket: Open app > Add Server > Paste socks5://ip

ort?user=xxx&pass=yyy > Save > Connect.
If none install (e.g., region issues), try creating a free Apple ID in the US store temporarily. For troubleshooting: Restart phone, ensure iOS 18+, and check proxy provider docs for iOS tips.
Hit me up if you need screenshots/steps for a specific app or provider — happy to refine! This should get you rolling for the week.