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Distribute a Proxy Auto Configuration File URL to Web Browsers

You can use the Group Policy Management Console to create a new Group Policy Object for distributing a proxy auto configuration file URL to the Microsoft Windows devices in your organization.

To access Group Policy Management Console from a Microsoft Windows server core, you need a Microsoft Windows computer (Professional, Enterprise, Education or Ultimate editions only) that has Remote Server Administration Tools.

Note:

Ensure that your Microsoft Windows computer is compatible with your Microsoft Server version and has the appropriate administrative permissions on your domain.

On a Microsoft Windows server with Desktop Experience, the Global Policy Management Console is already installed.

When you configure Internet Explorer to use a proxy auto configuration file, web browsers such as Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, and Opera use the same configuration. These procedures apply to all web browsers except Mozilla Firefox.

Create a Group Policy Object

  1. Open the Group Policy Management Console.
  2. In the Group Policy management tree, navigate to the forest, domain or organizational unit to which you are applying the Group Policy Object.
  3. Right-click the forest, domain or organizational unit, and select Create a GPO in this domain, and Link it here.

    The New GPO window opens.

  4. In the New GPO window, enter a name for the Group Policy Object.
    Leave the Source Starter GPO field blank.
  5. Right-click the new Group Policy Object, and select the following:

    • Enforced

    • Link Enabled

  6. Click OK.

Distribute the Proxy Auto Configuration File URL

You can use the Group Policy Results wizard to verify the policy settings of the users or computers in the domain.

  1. Open the Group Policy Management Console.
  2. Navigate to the domain or organizational unit to which you applied the Group Policy Object and expand it.
  3. Right-click the newly created Group Policy Object, and select Edit.
  4. Select User Configuration>Preferences> Control Panel Settings.
  5. Right-click Internet Settings, and select New>Internet Explorer 10.
  6. On the Connections tab, click LAN settings.
  7. Enter the proxy auto configuration file URL in the Address field.

    If you see a red dotted line in the Address field, place your cursor in the text box, and press the F6 function key. This enables the field which is indicated by a solid green line.

  8. Click OK.
  9. Optional: If you want to apply the Group Policy Object to the entire computer irrespective of the signed in user, do the following:
    1. Select Computer Configuration>Policies>Administrative Templates>Windows Components >Internet Explorer in the Global Policy Management Console.
    2. From the Internet Explorer folder, double-click Make proxy settings per-machine (rather than per-user).

      The Make proxy settings per-machine (rather than per-user) window opens.

    3. Under Make proxy settings per-machine (rather than per-user), select Enabled.
    4. Click OK.

Update Organization Group Policy

  1. Open the Microsoft Wndows command prompt.
  2. Run the following command to update the group policy: gpupdate or gpupdate /force

Verify the Proxy Auto Configuration File URL Distribution

  1. Log in to the Microsoft Windows user computer using the domain login.
  2. Open Internet Explorer.
  3. Click Settings > Connections > LAN Settings.
  4. Check that the Address field contains the proxy auto configuration file URL.
  5. If the Address field does not contain the proxy auto configuration file URL, the group policy might not be updated. Do the following to update the policy:
    1. Open the command prompt, and run the following command to update the group policy: gpupdate or gpupdate /force