Auto configuration and auto proxy problems with Internet Explorer 11

Caution

Update: The retired, out-of-support Internet Explorer 11 desktop application has been permanently disabled through a Microsoft Edge update on certain versions of Windows 10. For more information, see Internet Explorer 11 desktop app retirement FAQ.

You might experience some problems using automatic configuration and auto-proxy with Internet Explorer 11.

Branding changes aren't distributed using automatic configuration

If you've turned on the Disable external branding of Internet Explorer Group Policy Object, you won't be able to use automatic configuration to distribute your branding changes to your users' computers. When this object is turned on, it prevents the branding of IE by a non-Microsoft company or entity, such as an Internet service provider or Internet content provider. For more information about automatic configuration, see Auto configuration settings for Internet Explorer 11 and Use the Automatic Configuration page in the IEAK 11 Wizard. For more information about Group Policy settings, see Group policy objects and Internet Explorer 11 (IE11).

Proxy server setup issues

If you experience issues while setting up your proxy server, you can try these troubleshooting steps:

  • Check to make sure the proxy server address is right.

  • Check that both Automatically detect settings and Automatic configuration are turned on in the browser.

  • Check that the browser is pointing to the right automatic configuration script location.

    To check your proxy server address

  1. On the Tools menu, click Internet Options, and then Connections.

  2. Click Settings or LAN Settings, and then look at your proxy server address.

  3. If you have multiple proxy servers, click Advanced to look at all of the additional addresses.

    Note
    If IE11 uses a proxy server for local IP addresses, regardless whether you turned on the Bypass Proxy Server for Local Addresses option, see Internet Explorer Uses Proxy Server for Local IP Address Even if the "Bypass Proxy Server for Local Addresses" Option Is Turned On.

    To check that you've turned on the correct settings

  4. On the Tools menu, click Internet Options, and then click Connections.

  5. Click Settings or LAN Settings.

  6. In the Automatic configuration area, check that you've clicked the Automatically detect settings box. If you've turned on automatic configuration, check to make sure that you've also clicked the Use automatic configuration script box.

    Note
    If at this point everything is set up correctly, but the proxy server still isn't behaving properly, click the Detect my network settings box in the Error dialog box to try to detect the proxy server, again.

    To check that you're pointing to the correct automatic configuration script location

  7. On the Tools menu, click Internet Options, and then click Connections.

  8. Click Settings or LAN Settings.

  9. In the Automatic configuration area, check that you've chosen the Use automatic configuration script box, and that it has the correct location to your automatic configuration script or for your automatic proxy URL.