Overview
Residential proxies are powerful tools that route your internet traffic through IP addresses assigned by Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to homeowners. This comprehensive guide explains:
How residential proxies work
Their rotation patterns
Supported protocols
How to set them up for various applications, including browsing, gaming, and specialized software
Types of Residential Proxies and Their Rotation Patterns
Rotating vs. Sticky Sessions
Residential proxies offer two primary session types:
1. Rotating Session
Changes your IP address with every new connection request, including:
✅ Refreshing a webpage
✅ Navigating to a different page
✅ Performing actions requiring server communication
✅ Any activity sending new request headers to servers
2. Sticky Session
Maintains the same IP address for a set period:
Set session duration in minutes up to a maximum of 24 hours (1440 minutes) in the proxy builder or by manually editing the TTL field of the connection string.
Protocol Support
Available Protocols
Our residential proxies support multiple protocols:
HTTP/HTTPS: Standard web browsing protocols
SOCKS5: More versatile protocol for various applications
UDP Support
❌ Rotating residential proxies do NOT support UDP
✅ Only static residential proxies support UDP traffic
UDP is required for:
Gaming
VoIP (Voice over IP)
Certain streaming applications
UDP support is only available through the SOCKS5 protocol.
Setting Up Residential Proxies
General Setup Process
1️⃣ Access Your Proxy Dashboard
Log in to your account
Navigate to the dashboard of the proxy network you have an active plan for.
2️⃣ Generate Your Proxy
Choose your user (for rotating proxies)
Select your desired protocol (HTTP/HTTPS or SOCKS5)
Choose between rotating or sticky session
Select your desired location (if available)
Generate the proxy credentials
3️⃣ Configure Your Application
Enter the proxy server hostname and port
Input authentication details if required
Select the appropriate protocol
For Gaming Applications
Ensure you're using static residential proxies with UDP support
Configure your application to use the SOCKS5 protocol
Enter your proxy credentials and connection details
Test the connection to verify proper functionality
Important Limitations and Considerations
WebSocket Port Limitations
Proxiware proxies support WebSocket connections only on standard ports:
✅ Port 443 (HTTPS)
✅ Port 80 (HTTP)
❌ Connections to WebSocket servers using non-standard ports (e.g., 4650) will fail
❌ Proxies cannot be used for email-related ports to prevent spam and abuse (e.g., 25)
IP Format Requirements
Some applications require proxies in IP:Port format (e.g., 180.110.5.30:2222) instead of hostname:port format.
To convert:
1️⃣ Obtain the hostname of your proxy
2️⃣ Use a hostname-to-IP conversion tool
3️⃣ Replace the hostname with the IP address, keeping the port number
ISP Coverage
Static proxies come from a dynamic pool of ISPs based on availability.
US-based proxies typically include major providers like AT&T and Comcast.
Specific ISP selection is not available.
Troubleshooting Tips
Connection Issues
🛠️ Steps to fix common connection issues:
✅ Verify proxy credentials are entered correctly.
✅ Check if your subscription is active.
✅ Ensure you're using the correct port numbers.
✅ For WebSocket issues, verify you're using standard ports (80/443).
Protocol-Specific Problems
🔹 UDP connections failing? Verify you're using static residential proxies with SOCKS5.
🔹 Gaming applications? Ensure your proxy supports UDP protocol.
🔹 App rejecting the proxy? Try converting hostname to IP format.
Performance Considerations
⚡ Residential proxies provide better anonymity but might be slower due to varied connections.
🔄 Sticky sessions offer longer connections up to 24 hours (1440 minutes)
🌍 Geolocation matters – select proxies geographically closer to the servers you’re connecting to for faster speeds.