Why Chrome Asks for Proxy Authentication on First Launch

Google Chrome Proxy Authentication Window on First Launch

When Google Chrome is first launched after system startup, a proxy server authentication window appears because the browser checks system proxy settings during initialization and detects a server requiring authentication. This only happens on the first launch in a session, as after successful login, authentication data is cached in browser memory until it’s completely closed.

Table of Contents

• Main reasons for authentication prompts
• Finding the source of the popup
• Removing the source of the popup
• System or software component?
• Practical solutions to the problem
• Preventive measures

Main reasons for authentication prompts

The proxy server authentication window on Chrome’s first launch occurs for several key reasons:

System proxy settings check - Chrome automatically checks system proxy settings on startup, which may be configured at the operating system level. If a proxy server requiring authentication is detected, the browser requests credentials.

As explained by authors on Stack Overflow, Chrome more frequently requests proxy authentication compared to Internet Explorer due to differences in handling system settings.

Browser extensions that modify proxy - Many extensions (for example, VPN services, proxy managers) automatically configure proxy servers when the browser starts. FoxyProxy and similar extensions can cause authentication windows to appear.

Chrome command line and policies - If Chrome is launched with proxy parameters via command line or through group policies, this can cause authentication requests during initialization.

Difference in behavior on first launch - On first launch in a session, Chrome performs a full check of all network settings, including proxy, while subsequent launches within the same session use already cached settings.

Finding the source of the popup

To find the source of the proxy authentication window, follow these steps:

Checking system proxy settings

1. Open the network settings of the operating system:

   • Windows: Control Panel → Network and Internet → Internet Properties → “Connections” tab → “LAN settings”
   • macOS: System Preferences → Network → Proxy
   • Linux: Varies by distribution, usually “System Settings → Network”

2. Check if a proxy server with authentication requirement is configured at the system level.

Checking Chrome extensions

1. Open chrome://extensions/ in Chrome
2. Disable extensions one by one to identify which one is causing the authentication window to appear
3. Pay attention to VPN extensions, proxy managers, and network tools

Checking Chrome launch parameters

1. Find the Chrome shortcut on the desktop or in the Start menu
2. Right-click → “Properties”
3. In the “Target” field, check for the presence of --proxy-server= parameters

Checking system services

1. In Windows: Services.msc → look for services related to network proxies
2. In macOS: Launch Console and check system logs for proxy mentions

Removing the source of the popup

After identifying the source of the authentication window, you can take the following measures to eliminate it:

Removing system proxy settings

• Clear system proxy settings in the operating system
• Restart the system
• Launch Chrome - the authentication window should not appear

Removing problematic extensions

• In chrome://extensions/, remove extensions that manage proxy settings
• Restart Chrome
• If the problem is solved, it was the extension

Clearing launch parameters

• Remove --proxy-server= parameters from the Chrome shortcut
• Restart the browser

Using automatic authentication
For proxies requiring authentication, you can configure automatic credential entry:

// Example script for automatic proxy authentication
chrome.webRequest.onAuthRequired.addListener(
    function(details) {
        return {authCredentials: {username: 'your_username', password: 'your_password'}};
    },
    {urls: ["<all_urls>"]},
    ['blocking']
);

Configuring system proxy
If a proxy is needed but shouldn’t require a password each time:

• Configure a proxy without authentication
• Use a proxy that accepts anonymous connections
• Configure the proxy directly in Chrome via “Settings → Advanced → Network → Change proxy settings”

System or software component?

The proxy authentication window is a hybrid component that includes both system and software elements:

System components

• Operating system proxy settings
• Network stacks of Windows/macOS/Linux
• Network adapter drivers
• System network management services

Software components

• The web browser Chrome with its proxy handling mechanism
• Browser extensions that manage proxy settings
• External applications that modify system proxy settings
• Plugins and add-ons for working with proxies

Component interaction
The authentication window appears as a result of interaction between:

1. The system level where proxy settings are stored
2. The browser mechanism that reads these settings
3. Chrome’s network stack that makes requests through the proxy
4. The user interface displaying the authentication dialog

Practical solutions to the problem

For Windows users

1. Open “Control Panel” → “Network and Internet” → “Internet Properties”
2. Go to the “Connections” tab → “LAN settings”
3. Uncheck “Use a proxy server for your LAN”
4. Click “OK” and restart the system

For macOS users

1. Open “System Preferences” → “Network”
2. Select the active connection
3. Go to the “Proxy” tab
4. Uncheck all proxy protocol checkboxes
5. Restart the system

Solution through Chrome settings

1. Open chrome://settings/
2. Scroll down and click “Show advanced settings”
3. In the “Network” section, click “Change proxy settings”
4. Select “Don’t use a proxy server”
5. Click “OK”

Using command line
If you want to launch Chrome without checking system proxies:

# Windows
chrome.exe --disable-extensions

# macOS
open -a "Google Chrome" --args --disable-extensions

Preventive measures

To avoid proxy authentication windows in the future:

Regular extension monitoring

• Periodically check installed extensions
• Remove unnecessary or suspicious extensions
• Limit extension rights to network settings

Settings backup

• Keep backups of system network settings
• Take screenshots of proxy configurations before changing them

Using trusted proxy services

• If a proxy is needed, use reliable services
• Configure proxies through official applications of these services
• Avoid questionable proxy services

Software updates

• Regularly update Chrome to the latest version
• Update the operating system
• Update antivirus software

User training

• Inform users about proxy settings
• Create instructions for working with proxy networks
• Train users to recognize phishing authentication windows

Conclusion

The proxy authentication window on Chrome’s first launch after system startup is normal browser behavior when checking network settings. To eliminate this popup, you need to identify its source (system settings, Chrome extensions, or launch parameters) and accordingly configure the network or remove the problematic component. This is not a pure system component, but rather a result of interaction between system proxy settings and the browser’s network request handling mechanism. To prevent similar issues in the future, it’s recommended to regularly check Chrome extensions and system network settings, and to use only trusted proxy services.

Sources

1. Chrome asks for proxy authentication for every page I open, IE doesn’t - Stack Overflow
2. Google chrome proxy authentication dialogue timeout - Super User
3. Google chrome proxy settings with Username and Password - Super User
4. Chrome Proxy Setup for Windows & macOS (Step-by-Step) - Evomi Blog
5. Why is Google Chrome not saving proxy username/password? - Super User
6. Google chrome proxy settings? - Ask Ubuntu
7. Proxy support in Chrome - Chromium Documentation
8. Web Proxy Authentication – text/plain
9. Configure Proxy for Chromium and Google Chrome From Command Line - Linux Babe
10. r/macsysadmin on Reddit: Help Request - How to stop Chrome from constant Proxy credential log-in prompt