Global Residential & ISP Proxies | Torch Labs
Global Residential & ISP Proxies | Torch Labs
When working with headless browsers at scale, proxies are your first layer of defense against IP blocks, geo-restrictions, and rate limits. Puppeteer, one of the most popular Node.js libraries for automating Chrome or Chromium, pairs beautifully with proxies when configured correctly.
In this 2025 guide, we’ll show you everything you need to know about a smooth Proxy in Puppeteer setup: types of proxies, how to authenticate, rotate them, handle errors, and scrub public websites ethically (and legally). Let’s jump in.
When Puppeteer runs your script and launches Chrome, it behaves very similarly to a real user; however, websites can often detect the difference. That’s where proxies come in.
A proxy is a server that routes your Puppeteer browser traffic through a different IP address. Instead of making requests directly from your system, you’re using the proxy server to mask your digital footprint.
By integrating proxies into Puppeteer, you can operate seamlessly and extract publicly available data without bott ropes pulling you back.
Proxies work at launch with Puppeteer’s default Chromium instance or a custom executable. You simply need to instruct Puppeteer to start up using the desired proxy string.
Here’s a code-by-code walkthrough to get your Puppeteer script up and running using a proxy.
npm install puppeteer
Use the --proxy-server flag in the launch config:
const puppeteer = require('puppeteer');
(async () => {
const browser = await puppeteer.launch({
args: ['--proxy-server=http://123.45.67.89:8000']
});
const page = await browser.newPage();
await page.goto('https://example.com');
await browser.close();
})();
Replace 123.45.67.89:8000 with your actual proxy IP and port.
To reduce detection further, simulate real browsers by modifying headers:
await page.setUserAgent('Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 10.0; Win64; x64)...');
If you’re using premium proxies offered by Torchlabs, you’ll want to handle proxy authentication as well.
Most paid proxies require HTTP authentication. Luckily, Puppeteer makes this simple.
const browser = await puppeteer.launch({
args: ['--proxy-server=http://proxy.torchlabs.xyz:8000']
});
const page = await browser.newPage();
await page.authenticate({
username: 'yourUsername',
password: 'yourPassword'
});
await page.goto('https://example.com');
page.goto()By using authenticated proxies, you gain access to better uptime, metrics dashboards, and safer request handling.
Rotating proxies are crucial when scraping thousands of pages or working on anti-bot aware platforms. They help you:
If you’re not using a proxy manager, manually rotate proxies from a pool.
const proxies = [
'http://proxy1:8000',
'http://proxy2:8000',
'http://proxy3:8000'
];
function getRandomProxy() {
return proxies[Math.floor(Math.random() * proxies.length)];
}
(async () => {
const browser = await puppeteer.launch({
args: [`--proxy-server=${getRandomProxy()}`]
});
// More script here...
})();
Also consider rotating browser fingerprints and using stealth layers to reinforce anti-bot evasion.
For advanced routing solutions, a Torchlabs x residential proxy plan supports built-in rotation with session tokens, giving you less to maintain.
Trying to decide whether to stick with free proxies or invest in paid ones? Here’s a config-level breakdown.
The cost of downtime far outweighs the cost of running a solid set of proxies, especially when used professionally or commercially.
Result: Page fails to load with HTTP error 407: Proxy Auth Required.
authenticate()Result: High error count or script hangs/crashes.
Could stem from:
Use a tool like wget or curl to test general proxy health outside your script before debugging Puppeteer syntax.
Means your scraping session is flagged.
For more robust coverage, lock in a plan with Torchlabs ISP proxies built for scale + consistency.
While public data scraping is generally protected under fair use (especially under U.S. case law like HiQ v. LinkedIn), using proxies to automate rapid traffic can breach individual websites’ terms of service.
Ultimately, it’s your responsibility to source target data from websites explicitly marked as publicly accessible and not behind a login wall.
For deeper collection pipelines behind logged-in walls (i.e., dynamic ecommerce pricing), make sure you consult legal experts for compliance.
Setting up a Puppeteer proxy in 2025 isn’t just a nice-to-have, it’s an industry competitive must.
Here’s what we recommend:
Proxying lets your scraping succeed, legally and programmatically. Done right, your coverage gets wider, detection drops to near-zero.
FAQs
Q: How do I verify if my proxy is working in Puppeteer?
A: Check your current IP inside your script by navigating to an IP echo service:
await page.goto('https://api.ipify.org?format=json');
Compare its response against your proxy IP.
Q: Can I use SOCKS5 proxy in Puppeteer?
A: Yes, set the proxy arg to --proxy-server=socks5://host:port. Be sure your proxy provider (like Torchlabs) supports SOCKS output streams.
Q: Are there any limits to free proxy usage?
A: Often – bans, reused IPs, rate throttles. Premium flows typically pay off in stability and reliability.