winhttp web proxy auto-discovery service – TechNet Microsoft
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Question
Anyone knows what is the recommended status for this service. We have encountered many issues due to this service. So we have frequently changes it from “Disabled, Manual, Automatic” etc. I’m trying to figure out what is recommended from Microsoft
about this service.
Edited by
Tuesday, March 5, 2019 9:29 PM
Answers
Hi,
Web Proxy Autodiscovery (WPAD) is a proposed Internet protocol that allows a client, such as a Web browser or a
streaming media application, to automatically locate and interface with cache services in a network so that information can be delivered more quickly to the user. Autoproxy makes it easier for WinHTTP applications to configure necessary proxy settings. This
feature takes away the responsibility of knowing proxy settings from the end user.
As far as I know, thisis service starts and stops as needed so there shouldn’t be any reason in particular to disable
it.
That said, if you don’t have a proxy, there’s no need for it. There are no dependencies on this service by other
services.
Regards, Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they help.
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Proposed as answer by
Carl FanMicrosoft contingent staff
Sunday, March 10, 2019 6:02 AM
Marked as answer by
Curious to know
Tuesday, July 30, 2019 9:14 PM
Automatic Proxy Detection | Microsoft Docs
Automatic Proxy Detection | Microsoft Docs
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03/30/2017
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In this article
Automatic proxy detection is a process by which a Web proxy server is identified by the system and used to send requests on behalf of the client. This feature is also known as Web Proxy Auto-Discovery (WPAD). When automatic proxy detection is enabled, the system attempts to locate a proxy configuration script that is responsible for returning the set of proxies that can be used for the request. If the proxy configuration script is found, the script is downloaded, compiled, and run on the local computer when proxy information, the request stream, or the response is obtained for a request that uses a WebProxy instance.
Automatic proxy detection is performed by the WebProxy class and can employ request-level settings, settings in configuration files, and settings specified using the Internet Explorer Local Area Network (LAN) dialog box.
Note
You can display the Internet Explorer Local Area Network (LAN) Settings dialog box by selecting Tools from the Internet Explorer main menu and then selecting Internet Options. Next, select the Connections tab, and click LAN Settings.
When automatic proxy detection is enabled, the WebProxy class attempts to locate the proxy configuration script as follows:
The WinINet InternetQueryOption function is used to locate the proxy configuration script most recently detected by Internet Explorer.
If the script is not located, the WebProxy class uses the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) to locate the script. The DHCP server can respond either with the location (host name) of the script or with the full URL for the script.
If DHCP does not identify the WPAD host, DNS is queried for a host with WPAD as its name or alias.
If the host is not identified and the location of a proxy configuration script is specified by the Internet Explorer LAN settings or a configuration file, this location is used.
Applications running as an NT Service or as part of use the Internet Explorer proxy server settings (if available) of the invoking user. These settings may not be available for all service applications.
Proxies are configured on a per-connectoid basis. A connectoid is an item in the network connection dialog, and can be a physical network device (a modem or Ethernet card) or a virtual interface (such as a VPN connection running over a network device). When a connectoid changes (for example, a wireless connection changes an access point, or a VPN is enabled), the proxy detection algorithm is run again.
By default, the Internet Explorer proxy settings are used to detect the proxy. If your application is running under a non-interactive account (without a convenient way to configure IE proxy settings), or if you want to use proxy settings different than the IE settings, you can configure your proxy by creating a configuration file with the
For requests that you create, you can disable automatic proxy detection at the request level by using a null Proxy with your request, as shown in the following code example.
public static void DisableForMyRequest (Uri resource)
{
WebRequest request = (resource);
= null;
WebResponse response = tResponse ();}
Public Shared Sub DisableForMyRequest(ByVal resource As Uri)
Dim request As WebRequest = (resource)
= Nothing
Dim response As WebResponse = tResponse()
End Sub
Requests that do not have a proxy use your application domain’s default proxy, which is available in the DefaultWebProxy property.
See also
WebProxy
WebRequest
<> Element (Network Settings)
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How to Disable WinHTTP Web Proxy Auto-Discovery
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According to Microsoft, the WinHTTP AutoProxy, also known as autoproxy, feature has been available starting with WinHTTP version 5. 1 in Windows 2000 Service Pack 3, Windows XP Service Pack 1 and Windows Server 2003. It runs as a service on local computers as well as on network servers. Autoproxy makes it easier for WinHTTP applications to configure necessary proxy settings. This feature takes away the responsibility of knowing proxy settings from the end user.
Step 1
Right-click on “Computer” or “My Computer, ” and then select “Manage. ” This opens the Computer Management Console.
Step 2
Click on “Services and Applications. ”
Step 3
Click on “Services” from the “Services and Applications” tree. You now have three open windows inside the Computer Management Console.
Step 4
Locate “WinHTTP Web Proxy Auto-Discovery Service” in the list in the center window. The list includes the services available on the local computer and is in alphabetical order.
Step 5
Right-click on “WinHTTP Web Proxy Auto-Discovery Service, ” and select “Properties” from the pop-up menu. This opens the service’s Properties window.
Step 6
Go to the “General” tab, and under “Service Status, ” click on the “Stop” button. Click on “Apply. ” This stops the service within the current Windows session.
Step 7
Click on the “Startup Type” combo box, select “Disabled, ” and click on “OK” to keep the service from starting automatically when you start By default, this service doesn’t start in a standard Windows installation. If the service is started and remains unused for more than 15 minutes, the system automatically detects the idle process and stops it. Stopping this service doesn’t have any adverse effects on basic system functions.
Frequently Asked Questions about what is winhttp web proxy auto discovery service
What is proxy auto-discovery?
Automatic proxy detection is a process by which a Web proxy server is identified by the system and used to send requests on behalf of the client. This feature is also known as Web Proxy Auto-Discovery (WPAD).Sep 15, 2021
How do I stop WinHTTP?
Go to the “General” tab, and under “Service Status,” click on the “Stop” button. Click on “Apply.” This stops the service within the current Windows session.
What is WinHttpAutoProxySvc service?
WinHTTP Web Proxy Auto-Discovery Service (WinHttpAutoProxySvc) Defaults in Windows 10. WinHTTP implements the client HTTP stack and provides developers with a Win32 API and COM Automation component for sending HTTP requests and receiving responses.