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Proxiphy

Proxiphy is a macOS app that routes selected applications through a SOCKS5 proxy without changing the system-wide proxy settings.

type
tool
year
2026
stack
macOS / Network Extension / SOCKS5 / TCP/UDP
linksProxiphy

guide: usage guide

privacy: privacy policy

contact: contact page

contextoverview

Built for situations where only one app needs a specific network route, Proxiphy works below browser or macOS proxy settings by matching selected apps through their signing identifiers. It can apply, start, stop and uninstall the active network configuration, supports optional DNS bypass to a configurable server, and exposes live extension state with throughput, active relays, UDP datagrams, internal drops, write errors and internal latency. The final quality still depends on the proxy in use, including latency, packet loss, UDP support and IPv4 or IPv6 connectivity.

Choose an installed app, apply the network profile, and monitor live TCP and UDP traffic through a native Network Extension.

usage guide

Route one macOS app through SOCKS5 without moving the whole system.

A practical setup guide for configuring Proxiphy, selecting target apps, applying the Network Extension profile and reading live routing metrics.

overview

per-app routing

Proxiphy routes traffic from specific macOS applications through a SOCKS5 proxy without changing the global system network configuration.

That means one selected app can use a dedicated proxy path while the rest of your Mac keeps using its normal connection.

01

before starting

If the app you want to route depends on UDP traffic, the SOCKS5 proxy must support UDP ASSOCIATE. A TCP-only proxy may work for basic web traffic, but real-time apps such as streaming, remote gaming, video calls or some media clients can fail, stay stuck connecting or disconnect.

  • macOS with Network Extension support.
  • Proxiphy installed and correctly signed.
  • An accessible SOCKS5 proxy server.
  • The proxy host or IP address and port.
  • Permission to install the network extension when macOS asks.
02

initial setup

The proxy test checks the basic SOCKS5 connection. A successful test does not guarantee UDP support. Stable UDP transmission requires a proxy server that accepts and forwards UDP correctly.

  1. 01Open Proxiphy.
  2. 02Go to the Config tab.
  3. 03In Network, enter the SOCKS5 proxy host or IP address.
  4. 04Enter the proxy port.
  5. 05Optionally use Test Proxy to check that the proxy responds.
  6. 06If you want to avoid the current network DNS, keep DNS bypass enabled and set a DNS server such as 8.8.8.8.
03

selecting apps

Some apps use several helper processes. Electron-based apps, for example, can have helper, GPU, renderer or display processes. For routing to work well, every relevant process must be included as a target.

Current shows the configuration installed right now. After Apply shows the configuration that will be installed when you press Apply & Start.

  1. 01In the Config tab, find the app under Installed apps.
  2. 02Press the + button next to the app.
  3. 03Proxiphy adds the required identifiers to Routing targets.
  4. 04Review Current and After Apply before starting.
04

apply and start

If you change the proxy, DNS server or routing targets, press Apply & Start again so the active extension receives the updated configuration.

  1. 01Configure the proxy and select at least one application.
  2. 02Press Apply & Start.
  3. 03Confirm the Network Extension install or activation prompt if macOS asks.
  4. 04Open the target application.
  5. 05Go to Status to confirm the active profile and traffic.
05

stop or uninstall

Stop Routing stops routing but keeps the configuration installed, so you can start it again later.

Uninstall removes Proxiphy's network configuration. Use it when you want to leave the system clean or start from scratch.

Proxiphy does not change the global macOS proxy, so stopping or uninstalling it should not affect the rest of the system.

status

status and live metrics

The Status tab shows the active profile and live extension statistics. These values help separate problems inside Proxiphy from issues in the SOCKS5 proxy or the outside network.

Active relays
Connections or flows currently managed by Proxiphy.
Throughput
Approximate traffic currently passing through the extension.
UDP d/s
UDP datagrams per second.
UDP write avg
Average internal latency when delivering UDP from Proxiphy to the app.
UDP write max
Worst internal latency observed.
UDP dropped
Datagrams dropped internally by Proxiphy.
UDP pending max
Maximum number of queued UDP datagrams.
Write errors
Errors while writing traffic back to the application.
limits

important limitations

  • Proxiphy is not a full VPN. It only routes selected applications.
  • The SOCKS5 proxy must support the kind of traffic the app needs. UDP is especially important for real-time applications.
  • Some apps use helper processes with different identifiers. If one is missing, some traffic may bypass the proxy.
  • Some applications use custom protocols, network validation, direct connections or anti-proxy behavior that can make transparent proxying harder.
  • Final stability depends on the proxy, local network, latency, packet loss and IPv4 or IPv6 support.
  • DNS bypass only affects DNS queries handled by the extension. It does not turn the proxy into a VPN or guarantee complete local-network isolation.
performance

recommendations

  • Use a SOCKS5 proxy with real UDP support.
  • Avoid saturated or high-latency proxies.
  • For streaming, remote gaming or real-time video, start with a low or medium bitrate.
  • Check packet loss between your Mac and the proxy.
  • If you see disconnects, review UDP dropped, Write errors and UDP write max.
  • If the proxy or network does not handle IPv6 correctly, prefer DNS or server settings that handle IPv4/IPv6 predictably.
  • For demanding apps, keep the proxy server close to the desired exit network and make sure it has enough CPU and bandwidth.
test flow

recommended test

  1. 01Configure the SOCKS5 proxy.
  2. 02Press Test Proxy.
  3. 03Add the app from Installed apps.
  4. 04Press Apply & Start.
  5. 05Open the target app.
  6. 06Check that Active relays appears.
  7. 07Watch Throughput and UDP metrics.
  8. 08If the app fails, check UDP support and make sure every helper process is included.

Short version: Proxiphy routes selected macOS apps through a SOCKS5 proxy without changing the global system proxy. For real-time traffic, a SOCKS5 proxy with UDP support is essential.

team

People involved in this one.

The people behind this project.