How can you set the http proxy programmatically?

Question

I\'m looking for a programmatic way to set-up http proxy settings for android handsets. I\'ve tried using android.provider.Settings.System.putString() to set System.HTTP_PR

Answer 1

Did you try to call the com.android.settings.ProxySelector activity and let the user to enter the proxy? It's stored globally, but seems that it doesn't support the standard Proxy and ProxySelector API (for this problem there is already another question: How users/developers can set the Android's proxy configuration for versions 2.x?)

Answer 2

It's not possible to do this as a 3rd-party app. You get this message:

12-07 12:39:37.736: W/PackageManager(85): Not granting permission android.permission.WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS to package com.mgranja.xxxxxxx (protectionLevel=3 flags=0xbe46)

Only apps that are signed with the same key as system apps can get this permission (i.e.: if you cook your own rom, you could add that funcionality)

More info about permission levels on this question, specially adamk's answer.

Why are these permissions being refused?

Answer 3

If you are limiting the use of proxies to your own application you can use the Proxy and ProxySelector API.

Answer 4

To set the proxy check Mike's answer; Following is code snippet to retrieve proxy details

public static String getProxyDetails(Context context) {
        String proxyAddress = new String();
        try {
            if (IsPreIcs()) {
                proxyAddress = android.net.Proxy.getHost(context);
                if (proxyAddress == null || proxyAddress.equals("")) {
                    return proxyAddress;
                }
                proxyAddress += ":" + android.net.Proxy.getPort(context);
            } else {
                proxyAddress = System.getProperty("http.proxyHost");
                proxyAddress += ":" + System.getProperty("http.proxyPort");
            }
        } catch (Exception ex) {
            //ignore
        }
        return proxyAddress;
    }

It'll return empty if some exception or no proxy detected;

Answer 5

You can set the proxy for your application VM, but due to security reasons, third party apps may not have the functionality to set device proxy.

Answer 6

I found something here that looks like it might work

package com.BrowserSettings;

import android.app.Activity;
import android.os.Bundle;
import android.view.View;
import android.widget.Button;
import android.provider.Settings;

public class BrowserSettingsUI extends Activity {
    /** Called when the activity is first created. */
    @Override
    public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        setContentView(R.layout.main);

        final Button button = (Button) findViewById(R.id.Button01);
        button.setOnClickListener(new Button.OnClickListener() {
            public void onClick(View v) {
                try {
                    Settings.System.putString(getContentResolver(),  
            Settings.System.HTTP_PROXY, "127.0.0.1:100");//enable proxy
                }catch (Exception ex){
                }
            }
        });

        final Button button2 = (Button) findViewById(R.id.Button02);
        button2.setOnClickListener(new Button.OnClickListener() {
            public void onClick(View v) {
                try {
                    Settings.System.putString(getContentResolver(), 
            Settings.System.HTTP_PROXY, "");//disable proxy
                }catch (Exception ex){
                }
            }
        });
    }
}

You must add

<uses-permission android:name=”android.permission.WRITE_SETTINGS” />

to your manifest.