How to Convert Proxy Formats: From `host:port:username:password` to `host:port`

🧩 Understanding Proxy Formats

1. host:port

This is the most basic proxy format. It only includes the IP (or domain) and the port number.

Example:

192.168.1.100:8080

This type of proxy is often used when no authentication is required.

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2. host:port:username:password

This is an authenticated proxy format that includes login credentials.

Example:

192.168.1.100:8080:user123:pass456

Here:

• host = 192.168.1.100
• port = 8080
• username = user123
• password = pass456

Applications like browsers or automation tools may require these credentials separately.

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🧠 Why Convert to host:port Format?

Some tools (like Postman, Scrapy, or browser extensions) only accept host:port and require you to enter the username and password in separate authentication fields.

Converting to this simpler format helps:

• Avoid parsing errors in software that doesn’t support full proxy strings.
• Use the same proxy credentials across multiple platforms.
• Simplify integration in scripts or config files.

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⚙️ How to Convert host:port:username:password → host:port

You can do this manually or through automation.

Manual Conversion

If your proxy looks like this:

proxy.example.com:8000:myuser:mypass

You simply extract the first two parts:

proxy.example.com:8000

Then, store the credentials separately:

• Username: myuser
• Password: mypass

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Automated Conversion Using Python

If you have a long list of proxies, automate the conversion process using this Python snippet:

# Convert host:port:username:password to host:port

input_file = 'proxies.txt'      # Original proxies
output_file = 'converted.txt'   # Output file

with open(input_file, 'r') as f:
    proxies = f.readlines()

with open(output_file, 'w') as f:
    for proxy in proxies:
        parts = proxy.strip().split(':')
        if len(parts) >= 4:
            host_port = f"{parts[0]}:{parts[1]}"
            f.write(host_port + '\n')

This script extracts only the host and port from each proxy line and saves them in a new file.

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Online Tools

If you prefer not to code, many online tools and proxy managers offer built-in format converters. Simply paste your list and choose the output format you need.

Popular choices:

• https://www.proxylists.net/tools
• https://www.freeproxy.world

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✅ Final Thoughts

Converting proxy formats is a simple but essential skill for developers, marketers, and automation specialists. By knowing how to switch between formats, you can easily integrate proxies into various tools and workflows.

Always ensure that your proxy credentials are stored securely and avoid sharing them in plain text. For the best performance and privacy, use trusted proxy providers that support both authentication formats.