Setting up your ProxyBox

Your ProxyBox is designed to go from cardboard to fully online in under five minutes. This page walks through every step, and tells you what to do if something doesn't go as expected.

What's in the box

• The ProxyBox unit.
• A 5V/2A USB-C power adapter.
• A short USB-C cable.
• A quick-start card with your claim code + QR sticker.

Step 1: plug in the power

Use the included adapter. Plug the USB-C into the ProxyBox and the other end into a wall outlet. A solid green LED appears within 15 seconds. A steady red LED means the Pi is powered but the firmware hasn't booted yet, wait another 30-60 seconds.

Step 2: pick a pairing path

There are three ways to bring your ProxyBox online. Pick whichever fits the device in your hand:

• iOS app: The native ProxyBox app is coming soon. In the meantime, use the web Bluetooth flow below or the captive Wi-Fi portal, the fastest paths available today.
• Web Bluetooth at proxybox.us/pair: Pair right from a Mac, Windows, or Linux laptop using Chrome, Edge, or Opera. No app install.
• Captive Wi-Fi portal: Open Wi-Fi settings on any phone or laptop, join ProxyBox-Setup-XXXX, the setup page opens automatically.

The rest of this guide walks the web Bluetooth path. All three flows are described in Three ways to pair.

Step 3: pair over Bluetooth

Open the app. Create an account if you haven't. Tap the plus menu in the top right, then "Set Up a Device." Allow Bluetooth access when prompted.

The app scans for nearby ProxyBox units. Within 5-10 seconds, yours should appear in the list, the name is "ProxyBox-xxxx" where xxxx is the last 4 of the serial. Tap it.

Step 4: give it your Wi-Fi

The app reads the network your phone is currently on and pre-fills the SSID. Type your Wi-Fi password. Tap "Connect."

Watch the progress checklist: Sending Wi-Fi, Connecting, Acquiring IP, Starting services. Each step typically takes 3-8 seconds. Total time: 30-45 seconds.

Step 5: verify it's online

After pairing completes, the app lands back on the Dashboard. Your device shows up with a green "Online" dot. Tap it and you'll see the proxy credentials, services status, and network details.

Troubleshooting

"ProxyBox doesn't appear in scan": Make sure the box is within 15 feet of your phone. Make sure Bluetooth is enabled on your phone. If it still doesn't appear, power-cycle the box (unplug for 10 sec, plug back in). Fresh boot takes 90 sec. If BLE still fails, try the Web Bluetooth or captive-portal path on Three ways to pair.

"Wrong Wi-Fi password": The app will surface a clear error. Go back, re-enter password. Check case-sensitivity.

"Stuck on Registering": Your Wi-Fi may not have internet access, or our servers might be unreachable from your specific network. Wait 60 seconds. If still stuck, try from a different network to rule out local issues.

Last updated: 2026-04-29