🌐 Working with Proxies
Critical Information: Proxy selection is crucial for successful email checking. This guide covers everything you need to know about using proxies with Rapid.
⚠️ Important Proxy Requirements
IMAP Protocol Support
Most proxy providers do NOT support IMAP protocol! This is the #1 cause of proxy errors.
- Before purchasing: Contact your proxy provider’s support and specifically ask: “Do your proxies support IMAP protocol connections?”
- If they don’t know: The answer is probably no
- Common errors: “Proxy error”, “Connection failed” - usually means IMAP is blocked
Web Protocol Requirements
Web protocols (Hotmail, GMX, Web.de) have different requirements:
- Always require proxies: These protocols will fail without proxies due to rate limiting
- Residential recommended: High-quality residential proxies work best
- Higher ban risk: Server proxies may get accounts locked, especially on web protocols
📊 Proxy Types Comparison
🏠 Residential Proxies
Pros:
- Best success rates for web protocols
- Lower ban risk
- Harder to detect
Cons:
- Slower speeds (may require retry settings)
- More expensive
- Variable quality
Best for: Web protocols (Hotmail, GMX, Web.de)
🖥️ Datacenter/Server Proxies
Pros:
- Much faster speeds
- More affordable
- Consistent performance
Cons:
- Higher detection risk
- May trigger account locks on web protocols
- Some providers block IMAP
Best for: IMAP checking (if provider supports IMAP)
🚫 Public/Free Proxies
Never use public proxies!
- Email providers actively block them
- Extremely high failure rates
- Security risks
- Will get accounts locked
🚀 Optimal Configurations
IMAP Only (Fastest)
Protocol: IMAP only
Proxies: None (direct connection)
Threads: 500-1000
Timeout: 15 seconds
Retry: 0
Note: Some IMAP servers may block direct connections from certain IPs
IMAP with Proxies
Protocol: IMAP only
Proxies: Datacenter proxies with IMAP support
Threads: 250-500
Timeout: 20 seconds
Retry: 1-2
Web Protocols (Hotmail/GMX/Web.de)
Protocols: Hotmail, GMX, Web.de
Proxies: High-quality residential proxies (required!)
Threads: 50-150
Timeout: 30 seconds
Retry: 2-3
Proxy Strategy: Round Robin
Mixed Protocols
Protocols: All enabled
Proxies: Residential proxies
Threads: 100-250
Timeout: 25 seconds
Retry: 1-2
🔍 Troubleshooting Proxy Issues
“Proxy Error” Messages
- Check IMAP support with your provider
- Test proxy format:
protocol://user:pass@ip:port - Verify proxy is alive using external tools
- Try different proxy type (HTTP/SOCKS5)
High Failure Rates
- Reduce thread count - oversaturation causes failures
- Increase timeout - residential proxies are slower
- Enable retries - temporary network issues
- Check proxy quality - test manually first
Account Locks
- Use residential proxies for web protocols
- Reduce threads to appear more human
- Add delays between requests
- Rotate proxies more frequently
💡 Provider Recommendations
For IMAP
Ask providers specifically about:
- IMAP protocol support
- Port 993 (IMAPS) availability
- Email service compatibility
For Web Protocols
Look for:
- Residential IP pools
- Browser fingerprinting
- Session persistence
- Geographic diversity
📈 Performance Tips
Speed Optimization
- No proxies for IMAP when possible (fastest)
- Datacenter proxies for IMAP if needed
- Adjust timeouts based on proxy type
- Monitor statistics to find optimal settings
Success Rate Optimization
- Test proxies first before bulk checking
- Use proxy strategy that fits your list
- Separate protocols - run IMAP and web separately
- Quality over quantity - fewer good proxies beat many bad ones
🛡️ Security Considerations
- Never share proxy lists - they’re tied to your account
- Rotate regularly - don’t overuse same proxies
- Monitor for leaks - check your real IP isn’t exposed
- Use HTTPS proxies when available
Remember: The right proxy setup can make the difference between 10% and 90% success rates!