Where Is the Proxychains Config File?
Proxychains config lookup order from env override to system file, and where per user edits belong.
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Proxychains resolves its config through a fixed lookup order, and the system file in /etc is only the last resort. Environment variables and command line flags outrank it, with a per user copy in your home directory sitting in between. Most tutorials jump straight to sudo editing /etc, which is the one location you should prefer to leave alone.
The default chain points at Tor's SOCKS port on localhost, so stock behavior assumes Tor is running. Every chain mode line and the proxy list live in the same file, which makes a home directory copy the full customization story with no root required.
Where Proxychains stores this, by platform
/etc/proxychains.conf
Lookup order: PROXYCHAINS_CONF_FILE env or -f flag, then ./proxychains.conf, then ~/.proxychains/proxychains.conf, then the system file. The [ProxyList] section at the bottom holds the actual proxies.
Frequently asked questions
how do i edit proxychains config without sudo
Copy /etc/proxychains.conf to ~/.proxychains/proxychains.conf and edit the copy. The home directory version wins over the system file, needs no sudo, and survives package updates that can replace the system original.
should i edit proxychains.conf or proxychains4.conf
Newer installs ship /etc/proxychains4.conf for proxychains-ng while keeping the old name around. Check which binary you run and match the file: v3 reads proxychains.conf, v4 reads proxychains4.conf.
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