Charles Web Debugging Proxy is a cross-platform HTTP debugging proxy server application written in Java. It enables the user to view HTTP, HTTPS, HTTP/2 and enabled TCP port traffic from, to, or via the local computer. This includes requests and responses including HTTP headers and metadata (e.g. cookies, caching and encoding information) with functionality targeted at assisting developers analyze connections and messaging.
Charles will autoconfigure for use with the following browsers:
This network-related software article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by adding missing information.
What is Charles Proxy?
Charles Proxy by XK72 is proprietary Windows software in the vpn & proxy category. It is written in Java.
Installation and requirements
The publisher provides APPX installers for 64-bit Windows. The main installer is 82.7 MB. It needs Windows 10 1511 or newer. A silent install is possible with the installer’s documented switches.
Updates and version history
The current version is 5.2.2.1, released on October 11, 2026. The version history goes back to August 12, 2021: 12 releases, all linked to the official files. That is about 2.3 releases a year. The last update is less than a month old.
Popularity and file types
Wikipedia has an article about it in 4 of our languages. On Windows it registers 9 file types, including .har, .amf, .chls, .chlsj and .pcap. Similar programs include OpenVPN, nginx and Proton VPN.
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Documented silent install
- Updated in the last two months
Cons
- Proprietary licence: check the terms and price
- No native ARM64 build
In short: Charles Proxy is a vpn & proxy tool for 64-bit PCs. Administrators can deploy it unattended.
Is Charles Proxy safe to download?
- The file is served by charlesproxy.com, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
C2CA1952E8A930F2C88EC45C6C1FBECF250B590884928F4553D48684D56F7048· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link answered when we last checked it (October 22, 2026)
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Recent versions
All 12 versions ›12 versions over 5 years · about 2.3 a year
| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.2.2.1Latest | October 11, 2026 | 82.7 MB | 64-bit APPX |
| 5.2.1.2 | August 4, 2026 | — | 64-bit APPX |
| 5.2.0.1 | June 13, 2026 | — | 64-bit APPX |
| 5.1.0.11 | April 19, 2026 | — | 64-bit APPX |
| 5.0.3.1 | September 20, 2025 | — | 64-bit APPX |
| 5.0.2.2 | August 9, 2025 | — | 64-bit APPX |
| 5.0.1.3 | May 15, 2025 | — | 64-bit APPX |
| 5.0.0.20 | March 12, 2025 | — | 64-bit APPX |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id XK72.Charles -eAdd-AppxPackage -Path charles-proxy-5.2.2-win-x86_64.appxGet-AppxPackage -Name XK72.Charles | Remove-AppxPackageRelated guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Information
- Publisher
- XK72
- Category
- VPN & proxy
- Licence
- Proprietary
- Price
- See the publisher’s site
- Written in
- Java
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10 (Windows 10 1511+)
- Architecture
- 64-bit
- Installer
- APPX
- Version
- 5.2.2.1
- Released
- October 11, 2026
- Added to the catalogue
- August 12, 2021
- Versions listed
- 12
- Updates / year
- 2.3
- Website
- charlesproxy.com
- winget ID
- XK72.Charles
File types it opens (9)
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
Alternatives to Charles Proxy
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Open source1.8M ↓ -
nginx1.31.8NGINX is the world's most popular Web Server, high performance Load Balancer, Reverse Proxy, API Gateway and Content Cache.Open source286.5K ↓ -
Open source152.7K ↓ -
Tailscale1.104.2Tailscale is a WireGuard based mesh VPN, used to connect your computers and other devices together securely without proxies.Open source568.1K ↓ -
Free229.5K ↓ -
Netbird0.81.5Connect your devices into a secure WireGuard®-based overlay network with SSO, MFA and granular access controls.Open source169.6K ↓ -
Windscribe2.24.13Windscribe encrypts your browsing activity, blocks ads, and unblocks entertainment contentOpen source56.5K ↓ -
Open source10.2K ↓
Frequently asked questions
Is Charles Proxy free?
Charles Proxy is proprietary (closed-source) software (licence: Proprietary). Whether it costs money depends on the edition: check the publisher’s site for prices and free tiers.
Is Charles Proxy safe to download?
The download comes from charlesproxy.com, which belongs to the publisher; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install Charles Proxy with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Can Charles Proxy be installed silently?
Yes. The silent install page lists the exact command for each installer.
Which Windows versions does Charles Proxy support?
The installer requires Windows 10 1511 or newer and is available for 64-bit.
Does Charles Proxy run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
There is no ARM64 build; Windows 11 on Arm can run the 64-bit version through emulation.
Where can I download an older version of Charles Proxy?
The versions page lists all 12 versions with links to their official installer files, back to August 12, 2021.
What are alternatives to Charles Proxy?
OpenVPN, nginx, Proton VPN, Tailscale and Burp Suite Community Edition. The alternatives page compares them.
