Proxyman HTTPS Capture
Choose the least invasive working capture path for the user's exact device, runtime, network, and Proxyman platform. Normal proxy capture has three independent requirements: route traffic through Proxyman, trust the Proxyman CA, and enable SSL Proxying for the target host. Atlantis is an instrumentation alternative that forwards inspected traffic to Proxyman without that proxy/CA/SSL-Proxying path; apply its separate limits and verification.
Use proxyman-mcp-setup if tools are absent, proxyman-traffic-debugging to inspect captured flows, proxyman-certificates-recovery for the host Mac's generated/custom root lifecycle or custom server/client identities, and proxyman-debugging-tools when current official documentation is needed beyond the setup flow.
Gather The Minimum Context
Establish:
- host OS running Proxyman and app version;
- target type, OS/runtime version, physical vs simulator/emulator, and debug vs production build;
- how the target connects to the host and whether a VPN, MDM, firewall, proxy, or certificate pinning is present;
- target hostname and whether HTTP is visible but HTTPS is opaque, or no traffic appears at all;
- whether the user wants GUI steps, MCP-guided automation, or manual commands.
Do not install certificates, root an emulator, alter system proxy, inject a shell/app, or restart a target until the user approves that action.
Universal Capture Model
Diagnose in this order:
- Reachability: target can reach the host running Proxyman.
- Routing: target sends HTTP/HTTPS to Proxyman's current proxy host and port.
- Recording: Proxyman is recording and the source/client is visible.
- Trust: target trusts the correct Proxyman root CA in the relevant store.
- SSL Proxying: target host is included and not excluded.
- Application behavior: library proxy bypass, localhost special case, VPN, pinning, QUIC/HTTP3, or a custom trust store.
Do not treat certificate installation as proof that routing works, or SSL Proxying as proof that the target trusts the CA.
Choose A Path
Read capture paths for the decision matrix and official page links. Read Atlantis capture when the user asks what Atlantis is, needs capture while a VPN blocks the normal proxy, or wants to integrate Atlantis into an app.
- Desktop browser/app honoring system proxy: use system proxy plus host certificate trust.
- iOS/iPadOS/Vision Pro device: use Wi-Fi manual proxy and device certificate trust; for a supported app that can include an instrumentation library, consider Atlantis when proxy/certificate setup is undesirable or a VPN blocks the normal route.
- Apple simulator: install the CA into the booted simulator and use the simulator proxy path.
- tvOS/watchOS: follow the physical/simulator-specific official path.
- Android physical device: manual Wi-Fi proxy plus user/system CA strategy appropriate to OS and app policy.
- Android emulator: prefer Proxyman's guided automation for an active compatible AVD; read Android emulator safety.
- Terminal runtime or browser: prefer Automatic Setup/injection when supported; otherwise use explicit proxy variables/options and the runtime CA bundle/store from runtime capture.
- Localhost: use explicit proxy configuration or Reverse Proxy; many clients intentionally bypass the system proxy.
- Docker/VM/subsystem: use the host address reachable from that network namespace, not blindly
127.0.0.1.
MCP-Guided Workflow
get_version and get_proxy_status.
answer_setup_question with the exact target, platform, runtime, VPN, and symptom.
- Read the returned citations and use
list_setup_workflows when the target is ambiguous.
- For a normal proxy path, check
get_certificate_status and get_ssl_proxying_list. For Atlantis, read docs://setup/atlantis and do not force certificate or SSL Proxying setup.
- Use a relevant built-in resource or prompt. Setup resources are listed in the capture-path reference.
- Explain the automation's state changes and request consent.
- Use
run_guided_setup, inject_terminal, inject_electron, set_system_proxy, install_certificate, or SSL tools only when the live server exposes the needed action and the user approved it.
- Generate one known HTTPS request from the target.
- Find it with
filter_flows using host and, when relevant, client; inspect it with get_flow_detail.
- Verify HTTPS body visibility, TLS/certificate summary, and target identity.
If the MCP setup index has no exact match, fetch the current official page through proxyman-debugging-tools rather than forcing a generic fallback result.
GUI Workflow
- Open Proxyman's Setup or Certificate guide for a normal proxy target. For Atlantis, follow the dedicated integration reference instead.
- Use the proxy host/port shown by the running app; do not hardcode a common port.
- Follow the target-specific routing and certificate steps from the current official page.
- Enable SSL Proxying only for the required host or wildcard.
- Generate a deterministic request and verify it in Proxyman.
- Document how to restore proxy, trust, emulator boot image, or injected environment.
Failure Triage
- Nothing appears: recording/routing/reachability/client-source problem.
- HTTP appears, HTTPS does not: routing works; inspect target trust, SSL Proxying, pinning, HTTP3/QUIC, or custom CA stores.
- TLS error: verify the correct CA, full trust, host include/exclude, app pinning, and date/time. Do not disable TLS verification as the default fix.
- Only some libraries missing: the library likely bypasses environment/system proxy or uses a separate trust store.
- Device cannot connect: verify same network or routable host address, firewall/access control, current port, and VPN/Private Relay behavior.
- Localhost missing: use Reverse Proxy or explicit proxy settings with a non-loopback target address.
- VPN conflict on iOS: read the Atlantis decision path for a build the user controls instead of repeatedly changing the device proxy.
- Android app rejects user CA: use a debug network security configuration or a controlled compatible emulator system-CA path. Do not advise bypassing pinning in a production app.
Verification Checklist
A setup is complete only when:
- the expected target/client is identifiable;
- the test request and response appear;
- HTTPS headers/body are readable through the intended path: decrypted for normal proxy capture or forwarded by the expected Atlantis source;
- no unrelated hosts were unnecessarily enabled for SSL Proxying when the normal proxy path was used;
- the user knows the rollback path;
- limitations such as pinning, production builds, VPN, root/Magisk, or unsupported automation are stated.
1---2name: proxyman-https-capture3description: Configure and troubleshoot Proxyman HTTPS capture across desktop systems, Apple and Android devices or simulators, browsers, runtimes, containers, frameworks, and HTTP clients, including Atlantis instrumentation for controlled apps.4---5
6# Proxyman HTTPS Capture
7
8Choose the least invasive working capture path for the user's exact device, runtime, network, and Proxyman platform. Normal proxy capture has three independent requirements: route traffic through Proxyman, trust the Proxyman CA, and enable SSL Proxying for the target host. Atlantis is an instrumentation alternative that forwards inspected traffic to Proxyman without that proxy/CA/SSL-Proxying path; apply its separate limits and verification.
9
10Use `proxyman-mcp-setup` if tools are absent, `proxyman-traffic-debugging` to inspect captured flows, `proxyman-certificates-recovery` for the host Mac's generated/custom root lifecycle or custom server/client identities, and `proxyman-debugging-tools` when current official documentation is needed beyond the setup flow.
11
12## Gather The Minimum Context
13
14Establish:
15
16- host OS running Proxyman and app version;
17- target type, OS/runtime version, physical vs simulator/emulator, and debug vs production build;
18- how the target connects to the host and whether a VPN, MDM, firewall, proxy, or certificate pinning is present;
19- target hostname and whether HTTP is visible but HTTPS is opaque, or no traffic appears at all;
20- whether the user wants GUI steps, MCP-guided automation, or manual commands.
21
22Do not install certificates, root an emulator, alter system proxy, inject a shell/app, or restart a target until the user approves that action.
23
24## Universal Capture Model
25
26Diagnose in this order:
27
281. **Reachability:** target can reach the host running Proxyman.
292. **Routing:** target sends HTTP/HTTPS to Proxyman's current proxy host and port.
303. **Recording:** Proxyman is recording and the source/client is visible.
314. **Trust:** target trusts the correct Proxyman root CA in the relevant store.
325. **SSL Proxying:** target host is included and not excluded.
336. **Application behavior:** library proxy bypass, localhost special case, VPN, pinning, QUIC/HTTP3, or a custom trust store.
34
35Do not treat certificate installation as proof that routing works, or SSL Proxying as proof that the target trusts the CA.
36
37## Choose A Path
38
39Read [capture paths](references/capture-paths.md) for the decision matrix and official page links. Read [Atlantis capture](references/atlantis.md) when the user asks what Atlantis is, needs capture while a VPN blocks the normal proxy, or wants to integrate Atlantis into an app.
40
41- Desktop browser/app honoring system proxy: use system proxy plus host certificate trust.
42- iOS/iPadOS/Vision Pro device: use Wi-Fi manual proxy and device certificate trust; for a supported app that can include an instrumentation library, consider Atlantis when proxy/certificate setup is undesirable or a VPN blocks the normal route.
43- Apple simulator: install the CA into the booted simulator and use the simulator proxy path.
44- tvOS/watchOS: follow the physical/simulator-specific official path.
45- Android physical device: manual Wi-Fi proxy plus user/system CA strategy appropriate to OS and app policy.
46- Android emulator: prefer Proxyman's guided automation for an active compatible AVD; read [Android emulator safety](references/android-emulator.md).
47- Terminal runtime or browser: prefer Automatic Setup/injection when supported; otherwise use explicit proxy variables/options and the runtime CA bundle/store from [runtime capture](references/runtime-capture.md).
48- Localhost: use explicit proxy configuration or Reverse Proxy; many clients intentionally bypass the system proxy.
49- Docker/VM/subsystem: use the host address reachable from that network namespace, not blindly `127.0.0.1`.
50
51## MCP-Guided Workflow
52
531. `get_version` and `get_proxy_status`.
542. `answer_setup_question` with the exact target, platform, runtime, VPN, and symptom.
553. Read the returned citations and use `list_setup_workflows` when the target is ambiguous.
564. For a normal proxy path, check `get_certificate_status` and `get_ssl_proxying_list`. For Atlantis, read `docs://setup/atlantis` and do not force certificate or SSL Proxying setup.
575. Use a relevant built-in resource or prompt. Setup resources are listed in the capture-path reference.
586. Explain the automation's state changes and request consent.
597. Use `run_guided_setup`, `inject_terminal`, `inject_electron`, `set_system_proxy`, `install_certificate`, or SSL tools only when the live server exposes the needed action and the user approved it.
608. Generate one known HTTPS request from the target.
619. Find it with `filter_flows` using host and, when relevant, `client`; inspect it with `get_flow_detail`.
6210. Verify HTTPS body visibility, TLS/certificate summary, and target identity.
63
64If the MCP setup index has no exact match, fetch the current official page through `proxyman-debugging-tools` rather than forcing a generic fallback result.
65
66## GUI Workflow
67
681. Open Proxyman's Setup or Certificate guide for a normal proxy target. For Atlantis, follow the dedicated integration reference instead.
692. Use the proxy host/port shown by the running app; do not hardcode a common port.
703. Follow the target-specific routing and certificate steps from the current official page.
714. Enable SSL Proxying only for the required host or wildcard.
725. Generate a deterministic request and verify it in Proxyman.
736. Document how to restore proxy, trust, emulator boot image, or injected environment.
74
75## Failure Triage
76
77- **Nothing appears:** recording/routing/reachability/client-source problem.
78- **HTTP appears, HTTPS does not:** routing works; inspect target trust, SSL Proxying, pinning, HTTP3/QUIC, or custom CA stores.
79- **TLS error:** verify the correct CA, full trust, host include/exclude, app pinning, and date/time. Do not disable TLS verification as the default fix.
80- **Only some libraries missing:** the library likely bypasses environment/system proxy or uses a separate trust store.
81- **Device cannot connect:** verify same network or routable host address, firewall/access control, current port, and VPN/Private Relay behavior.
82- **Localhost missing:** use Reverse Proxy or explicit proxy settings with a non-loopback target address.
83- **VPN conflict on iOS:** read the Atlantis decision path for a build the user controls instead of repeatedly changing the device proxy.
84- **Android app rejects user CA:** use a debug network security configuration or a controlled compatible emulator system-CA path. Do not advise bypassing pinning in a production app.
85
86## Verification Checklist
87
88A setup is complete only when:
89
90- the expected target/client is identifiable;
91- the test request and response appear;
92- HTTPS headers/body are readable through the intended path: decrypted for normal proxy capture or forwarded by the expected Atlantis source;
93- no unrelated hosts were unnecessarily enabled for SSL Proxying when the normal proxy path was used;
94- the user knows the rollback path;
95- limitations such as pinning, production builds, VPN, root/Magisk, or unsupported automation are stated.