Share Surge Proxy Across the LAN

Surge handles per-device proxying nicely, but what about other hardware—smart TVs, Nintendo Switch, etc.? Here are two approaches I use so those devices can hop the firewall without installing Surge.

Use case: the Switch needs a proxy to post to Twitter.

Option 1: Manual Wi-Fi Proxy

1. Ensure iPhone and Switch are on the same Wi-Fi network.
2. On the iPhone running Surge, enable Allow Wi-Fi Access.
3. On the Switch, set Wi-Fi proxy to the IP/port shown in Surge.
4. Post on Twitter—if it succeeds, you’re done.

macOS Surge works similarly; iPhone is just the example here.

Option 2: macOS DHCP Gateway

Only available on macOS. Treat your MacBook Pro as a bypass gateway.

1. Disable DHCP on the router (e.g., router IP 192.168.31.1).
2. Assign a static IP to the Mac (e.g., 192.168.31.2).
3. In Surge for Mac, enable DHCP. Surge checks the router’s DHCP status and proceeds if it’s off. Recommended IP range: 100-200. Devices that should bypass Surge can stick to addresses outside the range (e.g., 3-99).
4. Restart the router. As devices reconnect, Surge will list them. By default they do not use Surge as a gateway; right-click each device and select Use Surge as Gateway. Reconnect the device to apply.

Disabling DHCP

1. In Surge → Devices, turn off DHCP Server.
2. Re-enable DHCP on the router and reconnect devices.

Practical Notes

• Using a primary Mac as a soft router is heavy-handed. I only route select devices through Surge and leave others on the router gateway for stability.
• Devices already running Surge (iPhone/iPad) can still use the router gateway (192.168.31.1) to avoid double proxying.
• Non-Apple devices get Use Surge as Gateway so they benefit from Surge rules/ad blocking.

Final Thoughts

I’m a Surge fan, so these solutions revolve around it. Each approach has trade-offs, but together they let non-Surge devices enjoy an open internet quickly.