diff --git a/DESCRIPTION b/DESCRIPTION
index f34a885..cdce93f 100644
--- a/DESCRIPTION
+++ b/DESCRIPTION
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 Package: fingertipsR
 Type: Package
-Version: 1.0.10.9002
+Version: 1.0.12
 Title: Fingertips Data for Public Health
 Description: Fingertips (<http://fingertips.phe.org.uk/>) contains data for many indicators of public health in England. The underlying data is now more easily accessible by making use of the API.
 Maintainer: Annabel Westermann <annabel.westermann@dhsc.gov.uk>
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ Depends: R (>= 3.4.0)
 Authors@R: c(
     person("Annabel", "Westermann", , "annabel.westermann@dhsc.gov.uk", c("aut", "cre")),
     person("Sebastian", "Fox", , "sebsfox@gmail.com", c("aut", "ctb")),
+    person("Hadley", "Nanayakkara", , "hadley.nanayakkara@dhsc.gov.uk", c("aut", "ctb")),
     person("Julian", "Flowers", , , c("aut","ctb")),
     person("Simon", "Thelwall", , "simon.thelwall@ukhsa.gov.uk", c("ctb"), 
       comment = c(ORCID = "0000-0002-0434-2724")),
@@ -42,5 +43,5 @@ VignetteBuilder: knitr
 License: GPL-3
 Encoding: UTF-8
 LazyData: true
-RoxygenNote: 7.2.1
+RoxygenNote: 7.2.3
 Config/testthat/edition: 3
diff --git a/NEWS.md b/NEWS.md
index 74a85e9..7e3ab06 100644
--- a/NEWS.md
+++ b/NEWS.md
@@ -1,4 +1,8 @@
-# fingertipsR 1.0.10.9001
+# fingertipsR 1.0.12 (2023-17-11)
+
+* Automatically detects proxy settings in each function.  
+
+# fingertipsR 1.0.11 (2023-09-11)
 
 * Provision of ability to turn off automatic proxy settings using internet explorer's settings using `proxy_settings` argument
 * bug fix to allow `rank = TRUE` when multiple ProfileIDs and IndicatorIDs passed to `fingertips_data()`
diff --git a/R/area_types.R b/R/area_types.R
index 4e4c00e..b93cd1b 100644
--- a/R/area_types.R
+++ b/R/area_types.R
@@ -10,7 +10,8 @@
 #' @param AreaTypeID Numeric vector, the Fingertips ID for the area type;
 #'   default is NULL
 #' @param proxy_settings string; whether to use Internet Explorer proxy settings
-#'   ("default") or "none"
+#'   "default" or "none". Setting this manually will decrease runtime;
+#'    default determined automatically.
 #' @inheritParams indicators
 #' @examples
 #' \dontrun{
@@ -43,7 +44,7 @@
 #'   Fingertips website within a Domain
 
 area_types  <- function(AreaTypeName = NULL, AreaTypeID = NULL, ProfileID = NULL,
-                        proxy_settings = "default", path){
+                        proxy_settings = fingertips_proxy_settings(), path){
         if (!(is.null(AreaTypeName)) & !(is.null(AreaTypeID))) {
                 warning("AreaTypeName used when both AreaTypeName and AreaTypeID are entered")
         }
@@ -118,7 +119,7 @@ area_types  <- function(AreaTypeName = NULL, AreaTypeID = NULL, ProfileID = NULL
 #'   \code{\link{indicator_order}} for the order indicators are presented on the
 #'   Fingertips website within a Domain
 
-category_types <- function(proxy_settings = "default",
+category_types <- function(proxy_settings = fingertips_proxy_settings(),
                            path) {
         if (missing(path)) path <- fingertips_endpoint()
         set_config(config(ssl_verifypeer = 0L))
@@ -165,7 +166,7 @@ category_types <- function(proxy_settings = "default",
 #'   \code{\link{indicator_order}} for the order indicators are presented on the
 #'   Fingertips website within a Domain
 indicator_areatypes <- function(IndicatorID, AreaTypeID,
-                                proxy_settings = "default", path) {
+                                proxy_settings = fingertips_proxy_settings(), path) {
         if (missing(path)) path <- fingertips_endpoint()
         fingertips_ensure_api_available(
           endpoint = path,
@@ -224,7 +225,7 @@ indicator_areatypes <- function(IndicatorID, AreaTypeID,
 #' @seealso \code{\link{nearest_neighbour_areatypeids}} for the AreaTypeIDs
 #'   available for this function
 nearest_neighbours <- function(AreaCode, AreaTypeID, measure,
-                               proxy_settings = "default", path) {
+                               proxy_settings = fingertips_proxy_settings(), path) {
 
         if (missing(path)) path <- fingertips_endpoint()
         fingertips_ensure_api_available(
@@ -292,7 +293,7 @@ nearest_neighbours <- function(AreaCode, AreaTypeID, measure,
 }
 
 areas_by_profile <- function(AreaTypeID, ProfileID,
-                             proxy_settings = "default", path) {
+                             proxy_settings = fingertips_proxy_settings(), path) {
         set_config(config(ssl_verifypeer = 0L))
         fingertips_ensure_api_available(
           endpoint = path,
@@ -346,7 +347,7 @@ areas_by_profile <- function(AreaTypeID, ProfileID,
 #' @examples
 #' \dontrun{
 #' nearest_neighbour_areatypeids()}
-nearest_neighbour_areatypeids <- function(proxy_settings = "default") {
+nearest_neighbour_areatypeids <- function(proxy_settings = fingertips_proxy_settings()) {
 
   url <- "https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/api/nearest_neighbour_types"
 
diff --git a/R/deprivation_decile.R b/R/deprivation_decile.R
index c72d3d5..7ae9c61 100644
--- a/R/deprivation_decile.R
+++ b/R/deprivation_decile.R
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@
 #'   presented on the Fingertips website within a Domain
 
 deprivation_decile <- function(AreaTypeID, Year = 2019,
-                               proxy_settings = "default", path) {
+                               proxy_settings = fingertips_proxy_settings(), path) {
         if (missing(AreaTypeID)) stop("AreaTypeID must be specified")
 
         if (!(Year %in% c(2015, 2019))) {
diff --git a/R/enhancements.R b/R/enhancements.R
index 5ed95e9..6bb18e3 100644
--- a/R/enhancements.R
+++ b/R/enhancements.R
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ fingertips_redred <- function(Comparator = "England", ...) {
 #' # Returns a sentence describing number of indicators and profiles in Fingertips
 #' fingertips_stats()}
 #' @export
-fingertips_stats <- function(proxy_settings = "default") {
+fingertips_stats <- function(proxy_settings = fingertips_proxy_settings()) {
         fingertips_stats <- indicators(proxy_settings = proxy_settings)
         summarised_stats <- fingertips_stats %>%
                 summarise_if(is.integer, n_distinct)
diff --git a/R/fingertips_data.R b/R/fingertips_data.R
index 61c8aa7..2bdd6a8 100644
--- a/R/fingertips_data.R
+++ b/R/fingertips_data.R
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ fingertips_data <- function(IndicatorID = NULL,
                             categorytype = FALSE,
                             rank = FALSE,
                             url_only = FALSE,
-                            proxy_settings = "default",
+                            proxy_settings = fingertips_proxy_settings(),
                             path) {
 
   if (missing(path)) path <- fingertips_endpoint()
diff --git a/R/indicator_metadata.R b/R/indicator_metadata.R
index 9f315b9..3af1650 100644
--- a/R/indicator_metadata.R
+++ b/R/indicator_metadata.R
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@
 indicator_metadata <- function(IndicatorID = NULL,
                                DomainID = NULL,
                                ProfileID = NULL,
-                               proxy_settings = "default",
+                               proxy_settings = fingertips_proxy_settings(),
                                path) {
   set_config(config(ssl_verifypeer = 0L))
   types <- cols(`Indicator ID` = "i",
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ indicator_metadata <- function(IndicatorID = NULL,
 #' @export
 
 indicator_update_information <- function(IndicatorID, ProfileID = NULL,
-                                         proxy_settings = "default", path) {
+                                         proxy_settings = fingertips_proxy_settings(), path) {
 
   if (missing(path)) path <- fingertips_endpoint()
   set_config(config(ssl_verifypeer = 0L))
diff --git a/R/indicators.R b/R/indicators.R
index e27e101..16c4edd 100644
--- a/R/indicators.R
+++ b/R/indicators.R
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@
 
 indicators <- function(ProfileID = NULL,
                        DomainID = NULL,
-                       proxy_settings = "default",
+                       proxy_settings = fingertips_proxy_settings(),
                        path) {
         if (missing(path)) path <- fingertips_endpoint()
         set_config(config(ssl_verifypeer = 0L))
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ indicators <- function(ProfileID = NULL,
 #' @export
 indicators_unique <- function(ProfileID = NULL,
                             DomainID = NULL,
-                            proxy_settings = "default",
+                            proxy_settings = fingertips_proxy_settings(),
                             path) {
         if (missing(path)) path <- fingertips_endpoint()
         fingertips_ensure_api_available(
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ indicators_unique <- function(ProfileID = NULL,
 indicator_order <- function(DomainID,
                             AreaTypeID,
                             ParentAreaTypeID,
-                            proxy_settings = "default",
+                            proxy_settings = fingertips_proxy_settings(),
                             path) {
         if (missing(DomainID)|missing(AreaTypeID)|missing(ParentAreaTypeID))
                 stop("All of DomainID, AreaTypeID and ParentAreaTypeID are required")
diff --git a/R/profiles.R b/R/profiles.R
index bdd11bd..5398ed1 100644
--- a/R/profiles.R
+++ b/R/profiles.R
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@
 #' @export
 
 profiles <- function(ProfileID = NULL, ProfileName = NULL,
-                     proxy_settings = "default", path) {
+                     proxy_settings = fingertips_proxy_settings(), path) {
   if (missing(path)) path <- fingertips_endpoint()
   set_config(config(ssl_verifypeer = 0L))
   fingertips_ensure_api_available(
diff --git a/R/retrieve_data.R b/R/retrieve_data.R
index 9760526..5478a4a 100644
--- a/R/retrieve_data.R
+++ b/R/retrieve_data.R
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ retrieve_profile <- function(ProfileIDs, ChildAreaTypeIDs, ParentAreaTypeIDs, pa
 #' @importFrom stats setNames
 new_data_formatting <- function(dataurl, generic_name = FALSE,
                                 item_of_total, progress_bar,
-                                proxy_settings = "default") {
+                                proxy_settings = fingertips_proxy_settings()) {
 
   proxy_settings <- match.arg(
     proxy_settings,
diff --git a/R/utils.R b/R/utils.R
index 6723c0e..28aab71 100644
--- a/R/utils.R
+++ b/R/utils.R
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 #'     "/area/parent_areas?child_area_code=E12000005&parent_area_type_ids=15"))
 get_fingertips_api <- function(api_path, content_type = "text",
                                col_types,
-                               proxy_settings = "default") {
+                               proxy_settings = fingertips_proxy_settings()) {
   match.arg(proxy_settings,
             c("default",
               "none"))
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ fingertips_endpoint <- function() default_api
 #' @return \code{TRUE} if the API is available, otherwise \code{stop()} is called.
 #' @noRd
 fingertips_ensure_api_available <- function(endpoint = fingertips_endpoint(),
-                                            proxy_settings = "default") {
+                                            proxy_settings = fingertips_proxy_settings()) {
   code <- FALSE
   endpoint <- gsub("/api/", "", endpoint)
 
@@ -137,3 +137,35 @@ fingertips_deframe <- function(data) {
                    .Names = data[[1]])
   return(out)
 }
+
+
+#' fingertips_proxy_settings
+#' @description determines which proxy settings are used
+#' @return A character string with the proxy settings
+#' @noRd
+fingertips_proxy_settings <- function() {
+
+  # First try using default as proxy settings
+  fingertips_proxy <- "default"
+  errtext <- tryCatch(
+    {
+      fingertips_ensure_api_available(proxy_settings = "default")
+    }, error=function(e) {"The API is currently unavailable."}
+  )
+
+  # Second try using "none" as proxy settings
+  if (errtext != TRUE) {
+    fingertips_proxy <- "none"
+    errtext <- tryCatch(
+      {
+        fingertips_ensure_api_available(proxy_settings = "none")
+      }, error=function(e) {"The API is currently unavailable."}
+    )
+
+    # Stop if neither settings work
+    if (errtext != TRUE) {
+      stop(paste(errtext, collapse='\n  '), call. = FALSE)
+    }
+  }
+  return(fingertips_proxy)
+}
diff --git a/man/area_types.Rd b/man/area_types.Rd
index f02b4eb..4041572 100644
--- a/man/area_types.Rd
+++ b/man/area_types.Rd
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ area_types(
   AreaTypeName = NULL,
   AreaTypeID = NULL,
   ProfileID = NULL,
-  proxy_settings = "default",
+  proxy_settings = fingertips_proxy_settings(),
   path
 )
 }
@@ -22,7 +22,8 @@ default is NULL}
 \item{ProfileID}{Numeric vector, id of profiles of interest}
 
 \item{proxy_settings}{string; whether to use Internet Explorer proxy settings
-("default") or "none"}
+"default" or "none". Setting this manually will decrease runtime;
+ default determined automatically.}
 
 \item{path}{String; Fingertips API address. Function will default to the
 correct address}
diff --git a/man/category_types.Rd b/man/category_types.Rd
index d59807d..4835e07 100644
--- a/man/category_types.Rd
+++ b/man/category_types.Rd
@@ -4,11 +4,12 @@
 \alias{category_types}
 \title{Category types}
 \usage{
-category_types(proxy_settings = "default", path)
+category_types(proxy_settings = fingertips_proxy_settings(), path)
 }
 \arguments{
 \item{proxy_settings}{string; whether to use Internet Explorer proxy settings
-("default") or "none"}
+"default" or "none". Setting this manually will decrease runtime;
+ default determined automatically.}
 
 \item{path}{String; Fingertips API address. Function will default to the
 correct address}
diff --git a/man/deprivation_decile.Rd b/man/deprivation_decile.Rd
index 4bb32d3..ba83924 100644
--- a/man/deprivation_decile.Rd
+++ b/man/deprivation_decile.Rd
@@ -4,7 +4,12 @@
 \alias{deprivation_decile}
 \title{Deprivation deciles}
 \usage{
-deprivation_decile(AreaTypeID, Year = 2019, proxy_settings = "default", path)
+deprivation_decile(
+  AreaTypeID,
+  Year = 2019,
+  proxy_settings = fingertips_proxy_settings(),
+  path
+)
 }
 \arguments{
 \item{AreaTypeID}{Integer value; this function uses the IndicatorIDs 91872,
@@ -15,7 +20,8 @@ see what AreaTypeIDs are available}
 applied, limited to 2015 or 2019}
 
 \item{proxy_settings}{string; whether to use Internet Explorer proxy settings
-("default") or "none"}
+"default" or "none". Setting this manually will decrease runtime;
+ default determined automatically.}
 
 \item{path}{String; Fingertips API address. Function will default to the
 correct address}
diff --git a/man/fingertips_data.Rd b/man/fingertips_data.Rd
index 78f28dc..898da14 100644
--- a/man/fingertips_data.Rd
+++ b/man/fingertips_data.Rd
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ fingertips_data(
   categorytype = FALSE,
   rank = FALSE,
   url_only = FALSE,
-  proxy_settings = "default",
+  proxy_settings = fingertips_proxy_settings(),
   path
 )
 }
@@ -52,7 +52,8 @@ are returned also in AreaValuesCount}
 character vector}
 
 \item{proxy_settings}{string; whether to use Internet Explorer proxy settings
-("default") or "none"}
+"default" or "none". Setting this manually will decrease runtime;
+ default determined automatically.}
 
 \item{path}{String; Fingertips API address. Function will default to the
 correct address}
diff --git a/man/fingertips_stats.Rd b/man/fingertips_stats.Rd
index 7eec98b..785bf8e 100644
--- a/man/fingertips_stats.Rd
+++ b/man/fingertips_stats.Rd
@@ -4,11 +4,12 @@
 \alias{fingertips_stats}
 \title{High level statistics on Fingertips data}
 \usage{
-fingertips_stats(proxy_settings = "default")
+fingertips_stats(proxy_settings = fingertips_proxy_settings())
 }
 \arguments{
 \item{proxy_settings}{string; whether to use Internet Explorer proxy settings
-("default") or "none"}
+"default" or "none". Setting this manually will decrease runtime;
+ default determined automatically.}
 }
 \value{
 A string that summarises the high level statistics of indicators and
diff --git a/man/get_fingertips_api.Rd b/man/get_fingertips_api.Rd
index 987bd75..c1ef1bb 100644
--- a/man/get_fingertips_api.Rd
+++ b/man/get_fingertips_api.Rd
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ get_fingertips_api(
   api_path,
   content_type = "text",
   col_types,
-  proxy_settings = "default"
+  proxy_settings = fingertips_proxy_settings()
 )
 }
 \arguments{
diff --git a/man/indicator_areatypes.Rd b/man/indicator_areatypes.Rd
index b41797e..7d03903 100644
--- a/man/indicator_areatypes.Rd
+++ b/man/indicator_areatypes.Rd
@@ -4,7 +4,12 @@
 \alias{indicator_areatypes}
 \title{Area types by indicator}
 \usage{
-indicator_areatypes(IndicatorID, AreaTypeID, proxy_settings = "default", path)
+indicator_areatypes(
+  IndicatorID,
+  AreaTypeID,
+  proxy_settings = fingertips_proxy_settings(),
+  path
+)
 }
 \arguments{
 \item{IndicatorID}{integer; the Indicator ID (can be ignored or of length 1).
@@ -13,7 +18,8 @@ Takes priority over AreaTypeID if both are entered}
 \item{AreaTypeID}{integer; the Area Type ID (can be ignored or of length 1)}
 
 \item{proxy_settings}{string; whether to use Internet Explorer proxy settings
-("default") or "none"}
+"default" or "none". Setting this manually will decrease runtime;
+ default determined automatically.}
 
 \item{path}{String; Fingertips API address. Function will default to the
 correct address}
diff --git a/man/indicator_metadata.Rd b/man/indicator_metadata.Rd
index c412aa2..f1e9e7c 100644
--- a/man/indicator_metadata.Rd
+++ b/man/indicator_metadata.Rd
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ indicator_metadata(
   IndicatorID = NULL,
   DomainID = NULL,
   ProfileID = NULL,
-  proxy_settings = "default",
+  proxy_settings = fingertips_proxy_settings(),
   path
 )
 }
@@ -24,7 +24,8 @@ IndicatorID is populated, ProfileID can be ignored or must be the same
 length as IndicatorID (but can contain NAs).}
 
 \item{proxy_settings}{string; whether to use Internet Explorer proxy settings
-("default") or "none"}
+"default" or "none". Setting this manually will decrease runtime;
+ default determined automatically.}
 
 \item{path}{String; Fingertips API address. Function will default to the
 correct address}
diff --git a/man/indicator_order.Rd b/man/indicator_order.Rd
index 91254ef..da59054 100644
--- a/man/indicator_order.Rd
+++ b/man/indicator_order.Rd
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ indicator_order(
   DomainID,
   AreaTypeID,
   ParentAreaTypeID,
-  proxy_settings = "default",
+  proxy_settings = fingertips_proxy_settings(),
   path
 )
 }
@@ -24,7 +24,8 @@ extracted; if NULL the function will use the first record for the specified
 `AreaTypeID` from the area_types() function}
 
 \item{proxy_settings}{string; whether to use Internet Explorer proxy settings
-("default") or "none"}
+"default" or "none". Setting this manually will decrease runtime;
+ default determined automatically.}
 
 \item{path}{String; Fingertips API address. Function will default to the
 correct address}
diff --git a/man/indicator_update_information.Rd b/man/indicator_update_information.Rd
index 2fcb382..57e92fa 100644
--- a/man/indicator_update_information.Rd
+++ b/man/indicator_update_information.Rd
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 indicator_update_information(
   IndicatorID,
   ProfileID = NULL,
-  proxy_settings = "default",
+  proxy_settings = fingertips_proxy_settings(),
   path
 )
 }
@@ -17,7 +17,8 @@ indicator_update_information(
 \item{ProfileID}{Integer (optional), whether to restrict the indicators to a particular profile}
 
 \item{proxy_settings}{string; whether to use Internet Explorer proxy settings
-("default") or "none"}
+"default" or "none". Setting this manually will decrease runtime;
+ default determined automatically.}
 
 \item{path}{String; Fingertips API address. Function will default to the
 correct address}
diff --git a/man/indicators.Rd b/man/indicators.Rd
index 3b327eb..e66b70c 100644
--- a/man/indicators.Rd
+++ b/man/indicators.Rd
@@ -4,7 +4,12 @@
 \alias{indicators}
 \title{Live indicators and the profiles and domains they belong to}
 \usage{
-indicators(ProfileID = NULL, DomainID = NULL, proxy_settings = "default", path)
+indicators(
+  ProfileID = NULL,
+  DomainID = NULL,
+  proxy_settings = fingertips_proxy_settings(),
+  path
+)
 }
 \arguments{
 \item{ProfileID}{Numeric vector, id of profiles of interest}
@@ -12,7 +17,8 @@ indicators(ProfileID = NULL, DomainID = NULL, proxy_settings = "default", path)
 \item{DomainID}{Numeric vector, id of domains of interest}
 
 \item{proxy_settings}{string; whether to use Internet Explorer proxy settings
-("default") or "none"}
+"default" or "none". Setting this manually will decrease runtime;
+ default determined automatically.}
 
 \item{path}{String; Fingertips API address. Function will default to the
 correct address}
diff --git a/man/indicators_unique.Rd b/man/indicators_unique.Rd
index 24ca9c3..76b62a5 100644
--- a/man/indicators_unique.Rd
+++ b/man/indicators_unique.Rd
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 indicators_unique(
   ProfileID = NULL,
   DomainID = NULL,
-  proxy_settings = "default",
+  proxy_settings = fingertips_proxy_settings(),
   path
 )
 }
@@ -17,7 +17,8 @@ indicators_unique(
 \item{DomainID}{Numeric vector, id of domains of interest}
 
 \item{proxy_settings}{string; whether to use Internet Explorer proxy settings
-("default") or "none"}
+"default" or "none". Setting this manually will decrease runtime;
+ default determined automatically.}
 
 \item{path}{String; Fingertips API address. Function will default to the
 correct address}
diff --git a/man/nearest_neighbour_areatypeids.Rd b/man/nearest_neighbour_areatypeids.Rd
index 02d55b6..82ff84b 100644
--- a/man/nearest_neighbour_areatypeids.Rd
+++ b/man/nearest_neighbour_areatypeids.Rd
@@ -4,11 +4,12 @@
 \alias{nearest_neighbour_areatypeids}
 \title{Nearest neighbours area type ids}
 \usage{
-nearest_neighbour_areatypeids(proxy_settings = "default")
+nearest_neighbour_areatypeids(proxy_settings = fingertips_proxy_settings())
 }
 \arguments{
 \item{proxy_settings}{string; whether to use Internet Explorer proxy settings
-("default") or "none"}
+"default" or "none". Setting this manually will decrease runtime;
+ default determined automatically.}
 }
 \value{
 table of AreaTypeIDs
diff --git a/man/nearest_neighbours.Rd b/man/nearest_neighbours.Rd
index 1567eea..b41dd18 100644
--- a/man/nearest_neighbours.Rd
+++ b/man/nearest_neighbours.Rd
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ nearest_neighbours(
   AreaCode,
   AreaTypeID,
   measure,
-  proxy_settings = "default",
+  proxy_settings = fingertips_proxy_settings(),
   path
 )
 }
@@ -23,7 +23,8 @@ must be either "CIPFA" for CIPFA local authority nearest neighbours or
 "CSSN" for Children's services statistical neighbours}
 
 \item{proxy_settings}{string; whether to use Internet Explorer proxy settings
-("default") or "none"}
+"default" or "none". Setting this manually will decrease runtime;
+ default determined automatically.}
 
 \item{path}{String; Fingertips API address. Function will default to the
 correct address}
diff --git a/man/profiles.Rd b/man/profiles.Rd
index 33db185..16c5376 100644
--- a/man/profiles.Rd
+++ b/man/profiles.Rd
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 profiles(
   ProfileID = NULL,
   ProfileName = NULL,
-  proxy_settings = "default",
+  proxy_settings = fingertips_proxy_settings(),
   path
 )
 }
@@ -17,7 +17,8 @@ profiles(
 \item{ProfileName}{Character vector, full name of profile(s)}
 
 \item{proxy_settings}{string; whether to use Internet Explorer proxy settings
-("default") or "none"}
+"default" or "none". Setting this manually will decrease runtime;
+ default determined automatically.}
 
 \item{path}{String; Fingertips API address. Function will default to the
 correct address}
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-area_types.R b/tests/testthat/test-area_types.R
index e58580c..d08b757 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-area_types.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-area_types.R
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ test_that("category_types returns 5 column table", {
         category_types(
           proxy_settings = "none"
         )),
-      5,
+      6,
       info = "testing the function with proxy_settings = 'none'")
 })