diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index c46b9245..a8c7d403 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -64,3 +64,6 @@ CAPTION_URL_LENGTH_LIMIT=150
 POTOKEN=11
 
 BROWSERS=firefox
+
+# Proxy URL for downloads (e.g., http://proxy.example.com:8080 or socks5://proxy.example.com:1080)
+PROXY=
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 56e5e3e4..342bd085 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -98,6 +98,7 @@ This bot can be deployed on any platform that supports Python.
     - `FREE_DOWNLOAD`: Free downloads allowed per user
     - `RATE_LIMIT`: Rate limit for requests
     - `TMPFILE_PATH`: Path for temporary/download files (ensure the directory exists and is writable)
+    - `PROXY`: Proxy URL for downloads (e.g., http://proxy.example.com:8080 or socks5://proxy.example.com:1080)
     - `TG_NORMAL_MAX_SIZE`: Maximum size for Telegram uploads in MB
     - `CAPTION_URL_LENGTH_LIMIT`: Maximum URL length in captions
     - `POTOKEN`: Your PO Token.  [PO-Token-Guide](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/wiki/PO-Token-Guide)
diff --git a/src/config/config.py b/src/config/config.py
index ccf130f9..7ede6a93 100644
--- a/src/config/config.py
+++ b/src/config/config.py
@@ -42,6 +42,9 @@ def get_env(name: str, default=None):
 
 RCLONE_PATH = get_env("RCLONE")
 
+# proxy settings
+PROXY = get_env("PROXY")
+
 # payment settings
 ENABLE_VIP = get_env("ENABLE_VIP")
 PROVIDER_TOKEN = get_env("PROVIDER_TOKEN")
diff --git a/src/engine/generic.py b/src/engine/generic.py
index bbcf3d7b..dfcd099c 100644
--- a/src/engine/generic.py
+++ b/src/engine/generic.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 
 import yt_dlp
 
-from config import AUDIO_FORMAT
+from config import AUDIO_FORMAT, PROXY
 from utils import is_youtube
 from database.model import get_format_settings, get_quality_settings
 from engine.base import BaseDownloader
@@ -104,6 +104,9 @@ def _download(self, formats) -> list:
             "embed_thumbnail": True,
             "writethumbnail": False,
         }
+        # add proxy if configured
+        if PROXY:
+            ydl_opts["proxy"] = PROXY
         # setup cookies for youtube only
         if is_youtube(self._url):
             # use cookies from browser firstly
diff --git a/src/main.py b/src/main.py
index 67759d0b..bda0a800 100644
--- a/src/main.py
+++ b/src/main.py
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@
     OWNER,
     PROVIDER_TOKEN,
     TOKEN_PRICE,
+    PROXY,
     BotText,
 )
 from database.model import (
@@ -341,7 +342,10 @@ def ytdl_handler(client: Client, message: types.Message):
 
 
 def check_link(url: str):
-    ytdl = yt_dlp.YoutubeDL()
+    opts = {}
+    if PROXY:
+        opts["proxy"] = PROXY
+    ytdl = yt_dlp.YoutubeDL(opts)
     if re.findall(r"^https://www\.youtube\.com/channel/", url) or "list" in url:
         # TODO maybe using ytdl.extract_info
         raise ValueError("Playlist or channel download are not supported at this moment.")
diff --git a/src/test.py b/src/test.py
index f8a0f71e..2d513237 100644
--- a/src/test.py
+++ b/src/test.py
@@ -4,12 +4,15 @@
 # ytdlbot - test.py
 
 import yt_dlp
+from config import PROXY
 
 url = "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e19kTVgb2c8"
 opts = {
     "cookiefile": "cookies.txt",
     "cookiesfrombrowser": ["firefox"],
 }
+if PROXY:
+    opts["proxy"] = PROXY
 
 with yt_dlp.YoutubeDL(opts) as ydl:
     ydl.download([url])