Support guide • Educational / diagnostic
VPN Leak Test: Is My VPN Working?
A VPN can appear connected while still exposing your real IP through DNS, IPv6, or browser-level behavior. This guide shows what to test, what to compare, and how to tell if the setup is actually working.
Run a simple before-and-after test
Check your visible IP without the VPN, then connect and test again. If nothing changes, your VPN setup needs more work.
Editorial positioning
This page is educational and diagnostic. It does not endorse a specific VPN provider. It is intended to help you validate whether your configuration is hiding your real IP and behaving the way you expect.
What to check in a VPN leak test
- Public IP: has the visible IP changed after you connect?
- Location clues: does the visible region match the VPN endpoint you selected?
- DNS behavior: are requests still resolving through your normal network path?
- Browser behavior: could WebRTC or similar features still expose your home IP?
Comparison table
| Check | What you should see | Warning sign | What to try next |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public IP | A different visible IP after connecting | Your home ISP IP still shows | Reconnect or change server |
| Location | Visible region matches your chosen endpoint | Unexpected region or mixed signals | Switch server and retest |
| DNS behavior | No obvious fallback to your normal network path | Requests appear to bypass the VPN | Review DNS settings and leak controls |
| Browser leaks | No obvious exposure through browser networking | WebRTC or similar reveals local details | Adjust browser or extension settings |
How to use this guide
- Run the IP checker with your VPN disconnected.
- Connect to the VPN endpoint you plan to use.
- Run the IP checker again and compare the visible result.
- If the VPN changes the IP but also hurts performance badly, compare VPN on vs off on the sister speed tool.
Validate both privacy and performance
A VPN setup is more trustworthy when it changes your visible IP and still behaves well enough for your real use case. Check privacy here, then compare speed and latency separately.