How to Check if Your VPN is Working

•11 min read•VPN Testing

Trusting your VPN without verification is like locking your front door but leaving the windows wide open. Many users assume their VPN is protecting them simply because it says "Connected," but leaks, misconfigurations, and partial failures can expose your real identity and activity. This comprehensive guide provides step-by-step instructions to thoroughly test your VPN and ensure complete protection.

Before You Begin: Establishing Baseline

Before testing your VPN, record your unprotected baseline information. This gives you reference points to confirm the VPN is changing your digital fingerprint.

Step 1: Document Your Real Information

Without VPN connected, record:

  • Public IP address: Visit our IP checker
  • ISP name: Shown with IP address
  • Geographic location: City, region, country
  • DNS servers: Check DNS leak test results
  • Local IP(s): Note your private network IP

Write these down or take a screenshot. After connecting to VPN, these should all change except your local IP.

Test 1: Basic IP Address Check

What to Test

Verify your public IP address matches the VPN server location, not your real location.

How to Test

  1. Connect to VPN: Choose a server in a different country
  2. Visit IP checker: Check your IP address
  3. Compare results: IP and location should match VPN server

What to Look For

✅ Working correctly:

  • IP address is different from your baseline
  • Location matches VPN server location
  • ISP shows VPN provider or VPN data center

❌ Not working (leak detected):

  • IP address matches your baseline (real IP)
  • Location shows your actual city/region
  • ISP shows your actual internet provider

Troubleshooting IP Leaks

If your real IP is showing:

  1. Disconnect and reconnect: Complete disconnect, wait 10 seconds, reconnect
  2. Try different protocol: Switch from OpenVPN to WireGuard or vice versa
  3. Check kill switch: Ensure it's enabled in VPN settings
  4. Restart VPN software: Completely quit and relaunch
  5. Reinstall VPN client: Last resort for persistent issues

Test 2: DNS Leak Test

What to Test

Verify DNS queries go through VPN's DNS servers, not your ISP's servers.

Why DNS Matters

DNS leaks expose your browsing history to your ISP even when your IP is hidden. Your ISP sees every domain you visit through DNS queries, defeating VPN privacy.

How to Test

  1. Connect to VPN
  2. Visit DNS leak test: DNS leak test tool
  3. Run standard test: Click test button
  4. Check DNS servers: All listed DNS servers should belong to VPN provider

What to Look For

✅ No DNS leak:

  • All DNS servers belong to VPN provider
  • DNS server locations match VPN server location
  • No ISP name appears in DNS servers

❌ DNS leak detected:

  • Your ISP's DNS servers appear
  • DNS servers in your real location appear
  • Mix of VPN and ISP DNS servers

Fixing DNS Leaks

  1. Check VPN DNS settings: Ensure "Use VPN DNS" is enabled
  2. Disable IPv6: Often causes DNS leaks
    Windows: Network settings → Adapter → IPv6 → Disable
macOS: System Preferences → Network → Advanced → TCP/IP → Configure IPv6: Off
Linux: sudo sysctl -w net.ipv6.conf.all.disable_ipv6=1
  3. Configure DNS manually: Set DNS to VPN provider's addresses
  4. Use VPN's DNS leak protection: Enable in VPN settings if available

Test 3: WebRTC Leak Test

What to Test

Verify WebRTC in your browser isn't exposing your real IP address.

Why WebRTC Leaks Matter

WebRTC can bypass VPN tunnels entirely, revealing your real IP even when VPN shows connected. This browser-level vulnerability affects Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Opera.

How to Test

  1. Connect to VPN
  2. Visit WebRTC test: VPN leak test
  3. Check WebRTC section: Look for discovered IP addresses

What to Look For

✅ No WebRTC leak:

  • Only VPN IP appears
  • No real IP visible
  • Local IPs only (192.168.x.x or 10.x.x.x) acceptable

❌ WebRTC leak detected:

  • Your real public IP appears
  • Different IP from VPN shown
  • ISP-assigned IP visible

Fixing WebRTC Leaks

Chrome/Edge:

  1. Install "WebRTC Leak Prevent" extension
  2. Configure to "Disable non-proxied UDP"
  3. Retest after installation

Firefox:

  1. Type about:config in address bar
  2. Search: media.peerconnection.enabled
  3. Set to false
  4. Restart browser

Safari:

  1. Preferences → Advanced → Show Develop menu
  2. Develop → Experimental Features
  3. Disable "WebRTC mDNS ICE candidates"

Test 4: IPv6 Leak Test

What to Test

Verify IPv6 traffic isn't bypassing your VPN if your ISP provides IPv6.

Why IPv6 Leaks Happen

Many VPNs only route IPv4 traffic. If your device and ISP support IPv6, that traffic may bypass the VPN tunnel entirely, leaking your real IP.

How to Test

  1. Connect to VPN
  2. Visit IPv6 test: test-ipv6.com or ipv6-test.com
  3. Check for IPv6 address: Should show no IPv6 or VPN's IPv6

What to Look For

✅ No IPv6 leak:

  • "No IPv6 address detected"
  • OR IPv6 address belongs to VPN provider
  • No IPv6 in your ISP's range

❌ IPv6 leak detected:

  • IPv6 address from your ISP appears
  • IPv6 shows your real location
  • IPv6 and IPv4 show different providers

Fixing IPv6 Leaks

Best solution: Disable IPv6 system-wide

Windows:

Control Panel → Network and Sharing → Change adapter settings
Right-click adapter → Properties → Uncheck "Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6)"

macOS:

System Preferences → Network → Advanced → TCP/IP
Configure IPv6: Off

Linux:

sudo sysctl -w net.ipv6.conf.all.disable_ipv6=1
sudo sysctl -w net.ipv6.conf.default.disable_ipv6=1

Test 5: Kill Switch Verification

What to Test

Verify your VPN's kill switch actually blocks traffic if VPN disconnects.

Why Kill Switch Matters

Without a working kill switch, if your VPN disconnects (network change, server issue), your traffic reverts to unprotected state, exposing your real IP and activities.

How to Test

  1. Enable kill switch in VPN settings
  2. Connect to VPN
  3. Open IP checker: Verify VPN IP showing
  4. Forcefully disconnect VPN:
    • Kill VPN process in Task Manager (Windows)
    • Force quit VPN app (macOS)
    • Disable network adapter VPN uses
  5. Refresh IP checker: Should show no connection or error, NOT your real IP

What to Look For

✅ Kill switch working:

  • Cannot access internet after forced disconnect
  • IP checker shows connection error
  • No traffic flows until VPN reconnects

❌ Kill switch failed:

  • Real IP appears after forced disconnect
  • Internet connection continues normally
  • Websites load without VPN protection

If Kill Switch Fails

  1. Verify it's enabled: Check VPN settings carefully
  2. Try different kill switch mode: Some VPNs offer multiple options
  3. Configure firewall rules: Create manual rules blocking non-VPN traffic
  4. Contact VPN support: May be bug requiring update

Test 6: Torrent IP Leak Test

For Torrent Users

P2P/torrent applications can leak your IP even with VPN connected.

How to Test

  1. Connect to VPN (use VPN server that allows P2P)
  2. Visit torrent leak test: ipleak.net or torguard.net/checkmytorrentipaddress.php
  3. Download test torrent file: Site provides special torrent
  4. Add to torrent client: Let it start downloading
  5. Check results: Site shows which IP connected to tracker

What to Look For

✅ No torrent leak:

  • Only VPN IP appears in results
  • IP matches current VPN connection

❌ Torrent leak detected:

  • Real IP appears
  • Multiple IPs shown (VPN + real)

Fixing Torrent Leaks

  1. Bind torrent client to VPN: Configure client to use only VPN network interface
  2. Enable kill switch: Prevents leaks on disconnect
  3. Use SOCKS5 proxy: Many VPNs offer torrent-specific proxy
  4. Disable IPv6 in torrent client: Prevents IPv6 leaks

Comprehensive Testing Checklist

Complete verification checklist for maximum confidence:

TestFrequencyCritical?
IP address checkEvery session✅ Yes
DNS leak testWeekly / after updates✅ Yes
WebRTC leak testAfter browser updates✅ Yes
IPv6 leak testInitial + monthlyIf ISP has IPv6
Kill switch testInitial + after VPN updates✅ Yes
Torrent leak testBefore torrentingFor P2P users

Automated Monitoring

For advanced users, automate VPN monitoring:

Scripts and Tools

  • Custom scripts: Bash/Python scripts to check IP periodically
  • VPN monitoring apps: Third-party tools for continuous monitoring
  • Router-level monitoring: OpenWRT/DD-WRT scripts

Simple Bash Script Example

#!/bin/bash
EXPECTED_IP="YOUR.VPN.IP.ADDRESS"
CURRENT_IP=$(curl -s https://api.ipify.org)

if [ "$CURRENT_IP" != "$EXPECTED_IP" ]; then
    echo "VPN LEAK DETECTED! Current IP: $CURRENT_IP"
    # Add notification: send email, push notification, etc.
else
    echo "VPN OK: $CURRENT_IP"
fi

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if my VPN is actually working?

Check three things: (1) Your IP address should match your VPN server location, not your real location. (2) DNS queries should go through VPN DNS servers, not your ISP. (3) No WebRTC leaks exposing your real IP. Use comprehensive leak test tools to verify all three simultaneously.

Why does my VPN show connected but I still see my real IP?

This usually indicates a connection failure where the VPN client shows connected but the tunnel isn't properly established. Causes include firewall blocking, routing issues, or VPN client bugs. Disconnect completely, restart the VPN software, and reconnect. If the issue persists, try different VPN protocols or contact support.

Should I test my VPN before or after connecting?

Test both. Test without VPN first to record your real IP and location, then connect to VPN and test again. Compare results—your IP, DNS servers, and location should all change to match the VPN server. This comparison confirms the VPN is working.

How often should I check if my VPN is working?

Check: (1) After initial setup, (2) After any VPN software updates, (3) After operating system updates, (4) When switching VPN servers, (5) If you notice unexpected behavior. For regular use, quick monthly checks are good practice to catch configuration drift or newly introduced leaks.

Can my VPN work for some traffic but leak others?

Yes, this is called a partial leak. For example, your web browsing might go through the VPN (IP protected) while DNS queries leak to your ISP (browsing history exposed). Or WebRTC might bypass the VPN entirely. Comprehensive testing checks all potential leak vectors, not just IP address.

Conclusion

A VPN is only effective if it's working correctly. The "Connected" status in your VPN app is necessary but not sufficient proof of protection. Regular testing across multiple vectors—IP, DNS, WebRTC, IPv6, kill switch—ensures your privacy remains intact.

Key principles for VPN verification:

  • Test regularly: Not just once, but after any system/VPN changes
  • Test comprehensively: IP address alone isn't enough—check DNS, WebRTC, IPv6
  • Understand what's normal: Know your baseline to recognize leaks
  • Fix immediately: Don't ignore leaks—resolve before continuing sensitive activities
  • Stay informed: New leak vectors emerge; keep testing methodology updated

The tools and tests outlined in this guide provide comprehensive verification that your VPN is delivering the protection you're paying for. Invest a few minutes in regular testing—it's the only way to know your privacy is truly protected.

Test Your VPN Right Now

Don't wait. Use our comprehensive test tools to verify your VPN is protecting you completely.

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