How to Tell If Your VPN Is Actually Protecting You
You switched on your VPN, so you're anonymous now - right? Not necessarily. A VPN is supposed to hide your real IP address behind its server, but a few common "leaks" can quietly expose your true location even while the VPN shows as connected. Here's how to check that yours is actually working.
What a VPN is meant to do
When you connect to a VPN, your internet traffic is routed through an encrypted tunnel to the VPN's server. Websites then see the VPN server's IP address and location instead of yours. Done right, this hides your real IP and makes your browsing much harder to trace back to you.
The leaks that break that promise
- WebRTC leaks - WebRTC is a browser feature for video and voice calls. It can ask your device for its real IP address and hand it straight to a website, bypassing the VPN tunnel entirely. This is the most common leak.
- DNS leaks - if your DNS requests go to your internet provider instead of through the VPN, your ISP (and others) can still see which sites you visit.
- IPv6 leaks - some VPNs only cover IPv4 traffic, letting IPv6 requests slip out with your real address.
How to test your VPN
- Note your real IP first (turn the VPN off and check).
- Turn the VPN on and connect to a server, ideally in another country.
- Run a leak test. If the test still shows your real IP or your home city, you have a leak.
Our free VPN Leak Test shows the IP your VPN is presenting and separately probes for a WebRTC leak, so you can confirm at a glance whether your real address is hidden. The What Is My IP tool is handy for that first "VPN off" reading.
How to fix a leak
- Disable WebRTC in your browser settings, or use an extension that blocks it.
- Enable your VPN's leak protection - most good VPNs have DNS-leak protection and an option to block IPv6.
- Use the kill switch so traffic is cut if the VPN drops, rather than silently falling back to your real connection.
Run a quick leak test whenever you connect to a new network or switch VPN servers - it takes seconds and it's the only way to know your VPN is truly doing its job.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a WebRTC leak?
It is when your browser's WebRTC feature reveals your real IP address to websites despite an active VPN, bypassing the encrypted tunnel.
How do I know if my VPN is working?
Run a leak test while connected. If it shows only the VPN server's IP and location with no leak detected, your VPN is protecting you.
How do I stop a WebRTC leak?
Disable WebRTC in your browser or via an extension, and use a VPN with built-in leak protection and a kill switch.