Is your VPN working? Check your IP address and location

The short answer: open What Is My IP with the VPN off and note the IP address, network and country. Then connect the VPN, open the page again in a new private window and compare. If the VPN is working, the IP address changes, the network becomes the VPN company's or its hosting provider's, and the country matches the server you chose. Check again after the VPN reconnects. This checks the address websites see; it is not a DNS leak or WebRTC test.

VPN apps usually show a reassuring "Connected" message, but that only tells you the app thinks it is working. The simplest independent check is to look at your connection from the outside, the way a website sees it. This guide walks through that check, explains what the results mean, and covers what to do if something doesn't look right.

What this check can and can't tell you

What Is My IP shows the public IP address your browser used to reach us, the network that address belongs to and the country that network is registered in. With a VPN on, that should all belong to the VPN server rather than your own internet connection.

It can't tell you everything. We check the IP address only. We don't run a DNS leak test, which checks whether your device still asks your internet provider's DNS servers to look up names, and we don't run a WebRTC leak test, which checks whether your browser reveals your real address to web pages through video-calling features. If you need those, your VPN provider's support pages usually recommend a test. We also don't store the addresses we show you.

We also show only one address: the one your browser used for this visit. Many connections have both an IPv4 and an IPv6 address, and while our site can be reached over IPv4 only, you'll see your IPv4 address even if your device also has IPv6. The page tells you when this is the case.

The four-step check

1. With the VPN off

Disconnect the VPN and open What Is My IP. Write down, or take a screenshot of, three things: the IP address, the network name and the country. This is your normal connection, and the network should be your broadband or mobile provider.

2. With the VPN on

Connect the VPN and choose a server, ideally in a different country so the change is easy to spot. Open What Is My IP in a new private or incognito window. A fresh window avoids your browser reusing an earlier connection.

3. Compare

• The IP address should be different. If it is the same as in step 1, traffic is not going through the VPN.
• The network should change. It should no longer name your internet provider. VPN servers often sit in data centres, so you may see a hosting company's name rather than the VPN brand.
• The country should match the server. If you chose a server in the Netherlands, the country should normally be the Netherlands.

4. Look again

Disconnect and reconnect the VPN, or let your device go to sleep and wake it, then check again. Problems often appear after a reconnection rather than at first.

Reading the results

To dig deeper into any address you see, run it through the IP Lookup. It shows the owning network, the approximate country and the reverse DNS name, which for VPN servers often includes the provider's or hosting company's name.

If the VPN isn't working

The IP address didn't change

• Check the app really says connected, then disconnect and reconnect.
• Look for split tunnelling settings. Many VPN apps let you choose which apps or sites use the VPN. If your browser is excluded, its traffic goes around the tunnel. The UK's National Cyber Security Centre notes that only traffic routed over the VPN is protected by it.
• Check for a browser extension VPN or proxy that conflicts with the app.
• Try a different server or protocol in the app's settings.

Your IPv6 address still shows

Some VPNs carry only IPv4 traffic. If your connection also has IPv6, websites that support it can see your real IPv6 address. Our page can only show this when it is reached over IPv6, so if your device has IPv6, it's worth checking your VPN app's settings anyway. Look in the VPN app for an IPv6 leak protection setting and switch it on. If there isn't one, ask the provider, or switch off IPv6 on the device while using the VPN.

It works, then stops

If the VPN drops for a moment, for example when you change Wi-Fi network, traffic can go out over your normal connection until it reconnects. Most apps have a kill switch, sometimes called network lock, that blocks all traffic while the VPN is down. Switch it on if you rely on the VPN.

Checking the other details

What Is My IP also shows a few details your browser shares, worked out in the browser itself: the browser and system it reports, its preferred languages and its time zone. These don't change when you connect a VPN. A website that sees a Dutch IP address but a UK time zone and English language settings can reasonably guess you're using a VPN. That's normal and not a fault, but it's a useful reminder that the IP address is only one of many clues a site has.

If you want your location to look consistent, some VPN apps and browsers can change the reported time zone. Most people don't need to, unless a particular site is behaving differently because of the mismatch.

Common questions

Why does the network show a company I've never heard of?

VPN providers often rent servers from hosting companies, so the network belongs to the data centre rather than the VPN brand. That's normal. Your own provider's name not appearing is the important part.

Why does a website still know my real location?

It may be using your device's location services, a saved address on your account, or cookies from an earlier visit without the VPN. The IP address is only one source of location.

Do I need to check every time I connect?

No. Check after installing the app, after changing its settings, and occasionally after updates. If you depend on the VPN, switch on the kill switch so a drop doesn't go unnoticed.

Can I check my VPN on my phone?

Yes. Open What Is My IP in your phone's browser with the VPN off, then on, and compare in the same way. Remember mobile data and Wi-Fi give different addresses, so do both checks on the same network.

Does this page store my IP address?

No. We show it to you and don't store it with the check.