DNS Leak Checker
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IP Leak Test – Is Your VPN Hiding Your Real IP Address?

This tool checks whether your VPN is successfully masking your real IP address. Results load automatically — no clicks needed.

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What Is an IP Leak?

Your IP address is a unique numerical label assigned to your device by your Internet Service Provider every time you connect to the internet. Think of it as your device's return address — it tells websites where to send the data you request. But it also reveals your approximate physical location, your ISP's identity, and can be used by advertisers, trackers, and surveillance systems to monitor your online activity across every website you visit.

An IP leak occurs when a VPN fails to properly mask your real IP address, exposing it to websites, analytics trackers, and other third parties even though you believe you are protected. You connect to your VPN, see the "connected" status, and assume your real IP is hidden — but behind the scenes, your actual IP is being sent to every server you communicate with. This happens far more often than most VPN users realise, and it completely defeats the purpose of using a VPN for privacy.

There are three main types of IP leaks. Direct IP leaks happen when your VPN connection drops momentarily and your traffic reverts to your real connection — even a one-second gap exposes your real IP. WebRTC leaks occur when your browser's built-in WebRTC technology exposes your real IP through JavaScript, completely bypassing the VPN tunnel at the browser level. IPv6 leaks happen when your VPN tunnels only IPv4 traffic but leaves IPv6 traffic unprotected, allowing websites that support IPv6 to see your real address.

Certain users are at higher risk of IP leaks. People using budget or free VPNs with poor leak protection are the most vulnerable, as these providers often cut corners on kill switches and IPv6 handling. Users who switch VPN servers frequently create brief windows of exposure during reconnection. Anyone using split tunneling configurations — where some apps bypass the VPN — can inadvertently route browser traffic outside the encrypted tunnel, exposing their real IP to the websites they visit.

Running a regular IP leak test is essential because VPN protection is not static. Software updates can reset your VPN settings, protocol changes can introduce new leak vectors, and switching between Wi-Fi networks can cause your VPN to briefly disconnect. A 10-second test on this page confirms that your VPN is actively masking your IP and that no leaks have appeared since your last check. We recommend testing every time you connect to a new network.

How Does a VPN Hide Your IP Address?

When you connect to a VPN, all your internet traffic is routed through an encrypted tunnel to a VPN server located in the country or city you've selected. The VPN server then forwards your requests to websites on your behalf. From the website's perspective, the traffic is coming from the VPN server's IP address — not yours. Your real IP address never reaches the destination server, effectively masking your identity and location from every site you visit.

The quality of this IP masking depends heavily on the VPN provider. Premium VPNs like NordVPN route not only your regular traffic but also your DNS requests and IPv6 traffic through their servers, closing every potential leak vector. Budget or free VPNs often have gaps in their protection — they may tunnel your HTTP traffic but leave DNS queries going to your ISP, or they may not handle IPv6 at all, allowing websites that support it to see your real address despite the VPN connection.

One of the most critical VPN features for IP protection is the kill switch. A kill switch monitors your VPN connection and instantly blocks all internet traffic if the VPN drops — even for a fraction of a second. Without a kill switch, your device will automatically revert to your regular internet connection during any VPN disruption, sending your real IP to whatever websites you're visiting at that moment. Most modern VPNs include this feature, but it's often disabled by default and must be manually enabled in the settings.

Even with a properly configured VPN and an active kill switch, browser-level WebRTC technology can still expose your real IP address. WebRTC operates independently of your network configuration and can discover your IP through STUN server queries that bypass the VPN tunnel entirely. This is why IP leak protection requires both VPN-level and browser-level measures. We have a dedicated WebRTC Leak Test that checks specifically for this type of exposure.

What to Do If Your IP Is Leaking

  1. 1

    Confirm the Leak

    Run the test above multiple times and on different networks — Wi-Fi, mobile data, and wired connections — to confirm the leak is consistent and not a temporary glitch caused by a momentary VPN reconnection.

  2. 2

    Enable Your VPN's Kill Switch

    Open your VPN app settings and enable the kill switch (sometimes called "network lock" or "internet kill switch"). This prevents your real IP from being exposed during brief VPN disconnections, which are the most common cause of intermittent IP leaks.

  3. 3

    Switch VPN Server

    The server you're currently connected to may be misconfigured or overloaded. Try connecting to a different server in the same country, or a different country entirely, then re-run this test to see if the leak persists.

  4. 4

    Change VPN Protocol

    Switch between WireGuard, OpenVPN (TCP and UDP), and IKEv2 in your VPN settings. Different protocols handle traffic routing differently, and some perform better than others on certain networks. WireGuard generally offers the most reliable leak protection on modern systems.

  5. 5

    Check for WebRTC Leaks Separately

    IP leaks and WebRTC leaks are different issues that require different fixes. Even if this test shows your VPN IP, your browser might still be leaking your real IP through WebRTC. Run our WebRTC Leak Test to check for browser-level exposure.

  6. 6

    Check for IPv6 Leaks

    If your ISP supports IPv6, your VPN may be tunnelling only IPv4 traffic while leaving IPv6 completely unprotected. This means websites that support IPv6 can see your real address. Visit our IPv6 leak fix guide for instructions on disabling IPv6 or ensuring your VPN handles it correctly.

  7. 7

    Reinstall Your VPN Client

    Corrupted installation files, outdated network drivers, or cached configuration from a previous version can all cause persistent leaks that survive settings changes. Fully uninstall your VPN client, restart your device, then download and install the latest version from your provider's website.

  8. 8

    Switch to a VPN with Verified Leak Protection

    If your current VPN continues to leak after exhausting all the fixes above, the provider may not have adequate leak protection built into their infrastructure. Choose a VPN that has been independently audited for leak prevention and has a proven track record of passing third-party leak tests consistently.

NordVPN consistently leads independent leak protection tests, with built-in DNS, IPv6, and WebRTC leak prevention on every server. ExpressVPN and Surfshark also perform well in third-party audits. The key features to look for are an automatic kill switch, DNS leak protection, IPv6 leak protection, and WebRTC blocking. Avoid free VPNs, which frequently fail leak tests and may even sell your browsing data to third parties.

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Related Guides

DNS Leak CheckerTest your DNS, IP & WebRTC privacyWebRTC Leak TestCheck if your browser is leaking your real IPVPN Not Working?Diagnose why your VPN isn't protecting youIP Address CheckerSee your public IP and geolocationIPv6 Leak FixFix IPv6-specific DNS and IP leaksTorrent Leak TestCheck your VPN for torrent-specific leaksFix WebRTC LeakStop WebRTC leaks in any browser

Frequently asked questions

What does an IP leak test check?

An IP leak test checks whether your real public IP address is visible to websites and online services while you are connected to a VPN. It compares the IP address your browser is sending to websites against what your VPN should be masking. If your real IP is visible, the test identifies this as a leak. The test also checks for proxy and hosting indicators that suggest whether traffic is being routed through a VPN or data centre rather than a residential ISP connection.

Can I have an IP leak even with a VPN connected?

Yes, this is more common than most users realise. IP leaks can occur when a VPN connection momentarily drops and reconnects, when your VPN client doesn't have a kill switch enabled, or when certain traffic bypasses the tunnel through split tunneling configurations. Browser-level technologies like WebRTC can also expose your real IP independently of the VPN tunnel. Even premium VPNs can leak under specific network conditions, which is why regular testing is important.

What is the difference between an IP leak and a DNS leak?

An IP leak exposes your real IP address to websites, revealing your location and identity. A DNS leak exposes your browsing activity — the websites you visit — to your ISP, even though your IP may be hidden by the VPN. Both are serious privacy failures, but they expose different types of information through different mechanisms. You should test for both: use this IP leak test for your IP address and the DNS Leak Checker on our homepage for DNS queries.

What is the difference between an IP leak and a WebRTC leak?

An IP leak is a general term for any situation where your real IP address is exposed despite using a VPN. A WebRTC leak is a specific type of IP leak caused by browser WebRTC technology, which can bypass VPN tunnels entirely and reveal your real IP through JavaScript. WebRTC leaks happen at the browser level and require browser-specific fixes, while other IP leaks may be caused by VPN software configuration, kill switch failures, or IPv6 routing issues.

Does a VPN completely hide my IP address?

A properly configured VPN should hide your real IP from websites, replacing it with the VPN server's IP. However, no VPN can guarantee 100% IP concealment in all scenarios. WebRTC leaks, IPv6 leaks, DNS leaks, kill switch failures, and split tunneling configurations can all expose your real IP. The most reliable VPNs — like NordVPN — include multiple layers of leak protection that address each of these vectors simultaneously.

Is my exact home address visible from my IP?

No. Your IP address reveals your approximate location — typically accurate to the city or regional level — along with your ISP's name. It does not reveal your street address, apartment number, or exact physical location. However, your ISP does have your exact address on file and can link your IP to your identity if compelled by a court order. Law enforcement can use your IP as a starting point to request subscriber information from your ISP.

How do I know if my VPN kill switch is working?

The simplest test is to connect to your VPN, start a continuous IP check (refresh this page repeatedly), then manually disconnect the VPN. If your real IP briefly appears before the VPN reconnects, your kill switch is either not enabled or not functioning correctly. A working kill switch should block all internet traffic the moment the VPN drops, meaning the page should fail to load entirely rather than showing your real IP.

Which VPNs have the best IP leak protection?

NordVPN consistently leads independent leak protection tests, with built-in DNS, IPv6, and WebRTC leak prevention on every server. ExpressVPN and Surfshark also perform well in third-party audits. The key features to look for are an automatic kill switch, DNS leak protection, IPv6 leak protection, and WebRTC blocking. Avoid free VPNs, which frequently fail leak tests and may even sell your browsing data to third parties.

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