How to Check If Your VPN Is Actually Working (4 Quick Tests)

~/sheets/how-to-check-vpn-is-working.md
Your VPN Might Not Be Working
You are paying for a VPN, but how do you know it is actually protecting you? Many VPNs leak your real information through DNS, WebRTC, or misconfiguration. Here are four tests you should run right now.
Test 1: Check Your IP Address
Visit HackMyIP and check your IP address. If you see your real city and ISP instead of the VPN server location, your VPN is not connected. Your IP should show the VPN provider's server, not your home address.
Test 2: DNS Leak Test
Your DNS queries can leak outside the VPN tunnel, exposing every website you visit to your ISP. Run our DNS leak test. If the detected DNS servers belong to your ISP instead of your VPN provider, you have a DNS leak. Fix it by enabling the VPN's built-in DNS leak protection or manually setting your DNS to 1.1.1.1.
Test 3: WebRTC Leak Test
WebRTC is a browser feature that can bypass your VPN and expose your real IP address. Run our WebRTC leak test. If it shows a different IP than your VPN server, your browser is leaking your real address. Fix it by disabling WebRTC in your browser settings or using a browser extension.
Test 4: Privacy Checkup
Run our full privacy checkup to test all of the above at once. You will get a grade from A+ to F based on your overall privacy posture. Share the result with friends to compare.
What to Do If Your VPN Is Leaking
Enable your VPN's kill switch (prevents internet access if the VPN disconnects)
Turn on DNS leak protection in your VPN settings
Disable WebRTC in your browser (Firefox: about:config, set media.peerconnection.enabled to false)
Try a different VPN server or protocol
Consider switching to a VPN provider that has passed independent security audits
Test Regularly
VPN leaks can appear after software updates, network changes, or VPN client updates. Test monthly using our tools. Bookmark the privacy checkup and run it after every VPN update.
Last updated: April 2026