Is My VPN Working?

You've connected your VPN and see the green icon — but is it actually working? VPN leaks are more common than you think, and they can expose your real IP address, location, and browsing activity even when you think you're protected.

Quick VPN Test (30 Seconds)

Step 1: Disconnect your VPN. Visit YesMyIP.com and note your IP address and location.

Step 2: Connect your VPN to any server.

Step 3: Visit YesMyIP.com again. Your IP address and location should be different. If they match your real info from Step 1, your VPN is NOT working.

Types of VPN Leaks

IP Address Leaks

The most basic leak. Your real IP is visible despite the VPN connection. This usually happens when the VPN connection drops momentarily, or when WebRTC (a browser technology) bypasses the VPN tunnel.

DNS Leaks

Even if your IP is hidden, your DNS queries might still go through your ISP's servers — revealing every website you visit. A good VPN routes DNS queries through its own encrypted servers.

WebRTC Leaks

WebRTC is built into Chrome, Firefox, and Edge for video calls. It can reveal your real IP even through a VPN. You can disable WebRTC in your browser settings or use a VPN that blocks it automatically.

How to Fix VPN Leaks

Enable the kill switch. Every major VPN has a kill switch that cuts your internet if the VPN drops. Turn it on in your VPN settings — it's often off by default.

Use the VPN's DNS servers. In your VPN settings, make sure DNS leak protection is enabled.

Disable WebRTC. In Firefox: go to about:config and set media.peerconnection.enabled to false. In Chrome: install the WebRTC Leak Prevent extension.

Update your VPN. Outdated VPN apps have known vulnerabilities. Always use the latest version.

Switch protocols. If you're leaking on one protocol, try switching from OpenVPN to WireGuard or vice versa.

VPNs That Never Leak

In our testing, these VPNs passed every leak test with zero issues:

🦁 NordVPN — Built-in kill switch, DNS leak protection, and WebRTC blocking.

⚡ ExpressVPN — Proprietary Lightway protocol with automatic leak prevention.

🦈 Surfshark — CleanWeb feature blocks leaks and ads simultaneously.