Is My VPN Leaking?
Check for IP, DNS, and WebRTC leaks in your VPN connection
VPN Leak Test
Test Your VPN Security
This tool checks for IP, DNS, and WebRTC leaks that could expose your real identity while using a VPN.
IP Address Leak
Checks if your real IP is exposed despite using a VPN.
DNS Leak
Checks if DNS queries go through your VPN or leak to your ISP.
WebRTC Leak
Checks if WebRTC reveals your real local or public IP address.
How VPN leak testing works
IP Leak Test: Checks your visible public IP address. If your VPN is working properly, this should show the VPN server's IP and location, not your real one.
DNS Leak Test: Verifies which DNS server is resolving your domain lookups. Even with a VPN, your DNS queries might still go through your ISP's servers, revealing the websites you visit.
WebRTC Leak Test: WebRTC is a browser API used for real-time communication. It can sometimes bypass VPN tunnels and reveal your real public or local IP address through STUN server requests.
What Is a VPN Leak?
A VPN leak occurs when your real IP address, DNS queries, or WebRTC connections bypass the encrypted VPN tunnel and are exposed to websites, your ISP, or other third parties. When this happens, the privacy protection you expect from your VPN is partially or completely undermined — websites can see your real location, and your ISP can monitor which sites you visit, even though you believe you're protected.
VPN leaks are more common than most people realize. They can happen silently — your VPN app may show "Connected" while data is leaking through a side channel. That's why regular testing with a tool like this one is essential.
Types of VPN Leaks Explained
IP Address Leak
An IP leak means your real public IP address is visible to websites despite your VPN being active. This is the most serious type of leak because your IP address directly reveals your approximate physical location and ISP.
Common causes: The VPN connection drops momentarily and your traffic routes through the normal connection (no kill switch enabled). IPv6 traffic isn't tunneled through the VPN. Split tunneling is misconfigured, sending some traffic outside the VPN.
How to fix: Enable the kill switch in your VPN settings — this blocks all internet traffic if the VPN drops. Disable IPv6 in your VPN app or operating system settings. Avoid split tunneling for sensitive browsing sessions.
DNS Leak
A DNS leak means your domain name lookups (translating "google.com" into an IP address) are going to your ISP's DNS resolver instead of the VPN's. Even if your browsing traffic is encrypted through the VPN, your ISP can see every domain you visit through these leaked DNS queries.
Common causes: Your operating system's DNS settings override the VPN. The VPN app doesn't force its own DNS servers. On Windows, "Smart Multi-Homed Name Resolution" can send DNS queries through all available network interfaces simultaneously.
How to fix: Use your VPN provider's built-in DNS leak protection. Manually set your DNS to a privacy-focused provider like Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) or Google (8.8.8.8). On Windows, disable Smart Multi-Homed Name Resolution via Group Policy.
WebRTC Leak
WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communication) is a browser technology used for video calls and peer-to-peer connections. It can reveal your real IP address through STUN server requests, completely bypassing your VPN tunnel. This works even if your VPN is functioning correctly for all other traffic.
Common causes: WebRTC is enabled by default in Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and most browsers. Most VPNs don't block WebRTC connections. The leak happens at the browser level, not the network level, so VPN tunneling doesn't help.
How to fix: In Firefox, set media.peerconnection.enabled to false in about:config. Install a WebRTC Leak Prevent extension. Use a VPN that includes built-in WebRTC leak protection. Check your browser settings for WebRTC controls.
How to Fix VPN Leaks
- Enable the kill switch in your VPN app. This is the single most important setting — it blocks all internet traffic if the VPN connection drops, preventing any data from leaking.
- Check for IPv6 leaks by disabling IPv6 in your VPN settings or at the OS level. Many VPNs only tunnel IPv4 traffic, leaving IPv6 connections exposed.
- Disable WebRTC in your browser or install a WebRTC blocking extension. This prevents browser-level IP leaks that bypass the VPN entirely.
- Use your VPN's DNS servers — most reputable VPNs route DNS through their own encrypted servers. Enable DNS leak protection in your VPN settings.
- Test after connecting — run this leak test every time you connect to a new VPN server. Different servers and protocols may have different leak profiles.
Choosing a VPN That Doesn't Leak
When evaluating VPN providers for leak protection, look for these features:
- Kill switch — blocks traffic when VPN drops (both app-level and system-level)
- DNS leak protection — forces all DNS queries through the VPN's own servers
- WebRTC blocking — prevents browser-level IP exposure
- IPv6 leak protection — either tunnels IPv6 or blocks it entirely
- No-logs policy — independently audited, not just claimed
- RAM-only servers — data is wiped on reboot, reducing long-term risk
Popular VPN providers with strong leak protection include NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Mullvad, ProtonVPN, and Surfshark. Always verify by running a leak test like this one after connecting — don't just take the provider's word for it.