How to Check if Your VPN is Working: Complete Testing Guide 2025

Why VPN Testing Matters

Connecting to a VPN doesn’t guarantee protection. Leaks, misconfigurations, and connection drops can expose your real identity. Regular testing ensures your VPN is actually working.

Quick VPN Health Check

Before diving into detailed tests, here’s a 60-second check:

Step 1: Check Your IP Address

1. Disconnect from VPN
2. Visit whatismyipaddress.com
3. Note your real IP and location
4. Connect to VPN
5. Refresh the page
6. Your IP and location should change

If the IP matches your VPN server location, basic connection is working.

Comprehensive VPN Tests

Test 1: IP Address Leak Test

Your IP address is your main identifier online. VPN should hide it completely.

How to Test:

1. Connect to VPN
2. Visit multiple IP checking sites:
   • ipleak.net
   • whatismyipaddress.com
   • ipinfo.io
3. Verify IP matches VPN server, not your real location

What to Look For:

• ✅ IP matches VPN server country
• ✅ No secondary IPs visible
• ❌ Your real IP appearing anywhere

Test 2: DNS Leak Test

DNS requests can bypass VPN tunnel, revealing sites you visit to your ISP.

How to Test:

1. Connect to VPN
2. Visit dnsleaktest.com
3. Run “Extended Test”
4. Check DNS server results

What to Look For:

• ✅ DNS servers belong to VPN provider
• ✅ No ISP DNS servers visible
• ❌ Your ISP’s DNS appearing

If DNS is Leaking:

• Enable DNS leak protection in VPN settings
• Configure custom DNS (VPN’s DNS or 1.1.1.1)
• Check firewall isn’t bypassing VPN

Test 3: WebRTC Leak Test

WebRTC is a browser feature that can expose your real IP even with VPN.

How to Test:

1. Connect to VPN
2. Visit browserleaks.com/webrtc
3. Check for local and public IP addresses

What to Look For:

• ✅ No real IP address visible
• ✅ Only VPN IP showing (or no IP)
• ❌ Your real local IP (192.168.x.x, etc.)
• ❌ Your real public IP

How to Fix WebRTC Leaks:

Firefox:

1. Type about:config in address bar
2. Search for media.peerconnection.enabled
3. Set to false

Chrome: Install WebRTC blocking extension

Test 4: IPv6 Leak Test

Many VPNs only handle IPv4, leaving IPv6 exposed.

How to Test:

1. Connect to VPN
2. Visit test-ipv6.com
3. Check if IPv6 is visible

What to Look For:

• ✅ “No IPv6 address detected” or VPN’s IPv6
• ❌ Your real IPv6 address

How to Fix:

• Enable IPv6 leak protection in VPN
• Disable IPv6 on your device/router

Test 5: Kill Switch Test

Kill switch should block internet if VPN disconnects.

How to Test (Careful!):

1. Connect to VPN
2. Open a website that shows your IP
3. Disconnect VPN or simulate connection drop
4. Check if website still loads and what IP shows

What to Look For:

• ✅ No internet access when VPN drops
• ✅ Or VPN reconnects before traffic flows
• ❌ Internet works with real IP exposed

Test 6: Speed Test

Verify VPN isn’t slowing you down excessively.

How to Test:

1. Disconnect VPN, run speed test (speedtest.net)
2. Note: Download, Upload, Ping
3. Connect VPN, run test again
4. Compare results

Expected Results:

• Modern VPN (WireGuard): 5-20% speed loss
• OpenVPN: 10-30% speed loss
• Poor VPN: 50%+ speed loss

Advanced Testing

Encryption Verification

For technical users, verify traffic is encrypted:

Using Wireshark:

1. Capture traffic while connected to VPN
2. All traffic should be encrypted (unreadable)
3. No plain HTTP or readable data visible

Torrent IP Check

If you use torrents:

1. Connect to VPN
2. Visit ipleak.net
3. Click “Activate” under Torrent Detection
4. Add the magnet link to your torrent client
5. Verify the IP shown matches VPN

VPN Testing Checklist

Run these tests regularly:

Test	Frequency	Priority
IP Leak	Each connection	Critical
DNS Leak	Weekly	High
WebRTC Leak	After browser updates	High
IPv6 Leak	Monthly	Medium
Kill Switch	Monthly	High
Speed	Weekly	Low

When Your VPN Fails Tests

Common Causes

1. Split tunneling enabled: Some traffic bypasses VPN
2. VPN not connected: Connection dropped silently
3. Wrong protocol: Some protocols more leak-prone
4. Firewall issues: Local firewall interfering
5. Browser settings: WebRTC not disabled

Solutions

1. Check VPN is actually connected
2. Disable split tunneling
3. Use WireGuard or OpenVPN
4. Enable all leak protection options
5. Restart VPN application

Testing BroVPN

BroVPN is designed to prevent leaks:

• Built-in DNS leak protection
• WireGuard protocol (modern, secure)
• Kill switch included
• IPv6 handled properly

Test your connection: After connecting via @bro_vpn_bot, run the tests above to verify protection.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I test my VPN?

Test weekly for regular use. Always test after VPN updates or system changes.

My IP changed but shows wrong country?

IP geolocation databases aren’t always accurate. Check if the IP belongs to your VPN provider.

Tests pass but websites know I’m using VPN?

Some sites detect VPN by:

• Known VPN IP ranges
• Behavioral analysis
• Payment method location mismatch

This doesn’t mean your VPN is leaking.

Can websites detect VPN even without leaks?

Yes, through:

• VPN IP blacklists
• Traffic patterns
• Account history

But without leaks, they can’t identify YOU specifically.

Conclusion

Regular VPN testing ensures you’re actually protected. Spend 5 minutes weekly running these tests, and you’ll catch any issues before they compromise your privacy.

See Also

• What Is a DNS Leak and How to Test It
• IPv6 Leak: Why It Happens and What to Do
• Kill Switch: Why It Matters
• What Your VPN Provider Can See
• BroVPN Security