What this test checks
The test reads the public IP address your browser is using, the network that owns it, its approximate location, and whether an IP-intelligence database associates that address with a VPN, proxy, Tor or hosting network. Those are the signals websites themselves can see. A browser cannot uncover your original address when a VPN is working correctly, so this test checks what is visible rather than trying to reveal what is hidden.
How to test your VPN properly
- Disconnect the VPN and run the test. Note the IP address and network operator, which should be your ISP's.
- Connect the VPN to the server you want to check and run the test again.
- Confirm the IP address changed and the network operator is no longer your ISP.
- Check the country matches the server you chose. A different city is common and usually harmless.
- Finish with the DNS leak test and the WebRTC check, which cover traffic this test does not.
Reading the VPN or proxy signal
| Result | What it means |
|---|---|
| VPN or anonymizer detected | The database recognises this address as an anonymizing service. Check it is the service you connected to. |
| Possible VPN or proxy | The address belongs to a hosting or data-centre network. Business networks can look similar. |
| No VPN or proxy detected | The database did not flag this address. If the IP changed to your VPN's, the database may simply not list it yet. |
| Detection unavailable | No determination was returned. Try again later; this says nothing about your protection. |
If your IP address did not change
Make sure the VPN app shows a connected state, then refresh this page and test again. Check whether split tunnelling excludes your browser, and whether a browser proxy extension is overriding the route. If you use a VPN browser extension rather than an app, only that browser's traffic is covered.
If the address changed but the location looks wrong
IP location is an estimate from commercial databases, which are often out of date for VPN addresses. Compare the country and network operator first. Our guide on why a VPN can show the wrong location explains the common causes.