How to compare VPN leak results across browsers

Your VPN looks connected, but one browser reports a different result from another. That can mean a browser is taking a different route, or it may point to an IP address getting around the VPN. Comparing the same test under controlled conditions helps you tell those cases apart.

The VPN Leak Test checks whether your real IP address is exposed through IPv6 or WebRTC while the VPN is on. It does not prove complete anonymity, and it is not a general test of every kind of VPN protection. Use the steps below to make the browser comparison meaningful.

Compare the browsers fairly

1. Connect your VPN and wait until its app or browser extension says the connection is established. Open the VPN Leak Test in the first browser and run the check.
2. Note whether the test reports an IPv6 or WebRTC exposure. If it displays addresses or other result details, record those too. Do not assume that two different displayed VPN addresses mean a leak.
3. Without changing networks or VPN settings, open the same test in your second browser and run it soon after the first. Keep both browsers in their regular browsing mode for this first comparison.
4. Compare what the test says about IPv6 and WebRTC, not just whether the addresses are identical. A VPN service can assign different exit addresses, and a browser extension may route one browser differently from a device-wide VPN.
5. If the results disagree, repeat the checks once. Confirm the VPN is still connected, and note whether you use a VPN app on the computer or a browser extension in either browser.

For a useful comparison, keep the computer on the same Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection and use the same VPN location if the service lets you choose one. Avoid switching servers between tests. For more on differences in VPN coverage, see full-device and browser-only VPN coverage.

What the result means

Both browsers show no IPv6 or WebRTC exposure

The test did not find the types of IP exposure it checks in either browser at that moment. That is reassuring, but it does not certify every app, connection, or privacy setting on the device. A later VPN reconnect, browser change, or network switch can change the result.

One browser reports an exposure and the other does not

That browser may be routing traffic differently, using different WebRTC behavior, or not covered by the same VPN configuration. This is especially likely when one browser has a VPN extension and the other relies on a VPN app for the whole device. Check whether the VPN extension is enabled and connected in the browser that reports exposure.

The displayed addresses differ, but neither browser reports exposure

A different address by itself is not proof of a leak. VPN services may use different exit servers, and an extension can choose a route that differs from the device-wide app. Check the exposure result and the VPN location or routing configuration before treating an address mismatch as a problem.

Both browsers report an IPv6 or WebRTC exposure

The VPN may not be covering that traffic, or a browser or VPN setting may allow it through. Keep the VPN connected while you investigate. Do not use the result as a reason to assume that turning the VPN off is safe.

The results change between repeated runs

The VPN may be reconnecting, switching exit servers, or applying different routes as the connection settles. A brief difference can also come from network changes. Run the checks again with the VPN connected and the network unchanged. If the result keeps flipping, save the details and ask the VPN provider what the reported route means.

How to fix a browser that reports exposure

1. Reconnect the VPN. Disconnect and reconnect using the VPN app or extension, then wait for its connected status before testing again. A browser may load before the VPN tunnel is ready after a restart or network change.
2. Check which VPN covers that browser. If you use an extension, open its settings in the affected browser and confirm it is enabled and connected. A browser extension usually covers browser traffic, not every app on the computer. If you use a device-wide VPN, check that the affected browser is not excluded by split tunneling.
3. Check the VPN connection on your computer. In Windows 11, open Settings › Network & internet › VPN and check the connection listed there. On macOS, open System Settings › VPN and check that the VPN is connected. If you connect through a separate VPN app, its own status and settings may be the relevant ones.
4. Review IPv6 and WebRTC protection. Look in the VPN app or extension for settings that specifically address IPv6 leaks or WebRTC. Names and options vary by provider. Change one setting at a time, reconnect, and run the test again so you can tell which change mattered.
5. Check browser extensions and profiles. A proxy, privacy, or network extension can change how a browser connects. Disable unrelated network extensions temporarily and retest. Also check that a private window is not being used for one test but not the other, since extensions may have different access in private browsing.
6. Update and retest. Update the browser and VPN app or extension, restart the browser, reconnect the VPN, and repeat the comparison. If one browser still reports exposure, contact the VPN provider with the browser name, operating system, VPN mode, and test result.

Why browsers can report different VPN results

A device-wide VPN and a browser VPN extension do not necessarily protect the same traffic. A device-wide VPN generally routes traffic from multiple apps through a tunnel. An extension may control only its browser, and separate browsers can have separate extension settings. Some VPN services also use split tunneling, which lets you exclude selected apps or traffic from the tunnel.

WebRTC is a browser feature used by real-time calls and other communication tools. It can use network paths that do not match ordinary page requests, which is why VPN leak checks look at it separately. A browser's WebRTC handling or a VPN's protection options can make the results differ. The test checks for IP exposure through IPv6 or WebRTC, not DNS leaks, malware, or whether a VPN provider keeps activity logs.

If you want to compare a regular window with private browsing, treat that as a separate test and check whether the VPN extension is allowed in private windows. The comparison method in normal and private tabs explains why those modes may behave differently.

VPN leak results are a snapshot of the connection at test time, so repeat the check after changing VPN settings, switching networks, or updating a browser.