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How to check privacy after switching VPN locations

Check for IP leaks after each VPN location change, learn what different addresses mean, and fix settings that could expose your real connection.

Michael ReedHardware tests Tests 4 min read

You switch your VPN to another country, but you are not sure whether your traffic is still going through it. A new IP address is usually expected after changing locations. The important question is whether your regular connection is exposed instead.

Run the VPN Leak Test after connecting to each location. It checks whether your real IP address is exposed through IPv6 or WebRTC, two ways a browser may reveal connection details.

Check the VPN after changing locations

  1. Open the VPN Leak Test in the same browser where you use the VPN. If your VPN is a browser extension, the test only checks that browser's connection.
  2. Connect to your first VPN location. Wait until the VPN app says the connection is active, then open or refresh the test page.
  3. Run the checks shown on the page. Look for any result that says your real IP is exposed, or reports an address outside the VPN connection.
  4. Switch to another VPN location. Wait for the VPN to reconnect, then run the test again. Do this for each location you plan to use.
  5. Compare the results. A different exit IP after a location change is normal. A warning that your real IP is exposed is the result to investigate.

For a useful comparison, test while connected to the VPN, not while it is disconnected. A VPN location is a server choice, not a promise that websites will identify your exact city or country correctly.

What the result means

The test does not report an IP leak

The browser did not reveal your real IP through the IPv6 or WebRTC checks it runs. This is a good sign for the connection you tested, but it is not proof of complete anonymity or a guarantee that every app on the device uses the VPN.

The test reports your real IP

Your browser may be exposing an address associated with your regular internet connection. Reconnect the VPN and test again. If the warning remains, check the VPN's leak protection and routing settings below.

The displayed IP changes when you switch locations

That change is normally expected. VPN providers may assign different shared exit addresses for different servers, and a server's IP location can be listed inaccurately by websites. A changed address alone does not mean your real connection leaked. For more on this distinction, see Why VPN exit IP changes do not always mean a leak.

The results differ between browsers

The browsers may use different settings, extensions, or privacy protections. Your VPN might also be a browser extension that covers only one browser. Compare the same browser before and after switching locations, and check that the VPN app is not set to exclude that browser.

How to fix an exposed IP

  1. Reconnect to the VPN. Disconnect, choose the location again, and wait for the app to confirm the tunnel is active. Run the test again after reconnecting.
  2. Check the VPN's leak protection. In the VPN app, look for options such as IPv6 leak protection or WebRTC leak protection. Names and availability vary by provider. Turn on the relevant protection, reconnect, and retest.
  3. Check split tunneling. Split tunneling lets selected apps bypass the VPN. Make sure your browser is not on an excluded-app list. If the VPN is a browser extension, confirm it is connected in the browser you are testing.
  4. Turn on the kill switch. If available, this setting blocks internet access when the VPN disconnects unexpectedly. It does not replace leak protection, but it can reduce exposure during a dropped connection.
  5. Review the VPN connection in your system settings. On Windows 11, open Settings › Network & internet › VPN and check the connection you use. On macOS, open System Settings › VPN, or System Settings › Network and select the VPN connection. If you use your provider's app, check its own connection and routing settings too.
  6. Update and retest. Install updates for the VPN app and browser, restart the browser, reconnect, and run the checks again. If the same leak appears across locations, contact the VPN provider with the test result and the browser you used.

What this test cannot confirm

The VPN Leak Test checks for real IP exposure through IPv6 or WebRTC. It does not confirm that every app on your device is covered, that a website sees the country you selected, or that your accounts cannot identify you. Signing in to a personal account can still identify you regardless of the VPN location.

It is also not a complete check of every kind of network privacy, such as DNS handling. A clean result means the tested browser did not expose your real IP through the checks shown, not that all online activity is private.

Repeat the test after changing VPN locations, changing VPN settings, or switching browsers if you rely on the VPN to hide your regular IP address.

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