Why a proxy is not the same as a VPN
Learn what a proxy does, how a VPN differs, and what a browser leak test can and cannot tell you about your connection today.
A proxy and a VPN can both make a website see an IP address that is not your home connection. That does not make them interchangeable. A proxy usually handles traffic from one app or browser, while a VPN can route traffic from the whole device through an encrypted tunnel.
If you already use a VPN, the VPN Leak Test can check whether your real IP address is exposed through IPv6 or WebRTC in the browser you are testing. It cannot prove that every app on your device uses the VPN.
Check what your browser reveals
- Connect your VPN, if you are checking a VPN setup. Open the VPN Leak Test in the browser you use for sensitive browsing.
- Run the check and look at the reported addresses and leak results. Compare them with the VPN exit location or address shown by your VPN provider, if it provides one.
- If you use a proxy instead of a VPN, keep in mind that this test is for VPN leaks. The result may show the proxy address if your browser sends its traffic through that proxy, but it does not tell you whether other apps use it or whether the connection to the proxy is encrypted.
- For a useful comparison, check the same browser with the VPN disconnected, then reconnect the VPN and check again. Use the same network and browser both times.
Do not turn off a VPN if you need it for privacy or work access. A comparison is optional, and an address that identifies your home connection should not be posted publicly.
What the result means
The address matches the VPN connection
The browser is showing an address associated with the VPN rather than your usual public IP address for the checks performed. This is a good sign for that browser session, but it does not test every app, every network route, or every privacy risk.
Your regular public IP appears
Your browser may be reaching the internet outside the VPN for one of the checked paths. The VPN may have disconnected, may exclude this browser, or may not handle IPv6 or WebRTC as expected. Check the VPN connection and leak-protection options before relying on it.
The result changes when you use a proxy
A browser proxy can change the address a website sees for requests routed through that browser. That alone does not mean your whole device is protected. Other apps may connect directly, and the proxy may or may not encrypt the connection between your device and the proxy server.
How to fix a VPN leak
- Confirm the VPN is connected. Reconnect in the VPN app, then run the test again. A VPN icon or an open app is not proof that the connection is active.
- Check for a proxy that overrides the route. On Windows 11, review Settings › Network & internet › Proxy. On macOS, open System Settings › Network, select your active connection, then check Details › Proxies. Turn off a proxy you do not recognize or need, but check with your workplace or school before changing managed settings.
- Review the VPN settings. On Windows 11, open Settings › Network & internet › VPN to review the connection. On macOS, check System Settings › VPN. In the VPN app, look for its options for IPv6, WebRTC, leak protection, and split tunneling. Split tunneling means selected apps or sites are allowed to bypass the VPN.
- Check which browser is covered. A browser extension or browser-specific proxy may route only that browser. A VPN app can also have app exclusions. Test the browser you actually use, and check the VPN app's routing settings if another app shows your regular address.
- Reconnect and retest. Disconnect and reconnect the VPN, then run the leak test again. If the regular address still appears, contact the VPN provider or your network administrator with the result and the browser you tested.
What a proxy and a VPN actually protect
A proxy is an intermediary. Your browser or another configured app sends selected requests to the proxy, which forwards them to websites. Those websites usually see the proxy's public IP address for those requests. A proxy might handle just one browser, one app, or a specific type of traffic. It does not automatically cover everything on your device.
A VPN creates a connection, often called a tunnel, between your device and a VPN server. The VPN encrypts traffic inside that tunnel so your local network and internet provider generally cannot read its contents while it travels to the VPN server. Websites see the VPN server's public IP address. Some VPNs route nearly all device traffic, while split tunneling and app-specific settings can send selected traffic outside the tunnel.
Encryption depends on the kind of proxy. A basic proxy protocol may not encrypt the connection from your device to the proxy. Other proxy setups can encrypt that link. In either case, HTTPS still protects the content exchanged between your browser and an HTTPS website. A VPN's tunnel encryption also ends at the VPN server, so the VPN provider can see connection details such as destinations, even though HTTPS generally keeps page contents protected from it.
Neither option makes you anonymous. A website may identify you through an account, cookies, or other browser information, regardless of the IP address it sees. The leak test checks specific browser paths, not whether a proxy or VPN makes you impossible to track.
The VPN Leak Test runs in your browser, so its result applies to that browser and the checks it performs, not to every connection made by your device.
