What does your public IP address reveal?

Websites you connect to can usually see your public IP address. That can reveal information about the network you are using, but it does not usually identify you by name or point to your exact home address.

If you use a VPN for privacy, the key question is whether websites see the VPN connection or your regular internet connection. The VPN Leak Test checks for real IP exposure through IPv6 or WebRTC while your VPN is on.

Check what your connection exposes

1. Connect to your VPN using its app or your device's VPN settings. Wait until it says the connection is active.
2. Open the VPN Leak Test in the browser you normally use.
3. Run the check and review whether your real IP appears to be exposed through IPv6 or WebRTC.
4. If you use more than one browser or device, repeat the check in each one. A VPN can be configured differently in different apps or devices.

For a useful comparison, run the check once with the VPN disconnected, then again after connecting it. The addresses or network details visible to websites can differ based on your VPN server and internet provider. Do not assume that a changed address means every kind of tracking is blocked.

What your public IP can reveal

Your internet provider and network

An IP address is assigned to a connection by an internet provider, workplace, school, mobile carrier, or VPN service. Lookup databases can often associate it with an organization or provider. They may also indicate whether the address belongs to a residential, mobile, business, or hosting network. These labels are estimates, and databases can be out of date.

An approximate location

IP-based location is usually an estimate, not a GPS reading. It may identify a country, state, or city, but it can be wrong or place you in a nearby region. The result depends on the provider's address records and the database a website uses. A VPN usually makes websites see the location associated with its exit server instead of your usual connection.

A shared or changing address

Your public IP may change over time, especially after reconnecting or when your provider assigns addresses dynamically. Some providers also share one public address among many customers using carrier-grade NAT. In that case, the same address can represent many households or devices, not one person.

Not your identity by itself

An IP address alone does not normally tell a website your name, street address, or exact device location. Your internet provider may have records that connect an address and a particular time to a customer account. That information is not generally available to every website. Websites may still identify you through an account you sign into, cookies, or other browser data, regardless of your IP.

A VPN server, if the VPN is working

When a VPN routes your traffic correctly, websites generally see the VPN server's public IP rather than the one assigned to your home or mobile connection. The visible location may be different from your actual location. A VPN does not make you anonymous by itself, and it does not stop a website from recognizing an account you sign into.

How to respond to the test result

The test does not detect a real IP leak

The check did not find your real IP exposed through the IPv6 or WebRTC paths it tests while the VPN is connected. This is a useful sign, but it is not a guarantee that every app, website, or connection is protected. Keep the VPN connected when you need it, and check again after changing browsers, VPN settings, or devices.

The test detects possible exposure

Your browser may be revealing information associated with your regular connection while the VPN is on. The result can depend on IPv6 support, browser behavior, and how the VPN handles WebRTC. Try the fixes below, then rerun the check. If the result persists, contact your VPN provider with the details shown by the test.

The result changes between browsers

Browsers can handle WebRTC and privacy controls differently. A result in one browser does not prove that another browser has the same behavior. Check the browser you use for sensitive activity, and repeat after changing privacy settings or installing an extension that affects connections.

How to reduce unwanted exposure

1. Confirm that the VPN is connected. Check the VPN app for an active connection, not just an open window. If you configured the VPN in system settings, on Windows 11 open Settings › Network & internet › VPN. On macOS, open System Settings and select VPN if your connection is configured there. Provider apps use their own screens.
2. Check the VPN's IPv6 options. Some VPNs route IPv4 traffic but do not handle IPv6 the same way. Look in the VPN app for an IPv6 protection, block, or leak-prevention setting. The name and availability depend on the provider. Do not change network settings you do not understand, and contact the provider if the test still detects exposure.
3. Review browser privacy controls. WebRTC is a browser technology used for real-time audio, video, and data connections. Browser controls and extensions vary, and blocking it can interfere with calls or other sites. Change one setting at a time, then retest and check that the sites you need still work.
4. Reconnect the VPN and retest. Disconnect and reconnect, or choose another VPN server. Run the test again in the same browser. If a leak appears only on one server, report that pattern to the VPN provider.
5. Check the device and app you are actually using. A VPN on a computer does not automatically cover a phone or a separate app on another device. On Windows 11, check Settings › Network & internet › VPN when using a built-in connection. On macOS, check the VPN entry in System Settings, or the provider app. On phones, check the VPN app or the VPN section in system settings, then test in the relevant mobile browser.

What an IP check cannot tell you

A public IP check does not show everything a website can learn. It does not test whether you are signed into an account, whether cookies identify you, or whether an app is sending data outside the browser. The VPN Leak Test focuses on whether your real IP leaks through IPv6 or WebRTC with the VPN on. Treat it as a focused connection check, not a complete privacy audit.

Your IP is one clue about the connection reaching a website, not a precise map of who you are or where you live.