How to check your VPN after switching Wi-Fi

Your internet connection drops for a moment when you move from one Wi-Fi network to another. The VPN may reconnect on its own, or it may pause, disconnect, or connect through a different server. If you want to know whether your browser traffic is still going through the VPN, check it after the switch rather than guessing from the VPN icon.

The VPN Leak Test checks whether your real IP address appears through IPv6 or WebRTC while the VPN is on. Run it before and after changing networks, then use the results and the checks below to tell a normal server change from a possible leak.

Check the VPN before and after switching Wi-Fi

1. Connect to your first Wi-Fi network and turn on your VPN. Open the VPN Leak Test in the browser you want to check.
2. Wait until the VPN app or operating system says the connection is active. Run the test and note the public IP information and any IPv6 or WebRTC warning it reports. This gives you a baseline for the first network.
3. Switch to the second Wi-Fi network without turning off the VPN if your device allows it. Watch the VPN app while the network changes. A brief loss of internet while the tunnel reconnects can be normal.
4. Once the VPN shows that it is connected and websites load again, run the test a second time. Compare the leak checks and IP information with your first result. If the connection changes again, wait for it to settle and test once more.

Keep the device, browser, and VPN settings the same for both checks. If possible, close other VPN apps or browser profiles so you know which connection you are testing. A VPN server change can give you a different public IP even when protection is working as intended.

What the result means

The test finds no IPv6 or WebRTC leak after the switch

This is a good sign for the browser connection at the time of the test. If the public IP information is associated with the VPN rather than your regular internet connection, the browser appears to be using the tunnel. Repeat the check after another network switch if you need to compare behavior in both places.

The public IP changes, but no leak is reported

A different IP by itself does not prove that the VPN failed. The VPN may have chosen another server, or the provider may assign a new exit address after reconnecting. Check whether the result still indicates that IPv6 and WebRTC are not exposing your regular connection. For more detail on changing exit addresses, see Why VPN exit IP changes do not always mean a leak.

The test shows your regular IP or reports an IPv6 or WebRTC leak

The browser may be reaching the internet outside the VPN for that type of traffic. Turn the VPN off and back on, check its leak-protection settings, and test again after the connection is stable. If the result repeats, do not assume that every app is protected just because the VPN icon is visible.

The test cannot complete or the page stops loading

The new Wi-Fi connection, VPN server, or a browser restriction may be blocking the test. First confirm that ordinary websites load with the VPN connected, then reload the test page. If this happens only on one Wi-Fi network, its sign-in page, firewall, or network policy may be interfering with the VPN.

How to fix a VPN that does not reconnect

1. Wait for the tunnel to reconnect. Network switching can take several seconds. Check the VPN app's connection status, and do not treat a test run during the reconnect as a stable result.
2. Reconnect the VPN. Disconnect and reconnect using the VPN app, then run the test again. If the provider app has an automatic reconnect or kill switch option, check that it is enabled. A kill switch is intended to block traffic when the tunnel drops, but its behavior depends on the app and settings.
3. Check the VPN connection settings. On Windows 11, open Settings › Network & internet › VPN to review a built-in VPN profile. On macOS, open System Settings › VPN if you use a system-configured connection. If you use a provider app, check its own settings instead, since those settings may control reconnection and leak protection.
4. Check the phone's VPN status. On Android, look under Settings › Network & internet › VPN, though wording can vary by device. On iPhone, check Settings › General › VPN & Device Management › VPN. If the VPN is managed by its own app, open that app and confirm it is connected after changing networks.
5. Review IPv6 and WebRTC protection. If the leak check repeats, look for options in the VPN app that block IPv6 leaks or protect against DNS and WebRTC leaks. Names differ between providers. Change one setting at a time, reconnect, and run the test again.
6. Update or reinstall the VPN app only if needed. If it repeatedly disconnects on the second network, first restart the device and check for an app update. If the problem persists, contact the VPN provider with the network-switch steps and test results. For a browser-specific check after changing settings, see How to test a VPN after changing browser settings.

What the browser test can and cannot confirm

The VPN Leak Test checks the browser's visible connection for IPv6 and WebRTC leaks while the VPN is on. It does not prove that every program on your device uses the VPN, that the VPN never disconnects, or that your online activity is anonymous. A VPN can also use different server addresses on different networks, so compare the leak findings as well as the IP information.

For a broader check, test the VPN again after switching networks and check the VPN app's connection status at the same time. Nothing you record is uploaded because this test does not record audio or video.