VPN exit IP changes on a wired office connection?

Your VPN appears connected, but websites or network checks show a different IP address from one moment to the next. On a wired office connection, that can come from the VPN service, company routing, or a real traffic leak. The IP changing by itself does not tell you which one.

Use the VPN Leak Test while the VPN is connected. It checks whether your real IP is exposed through IPv6 or WebRTC in the browser. It cannot confirm that every program on your computer uses the VPN, so treat the result as a focused check, not an audit of all office traffic.

Check the VPN on your office connection

1. Connect your computer to the office Ethernet cable and connect to the VPN as usual. Keep the VPN on if your workplace requires it.
2. Open the VPN Leak Test in the same browser you use for the affected website. Allow the page to run its network checks if your browser asks for permission.
3. Note the time, the VPN location or server shown in your VPN app, and whether the test reports exposure through IPv6 or WebRTC. Do not share internal addresses or company details in a public post.
4. Run the check again after the IP appears to change. Keep Ethernet and the VPN connection in place, and compare the test results and the VPN app's connection details.
5. If your IT team approves, compare with the VPN disconnected during a safe test window. Do not disconnect a required work VPN or access sensitive systems without it.

If a website shows a different address but the test does not report your real IP through IPv6 or WebRTC, the website may be seeing a different VPN exit server, a company gateway, or a route used only by that site. For more context, see why VPN exit IP changes do not always mean a leak.

What the result means

The VPN is connected, and the test does not report real-IP exposure

This is reassuring for the browser checks the tool performs. A changing address at the destination can still be normal: a VPN provider may rotate exit servers, or your company may route web traffic through different gateways. Ask your IT team whether the VPN is expected to use a fixed exit IP if a service requires one.

The test reports your real IP through IPv6 or WebRTC

This suggests that the browser may be able to reveal an address outside the VPN route. It does not prove that every app is exposed, but it is worth reporting to your IT team. Include the time, VPN server or location, and which type of exposure the test identified. Do not send a screenshot if it includes private company information.

The test result stays the same, but one website sees different IPs

The change may be limited to that website's route, or it may reflect VPN server rotation rather than exposure of your normal connection. Some office VPNs also use split tunneling, which sends selected traffic outside the VPN. The browser test cannot verify the route used by every app or destination.

The test cannot complete or gives inconsistent results

An office firewall, proxy, VPN policy, browser extension, or blocked network request may interfere with the check. A failed request is not proof of a leak. Try an approved browser profile with extensions disabled, or ask IT whether the VPN or office network blocks the test's checks.

How to fix or investigate it

1. Confirm the VPN connection and server. Check the VPN app's connection status and selected location. If the server changes automatically, ask whether that behavior is expected. On Windows 11, check a built-in VPN profile under Settings › Network & internet › VPN. On macOS, check System Settings › VPN. A company VPN app may manage its own connection instead.
2. Repeat the test without changing networks. Keep the Ethernet cable connected and run the check again after a few minutes. If the app reports a new server at the same time, rotation or automatic failover is a plausible explanation. Record the details before changing anything.
3. Check with your IT team before changing VPN settings. Ask whether IPv6 is routed through the VPN, whether split tunneling is enabled, and whether the VPN uses a shared or rotating exit address. Do not disable IPv6, change VPN protocols, or alter company profiles unless IT tells you to.
4. Check for a configured proxy. A company proxy or secure web gateway can change the address a website sees. On Windows 11, inspect Settings › Network & internet › Proxy. On macOS, inspect System Settings › Network › Ethernet › Details › Proxies. Do not remove a managed proxy or change its settings on your own.
5. Compare the browser with the affected app. If only one app or website shows the changing address, tell IT which one and whether it is expected to use the VPN. Different apps can follow different routes when split tunneling or application-specific rules are in place.
6. Restart the VPN connection only when permitted. If your workplace allows it, disconnect and reconnect using the approved VPN app, then rerun the check. If the exposure remains, send the recorded details to IT instead of repeatedly switching servers.

What this browser test cannot prove

The VPN Leak Test checks browser-visible exposure through IPv6 or WebRTC. It does not confirm that the VPN is active for every program, establish whether an office exit address is static, or test every possible kind of leak. It also cannot tell whether a changing address is allowed by your employer's VPN policy.

A wired connection does not guarantee a single public address. Your office network can use several internet gateways, and the VPN can choose among its own exit servers. If the address matters for an allowlist, remote access rule, or compliance requirement, ask IT for the approved exit IPs and whether they can change.