Check VPN split tunneling after moving closer to the router

You moved closer to the router to improve Wi-Fi, but now you are unsure whether your VPN is routing traffic the same way. A stronger connection does not normally change split tunneling rules, but reconnecting or roaming between access points can interrupt a VPN session.

Use the VPN Leak Test to check whether the browser exposes your real IP through IPv6 or WebRTC while the VPN is on. It cannot inspect every app or confirm your VPN's complete routing rules, so pair the browser test with the settings in your VPN app.

Check the VPN route

1. Open your VPN app and note which apps or websites are set to use the VPN and which are excluded. Split tunneling can work either way: some apps may be selected for the tunnel while all others use your regular connection, or selected apps may bypass it.
2. Connect the VPN and confirm it says connected. If your VPN has a server or location selection, note it so you can compare the same setup later.
3. Open the VPN Leak Test in the browser you want to check. Make sure this browser is included in, or excluded from, the tunnel according to the rule you are testing.
4. Review the test for signs that your real IP is exposed through IPv6 or WebRTC. Repeat after disconnecting and reconnecting the VPN, then compare the results.
5. If the issue involves another app, check that app using its own connection or status information. A browser test only tells you about the browser's traffic, not traffic from every program on the device.

If you did not run a test before moving, you cannot make a direct before-and-after comparison. You can still check whether each app follows the rule you set and repeat the test after reconnecting to Wi-Fi or the VPN.

What the result means

The browser follows the route you intended

If the browser is supposed to use the VPN and the test does not detect exposure through IPv6 or WebRTC, that is a useful sign that this browser's traffic is protected in those ways. It does not prove that every app uses the tunnel or that every kind of leak is impossible. If the browser is supposed to bypass the VPN, direct traffic may be expected.

The test detects a real IP leak

The browser may be revealing an address outside the VPN tunnel through IPv6 or WebRTC. First check the VPN app's rules for the browser, then repeat the test after reconnecting. For more steps on responding to a leak result, see VPN leak detected? What to do next.

The browser's route is different from the app's rule

The VPN app may not have applied the split tunneling rule, or the browser may be using a different profile or process than expected. Check the rule and the VPN's connection status. Some VPNs apply rules by application, while others offer different ways to choose traffic, so follow the controls in your own app.

The result changes after reconnecting

A changed result can mean the VPN re-established its tunnel or that the browser's network path changed. The test alone cannot tell whether the router caused the change. Check the VPN app's status and rules, then repeat under the same conditions.

How to fix a changed route

1. Reconnect the VPN. Disconnect and reconnect using the same server or location. A Wi-Fi roam or brief interruption can leave the VPN disconnected or trigger a new session.
2. Check the selected apps. In your VPN app, confirm the browser or other affected app is on the intended side of the split tunnel. If you changed the rule, reconnect the VPN and test again.
3. Confirm you are on the expected Wi-Fi. On Windows 11, check Settings › Network & internet › Wi-Fi. On macOS, open System Settings › Wi-Fi. If you moved between mesh nodes or access points, confirm they belong to the network you meant to use.
4. Check for another VPN or proxy. Close any second VPN app or proxy that may be routing browser traffic separately. On Windows 11, review Settings › Network & internet › Proxy. On macOS, review System Settings › Network › Wi-Fi › Details › Proxies.
5. Review IPv6 handling in the VPN app. If the test finds IPv6 exposure, look for an IPv6 leak protection or network protection option in the VPN app. Names and behavior vary, so use its help or settings rather than changing network settings at random.
6. Update or restart the VPN app. Install an available update, quit the app fully, reopen it, and reconnect. If the same app still bypasses the expected route, contact the VPN provider with the app version, device, and test result.

Why moving closer can affect a VPN test

Moving closer to a router can improve the wireless link, but Wi-Fi signal strength and VPN routing are different things. Split tunneling is a rule in the VPN software that decides which traffic enters the encrypted tunnel. A better signal does not rewrite that rule.

The move can matter indirectly if your device changes access points, briefly disconnects, or reconnects to the network. The VPN may then reconnect, change its server, or fail to restore a route as expected. Compare tests with the VPN connected, the same browser, and the same split tunneling rules. If the VPN app reports a new connection or location, note that too.

The VPN Leak Test checks browser exposure through IPv6 and WebRTC. It does not measure Wi-Fi signal strength, inspect the VPN route for every app, or certify that all your network traffic is protected.