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IPv6 Leak Test

Check whether your VPN still exposes native IPv6 routing and learn how to fix common leak patterns

Why leaks matter

Some VPN setups only tunnel IPv4 traffic. If your normal network also provides IPv6, websites can still see an IPv6 route that belongs to your home ISP or mobile carrier. Seeing IPv6 on its own is not always a leak. The real question is whether that IPv6 route still belongs to your original network after the VPN connects.

Live IPv6 check

Run the IPv6 leak test

This test probes an IPv6-only endpoint and enriches any exposed IPv6 address with provider, ASN, and location context.

Ready to test

Start the test to see whether your browser can reach an IPv6-only address.

Normal visible IPNot checked yet

Loaded during the test.

IPv6-only resultNo IPv6 captured

Run the test to probe IPv6 connectivity.

How to interpretNo IPv6 route

No IPv6 exposure is usually safe for VPN leak testing.

CheckResultMeaning
Visible IP routeNot checked yetThe normal route this site sees.
IPv6-only routeNot reachableNo browser-accessible public IPv6 route was detected.
IPv6 providerNone detectedCompare this provider with the VPN location you expect.

Best use: run once without a VPN, connect the VPN, then run again. If IPv4 changes to the VPN but IPv6 still belongs to your home ISP or mobile carrier, your setup is leaking IPv6.

How to run an IPv6 leak test

  1. Start on the homepage IP checker and note the visible IP version, ISP, and ASN before connecting your VPN.
  2. Connect your VPN and reload the same page. If your connection still shows with the same residential/mobile provider context, that is a warning sign.
  3. Use IP Location and ASN Lookup to compare provider and routing ownership before and after the VPN.
  4. Run DNS Leak Test and WebRTC Leak Test as companion checks. IPv6 leaks often appear together with other routing mistakes.

Important nuance: if your VPN provider supports native IPv6 well, seeing an IPv6 result is not automatically a failure. The failure is when the IPv6 result still maps back to your normal ISP or your expected non-VPN route.

Core checks

Common IPv6 leak signs

  • IPv4 changes after VPN connect, but IPv6 still maps to your original ISP.
  • Location and ASN stay tied to your home or mobile network on IPv6.
  • Sites still identify your original region even when VPN IPv4 changed.
  • DNS or WebRTC tests still show clues that match your normal network path.

This is why a simple IP change check is not enough. You want the visible route, DNS behavior, and browser behavior to tell a consistent story after the VPN connects.

Related explainers

How to fix IPv6 leaks

  • Prefer VPNs with full IPv6 support or explicit IPv6 leak protection.
  • Enable kill switch and leak protection features in the VPN app.
  • Review split tunneling rules and browser-specific proxy settings.
  • If your provider does not handle IPv6 properly, disable IPv6 on the device or router as a fallback, then retest.
  • Repeat the same checks after browser, OS, or VPN app updates.

If you need a broader privacy check after fixing IPv6 behavior, continue into the full VPN verification checklist.

Fix and compare

How to disable IPv6 on your device (last resort)

If your VPN does not handle IPv6 at all, disabling IPv6 on the device prevents leaks at the source. Only do this if your VPN has no built-in IPv6 leak protection.

  • Windows: Open PowerShell as admin and run Set-NetAdapterBinding -Name "*" -ComponentID ms_tcpip6 -Enabled $false. To re-enable later, change $false to $true.
  • macOS:Open System Settings > Network > select your active connection > Details > TCP/IP > set “Configure IPv6” to “Link-Local Only”.
  • Linux: Add net.ipv6.conf.all.disable_ipv6 = 1 to /etc/sysctl.conf and run sudo sysctl -p.
  • Router level: Many routers let you disable IPv6 in the WAN or LAN settings. This protects all devices on the network at once.

After disabling IPv6, rerun the homepage IP checker to confirm only IPv4 is visible, then continue with the VPN verification wizard.

Retest after changes

Which VPN features actually reduce IPv6 leak risk

  • Native IPv6 support or explicit IPv6 blocking built into the provider app.
  • A kill switch that keeps traffic from escaping when the tunnel drops or reconnects.
  • Predictable DNS handling so resolver traffic follows the same privacy path as the rest of your connection.
  • Clear app settings for split tunneling, protocol switching, and device-level leak controls.

If your provider cannot pass repeat IPv6 tests cleanly, treat that as a product limitation, not just a one-time glitch. It is often faster to compare a stronger provider and retest than to keep patching around a weak implementation.

Compare stronger options

What to do next after an IPv6 leak check

IPv6 is only one leak path. Validate DNS, WebRTC, and full VPN routing before trusting the setup.

1Next step
Resolver path

Run a DNS leak test

DNS leaks can still expose ISP or resolver information even after IPv6 behavior looks fixed.

Check DNS leaks
2Next step
Browser leak

Run a WebRTC leak test

Browser-level STUN/WebRTC behavior can expose extra network details outside the VPN route.

Check WebRTC leaks
3Next step
Guided flow

Use the VPN verification wizard

Track IP, DNS, WebRTC, proxy signals, and optional ASN changes in one guided workflow.

Open wizard
4Next step
Fix

Compare VPN providers

If your current provider cannot handle IPv6 safely, compare stronger VPN options and then retest.

Best VPNs in the USA

Protect your IP

Related Articles

VPN Connected but IP Not Changing? How to Fix It8 min read • February 9, 2026IPv4 vs IPv6: Understanding the Differences10 min read • April 26, 2026VPN vs Proxy: Privacy, Speed, and Which to Use14 min read • December 1, 2025What is a VPN and How Does it Work?9 min read • November 9, 2025

IPv6 leak detected? Use a VPN that protects IPv6

If your IPv6 address appears while connected, the tunnel is not covering IPv6 traffic. Pick a VPN that blocks or routes IPv6 so it cannot expose you.

Try NordVPN leak protectionCompare VPNs

Frequently asked questions

Does this page run a real IPv6 leak test?
Yes. The live check probes an IPv6-only endpoint from your browser, then enriches any exposed IPv6 address with provider, ASN, and location context through the IP Trackers lookup API.
What is an IPv6 leak?
An IPv6 leak happens when your VPN fails to tunnel or safely suppress your native IPv6 route, so websites can still see IPv6 information tied to your normal network.
If I still see IPv6 after connecting a VPN, is that always a leak?
No. Some VPNs support native IPv6 correctly. The issue is whether the visible IPv6 route still belongs to your original ISP or network context.
How do I fix an IPv6 leak?
Use a VPN with IPv6 support or leak protection, review split tunneling and browser settings, and disable IPv6 on the device or router if needed as a fallback.
Should I run DNS and WebRTC tests too?
Yes. IPv6 leaks often appear alongside DNS or WebRTC exposure, so you should verify all three paths when testing a VPN.
Do all home networks even use IPv6?
No. Some ISPs and networks still rely mostly on IPv4, while others use dual-stack or IPv6 heavily. That is why baseline checking matters before you call it a leak.
Can disabling IPv6 break websites or apps?
Usually most websites still work over IPv4, but disabling IPv6 can affect networks or apps that expect dual-stack connectivity. Prefer a VPN with proper IPv6 handling when possible, and use disabling IPv6 as a fallback troubleshooting step.