Verify Your IP Address Changed

Privacy help

Check 1: compare your public IP

1. Disconnect the VPN and search "what is my IP" or visit any IP checking site. Write the address down.
2. Connect the VPN.
3. Refresh the page. The address should be different, and the location shown should match your chosen server.

If the IP did not change, the tunnel is not carrying your traffic. Reconnect, and if it still fails, work through cannot connect to the VPN.

Check 2: test for DNS leaks

Your IP can change while DNS requests still leak to your internet provider. DNS is the lookup that turns a site name into an address, and if those lookups skip the tunnel, your provider can still see which sites you visit even though your IP looks hidden. Run a DNS leak test while connected and check that the DNS servers listed belong to the VPN, not your provider. The DNS leak guide shows how to run the test and read the results.

Check 3: look at the app's stats

The tunnel app shows live numbers you can read in a few seconds. Open the tunnel screen and look for two things:

• Latest handshake. This is the last time your device and the server agreed on keys. A handshake from seconds or a minute ago means the tunnel is live.
• Transfer counters. The screen lists bytes sent and received. Load a web page and watch the received number climb. Growing counters mean your traffic is really going through the tunnel.

If the handshake is old and the counters are stuck at zero, the tunnel is up in name only and is not carrying traffic. Deactivate it, activate it again, and recheck.

If a check does not pass

Each failed check points to a different fix:

• The IP did not change. The tunnel is not carrying traffic. Reconnect, then follow cannot connect to the VPN.
• The IP changed but the location is wrong. That is normal. IP location databases are often off by a city or country. As long as the address is not yours, the tunnel is working.
• The leak test shows your provider's DNS. Your DNS is leaking. Re-import a fresh config and read the DNS leak guide for the full fix.
• The handshake never updates. The server may be busy or unreachable. Switch locations and try again.

Tip: run all three checks right after your first connection on a new device. Once you know what a healthy result looks like, spotting a problem later takes seconds.

Keep expectations honest

A changed IP means websites see the VPN server's address instead of yours. It does not make you anonymous everywhere online. Sites you log in to still know who you are, and cookies and browser fingerprints keep working. To understand the boundary, read how VPNs work. To see exactly what we do and do not store about your connection, read our transparency page.