NordVPN leak test
Connect to NordVPN and run this NordVPN leak test to make sure it hides your real IP. The test checks your public IP, IPv6 and WebRTC addresses and tells you if anything leaks past the VPN.
How to test NordVPN for leaks
- Disconnect NordVPN and run the test once. Note your real IP and provider.
- Connect to any NordVPN server and run the test again.
- Your IP, provider and location should change. If the result is red, see the fixes below.
NordVPN DNS leak test
A DNS leak sends the sites you visit to your ISP’s DNS servers instead of NordVPN’s. NordVPN uses its own DNS servers while connected, so leaks usually come from a custom DNS setting or another app changing your DNS. Our DNS leak test is coming soon. Until then, read what a DNS leak is and how to spot one.
How to fix a NordVPN leak
- WebRTC leak: use the NordVPN app instead of only the browser extension, or turn on WebRTC protection in the extension.
- IPv6 leak: update the app and reconnect. If it continues, disable IPv6 on your device.
- Leaks when the connection drops: turn on the Kill Switch in NordVPN’s settings.
- Custom DNS: if you set your own DNS servers in the app, turn that option off to use NordVPN’s DNS.
NordVPN settings that prevent leaks
NordVPN includes several features that stop leaks, but some of them are off by default or work differently on each device. Check these in the app’s settings.
- Kill Switch: blocks your internet if the VPN connection drops. NordVPN offers an internet kill switch for the whole device and, on some platforms, an app kill switch that closes chosen apps.
- NordLynx protocol: NordVPN’s version of WireGuard. It is fast and handles reconnects well, which reduces the short gaps where leaks can happen.
- Custom DNS: leave this off unless you have a reason to use it, so lookups go to NordVPN’s own DNS servers.
- Split tunneling: apps on the split tunneling list skip the VPN. Make sure your browser and torrent client are not on it.
- Auto-connect: set NordVPN to connect on startup and on untrusted Wi-Fi, so you are never online without it by mistake.
Testing NordVPN on every device
A NordVPN account covers several devices, and each one has its own app and settings. A setting you changed on your laptop does not change your phone. Run this NordVPN leak test on each device and browser you use with the VPN connected. On phones, open this page in the mobile browser after you connect the app.
NordVPN browser extension vs app
The NordVPN browser extension protects only the browser it is installed in. It is a quick way to change your location in one browser, but other apps on your computer still use your real IP. The desktop and mobile apps protect the whole device. If this test shows a leak while you only use the extension, install the app and test again.
FAQ
Does NordVPN leak my IP?
It should not. A correctly working NordVPN connection shows a NordVPN IP in every card above. If the test is red, one of the settings above needs changing.
Why is the provider not called NordVPN?
VPN servers often run on networks with another company’s name. What matters is that the IP is different from your real one and is marked as a VPN or hosting network.
How do I test NordVPN on my phone?
Connect the NordVPN app on your phone and open this page in your mobile browser.
Which NordVPN server should I use for the test?
Any server works. Pick one close to you for a fast result, then try a server in another country to check that your IP and location change.
Does NordVPN’s Threat Protection affect the test?
No. Threat Protection blocks ads, trackers and malicious sites. It does not change your IP address or how the leak test works.