How to Test If Your VPN Is Actually Working
A VPN app showing "Connected" doesn't automatically guarantee every layer is working the way you expect. A few quick checks confirm it rather than assume it.
1. Check your IP address actually changed
Before connecting, note your current public IP and rough location. Connect to the VPN, then check again -- it should show the VPN server's location and a different address. If it hasn't changed, the tunnel isn't actually routing your traffic yet.
2. Run a DNS leak check
Even with your IP hidden, DNS requests (which translate domain names into addresses) can sometimes leak outside the tunnel and go straight to your ISP's DNS servers instead of the VPN's. A DNS leak test shows which DNS servers are actually handling your requests while connected -- they should belong to the VPN provider, not your ISP.
3. Test the kill switch
A kill switch is supposed to block all internet traffic if the VPN connection drops unexpectedly, so nothing falls back to your unprotected connection silently. With the kill switch enabled, disconnect your wifi briefly while connected to the VPN and confirm no app can reach the internet until the VPN reconnects.
4. Confirm WebRTC isn't leaking your IP in-browser
Browsers can expose your real IP through WebRTC even while a VPN is active, independently of your regular connection. A WebRTC leak test page will show whether your browser is exposing a local or public IP that doesn't match your VPN's.
Why this matters more on public networks
These checks take a few minutes and are worth running once after setup, and again any time you change networks that behave unusually -- a hotel or airport wifi is exactly the situation where a silent leak matters most.