How to Check If Your VPN Extension Is Working
Check a VPN extension’s public IP, website access, private-tab behavior and reconnection. Understand what your results prove and when to investigate further.
Kayla
Quetta Networks
Check a VPN extension by comparing your browser’s public IP address before and after connecting, then loading a normal website. Keep the network unchanged during the comparison. Repeat the check after reopening the browser and in any private tabs you use. A “Connected” indicator alone does not verify the route a request actually used.
These checks help you understand connection behavior. They do not certify the provider’s security or prove that every app on your phone uses the extension.
What should you record before connecting?
Record your starting public IP address in the browser where the extension is installed. Note the browser, extension, connection type and whether another VPN is already active. Without that baseline, you may mistake a network change or a separate VPN app for the extension’s effect.
Use a webpage that reports your public IP, such as Proton’s IP checker. You do not need to use that provider’s VPN to view the result.
Your phone’s Wi-Fi settings may show a local network address instead. That is a different value from the public address a website sees. Compare the same kind of address on the same check page throughout the test.
Step 1: Compare the public IP before and after connection
Use one extension and one stable network for the initial comparison. If you can safely control the setup, pause other VPN or proxy tools so you know which connection you are checking.
Disconnect the VPN extension and open the IP-check page.
Note the reported public IP address and network information.
Open the extension and connect to an available server.
Reopen or refresh the IP-check page in the same browser.
Compare the address and confirm that an ordinary website loads.
For an extension intended to route the check page through its server, a different public IP is the expected result. Keep Wi-Fi or mobile data unchanged during this comparison: switching networks can change the address independently of the extension.
If the page separately reports IPv4 and IPv6, keep both results. A change in one address family does not establish what happened to the other.
Step 2: Interpret the result correctly
Result | What it suggests | What to do next |
|---|---|---|
IP changes and webpages load | The checked request used a different public route | Check the sessions and restarts you normally use |
IP does not change | The request may not be using the intended connection | Review exclusions, connection state and other active tools |
IP changes but a particular site fails | Routing changed, but that site or server path has a separate issue | Compare another ordinary site and another available server |
Neither the check page nor other sites load | The active route may be unavailable | Disconnect to establish whether normal connectivity returns |
The IP location label looks unexpected | The label may differ from the selected location or the connection may be wrong | Check the address and provider information, not just a city label |
An IP change is evidence about the request that reached the check service. It is not proof about all tabs, protocols or applications. Likewise, a website’s country selector or account currency is not an IP test.
Step 3: Check exclusions and private tabs
Review any website exclusions or split-tunneling settings in the extension. Some products can route only selected sites or bypass specified domains. Make sure the IP-check page is included in the connection you are trying to verify.
Test private browsing separately if you use it. Extension access and connection behavior can depend on the browser’s private-session settings. A working regular tab does not establish the private-tab result.
Open an IP-check page in the relevant private session and record the outcome. Enable private-browsing access only if your browser offers it and you want that extension involved in the session. Do not infer the outcome from the icon in a different window.
For background on the available browser routes, see VPN extensions on Android.
Step 4: Recheck after the browser or network changes
A connection that works immediately after installation may behave differently after the browser closes or the network changes. Recheck the actions that are part of your normal use.
Action | What to observe |
|---|---|
Switch between tabs | Whether newly loaded pages use the expected route |
Put the browser in the background, then return | Whether the session remains connected or reconnects |
Close and reopen the browser | Whether manual connection is needed |
Switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data | Whether the extension reconnects and webpages load |
Disconnect the extension | Whether the browser returns to the expected non-extension route |
When switching networks, establish a new baseline for that network rather than comparing it blindly with the earlier address. A public IP can change even without a VPN.
Record reconnection behavior instead of assuming that “auto-connect” means traffic is blocked during every interruption. If blocking traffic outside the VPN is essential, compare the system-level options described in our VPN extension vs VPN app guide.
Should you check DNS and WebRTC too?
These checks answer questions beyond a normal webpage’s exit IP. DNS involves looking up domain names. WebRTC supports browser communication features that can expose network-address information under some configurations. Their results need to be interpreted alongside the browser and provider’s documented behavior.
You can use DNSLeakTest to inspect the DNS resolvers observed during its test and BrowserLeaks’ WebRTC test to inspect the address information available through that feature.
Keep the results specific:
A DNS resolver with a different location label is not, by itself, proof of a leak. Check whether the observed resolver matches the provider’s intended configuration.
A local address or masked local identifier is not the same thing as exposure of your original public IP.
If a test reveals your original public IP while you expect it to be hidden, investigate the exact configuration and the provider’s documentation before relying on that setup.
These are diagnostic observations, not a complete security audit. Do not publish a blanket “no leaks” conclusion based on one successful result.
Does a browser test cover downloads and other apps?
No. A browser IP test observes the connection used to reach that webpage. It does not verify a link opened in another app, a separate download component or an external player.
If one of those tasks matters, examine it separately. For example, a webpage and a file transfer can use different components even when both actions begin in the browser. Choose a broader VPN approach when your requirement extends beyond the browser traffic the extension controls.
Location is another separate question. A website can request permission-based device location through the Geolocation API. Changing an IP address does not necessarily change that information or a saved account region.
What should you do when a check fails?
Keep the result and identify the failed stage: the extension will not open, sign-in fails, connection fails, the IP is unchanged, or the route works but one site does not.
Include the extension name and version, browser version, Android version, connection type and the steps that reproduce the issue when contacting support. This is more useful than reporting only that “the VPN does not work.”
If you use Quetta, follow the Quetta extension troubleshooting guide. If the checks pass for your intended task, you can finish there; changing to another extension is not automatically an improvement.
Frequently asked questions
Why does the extension say connected while my IP stays the same?
The check page may be excluded, another tool may control the route, or the connection may not be functioning as expected. Confirm the baseline, reload the page and review the extension’s routing settings before drawing a conclusion.
Why does another browser still show my original IP?
That can be expected with a standalone browser extension. It generally applies to the browser in which it runs, rather than changing every browser or app on the device.
Do I need to clear all browser data to run this check?
Usually, start by refreshing the check page or opening a new tab. Clearing all browser data can sign you out or remove useful settings and should not be the default first step. Follow product-specific troubleshooting if the result appears stale.
How often should I check again?
Recheck after significant browser or extension updates, routing-setting changes, or an unexpected connection problem. For a task with stricter coverage requirements, verify the relevant session before relying on it.