A public IP check answers a specific question: which address does this website see for this browser connection? Comparing that address before and after connecting to a VPN is a useful first check. It is not a complete test of your VPN’s privacy protections.

1. Record your starting address

While disconnected from the VPN, open VVPN’s public IP checker. Note the address, whether it is IPv4 or IPv6, and the network provider shown with it. The checker receives the address visible to VVPN’s website; it does not inspect your phone’s private Wi-Fi address.

If disconnecting would interrupt a connection you need to keep private, skip the baseline step. You can still check the currently visible address, but you will have less evidence for a comparison.

2. Connect and check again

Open your VPN app, choose an available server and wait for its connected status. Return to the same browser and refresh the IP check. Keep the same Wi-Fi or mobile network during the comparison: changing networks at the same time makes the result harder to interpret.

With VVPN, start with the Android guide or iPhone guide. The IP explorer also lets you compare a saved result with a later check. Comparison snapshots stay in the page’s memory, so reloading the page clears them.

3. Interpret the difference

  • A different address: this website now sees a different connection address. If the only change was connecting the VPN, that is evidence consistent with your browser using the VPN.
  • A different provider: the address may belong to a hosting or network company used by the VPN. The label does not have to match the VPN’s brand.
  • An unexpected map location: IP geolocation is approximate. It can describe network infrastructure rather than the physical location of you or a VPN server.

For example, suppose you record one address on your home Wi-Fi, connect to a VPN and see a second address. Write down both results and their check times. That gives you something concrete to compare if the connection changes later.

What if the address stays the same?

First refresh the result and confirm that the app reports a connected session. Check whether the browser is excluded by any routing or split-tunneling settings available in your VPN. Browser privacy services, another active VPN or a proxy can also complicate the comparison. An unchanged address is a reason to investigate, not enough information to diagnose the cause.

If pages stop loading, check whether the underlying internet connection works and try another available VPN server. Record your device, app version, selected server and approximate failure time before contacting support. Avoid posting your IP address or diagnostic details publicly.

What an IP check cannot prove

This check sees one website connection. It does not test every app, every destination, both IP families, DNS routing, WebRTC behavior or what happens when the VPN disconnects. It also cannot verify a provider’s logging practices. Keep those questions separate from whether your visible public IP changed.

Sources and tool details