Guides
Does a VPN hide your IP address?
When the tunnel is actually covering this browser, websites and IP lookup services typically see the VPN exit address instead of your ISP address. That is an IP substitution, not invisibility. It does not hide cookies, logged-in sessions, or every form of tracking, and it is not a legal or medical promise.
Check the substitution on What is my IP. If the address is unchanged, this browser is not using the exit yet — see the companion guide on a connected VPN with a static IP.
Geolocation attached to that new IP can still look “wrong” because databases lag. Dedicated exits can look like datacenters. None of that is a price, discount, or feature guarantee.
Browser fields on Browser privacy test — language, timezone, screen, WebGL — still exist after you connect. A VPN is not a full anti-fingerprinting suite. VPN test only compares IP, country, and ISP when you save a baseline yourself.
Symptoms and likely causes
| What you see | More likely explanation |
|---|---|
| IP changed; shopping site still knows your cart. | Account cookies and login sessions do not travel with the IP. The VPN did not log you out. |
| IP changed; ads still look familiar. | Trackers can use cookies, logins, and browser signals. An IP change is only one layer. |
| IP unchanged after “connect.” | This browser is not in the tunnel. The VPN is not hiding the IP for this app. |
| IP changed; WebRTC shows another public address. | Possible extra path for peer connections. Confirm on WebRTC test; private addresses are not automatic leaks. |
What to check in order
1. Look up the public IP in this browser
Open What is my IP and note the address family (IPv4 or IPv6) plus ISP if present. Do not share the full string.
2. Connect the VPN, then look up again
If the IP string is identical, this browser is not hidden behind the exit. Fix routing before discussing “hiding.”
3. Save a baseline for a fair comparison
VPN test stores IP, country, and ISP in localStorage on this device only.
4. Remember what an IP never covers
Stay logged into mail, clouds, and shops and those sites still know the account. Timezone and language on Browser privacy test also stay visible.
How to verify the fix
- After connect, What is my IP should show a different public IP if this browser is using the tunnel. Country/ISP may change; databases can be wrong.
- Record the change with VPN test so you are not relying on memory.
- Optional: WebRTC test if you use calls or meetings in this browser. A matching public IP is not an extra leak; a different public IP is the only case this tool calls possible leak evidence.
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FAQ
- Is hiding an IP the same as being anonymous?
- No. Accounts, cookies, payment methods, and many scripts still identify you. This site does not sell anonymity.
- Does a VPN hide me from my ISP completely?
- Your ISP can still see that you connected to a VPN endpoint. This guide does not claim otherwise and does not include DNS leak testing.
- If the IP changes, am I untrackable?
- No. Fingerprinting signals and logins remain. See Browser privacy test for a local list of common fields.
- Can this website prove my VPN brand?
- No, and it will not guess. It only shows lookup fields and comparisons you trigger.