What you are checking

When you connect to a VPN, websites usually see the public IP address of the VPN exit point instead of the public IP address of your local home or Wi-Fi network.

Checking your IP address before and after connecting is a simple way to confirm that web traffic is going through the VPN path.

Basic process

Before connecting to the VPN, open a reputable IP-check website and write down the public IP address shown.

Connect to the VPN. Refresh the IP-check page or open a second IP-check site. If the public IP changed, your browser traffic is likely exiting through the VPN service.

Common confusion

Some apps may cache connections. Some browsers may keep old tabs open. DNS and location databases may show approximate or stale location data. Do not assume every map or location result is exact.

A changed public IP is a practical first check, not a full packet-level audit.