How to Check Your VPN is Working on iPhone, Android and PC

Every device handles VPN connections slightly differently, which means the verification steps — and the common failure modes — vary between platforms. Whether you are checking a VPN on your iPhone, Android phone, Windows laptop, or Mac, this guide gives you exact steps tailored to each platform, along with the most common issues we have seen on each device type and how to resolve them.

The Universal First Step: Any Device

Regardless of which device you are using, start here: connect your VPN, then open this website (IsMyVPNWorking.com) in your device's browser. Our tool runs automatically and works on every modern browser on every platform. If the result card shows green with a VPN detected, you have basic confirmation the VPN is routing your traffic correctly. If it shows a warning, use the device-specific troubleshooting steps below.

Checking Your VPN on iPhone (iOS)

iOS has a built-in VPN framework that most VPN apps use. When a VPN is active, you will see a small "VPN" label in your iPhone's status bar at the top of the screen. But as we have established, that indicator only confirms the tunnel is connected — not that it is leak-free.

Step-by-step verification on iPhone:

1. Ensure your VPN app is open and shows a connected status
2. Confirm the "VPN" text appears in your iPhone's status bar
3. Open Safari (or your preferred browser) and navigate to IsMyVPNWorking.com
4. Wait for the automatic check to complete and review the result
5. The IP address shown should be different from your real home IP, and the location should match your selected VPN server

Common iPhone VPN issues:

• VPN disconnects when the phone screen locks: iOS aggressively manages background processes to save battery. Go to Settings → VPN and enable "Connect On Demand" if available, or use your VPN app's "Always-on VPN" setting.
• VPN shows connected but IP is unchanged: Force-close the VPN app entirely (swipe up from the app switcher) and reconnect. If the problem persists, restart your iPhone and try again.
• iOS built-in VPN (Settings → VPN) vs third-party app: Using your VPN only through Settings → VPN without the provider's dedicated app can miss important features like DNS leak protection. Always use your VPN provider's dedicated app.
• Wi-Fi Calling bypasses VPN: Apple's Wi-Fi Calling feature can bypass the VPN tunnel. Disable it if privacy is critical: Settings → Phone → Wi-Fi Calling → Off.

Checking Your VPN on Android

Android provides a dedicated VPN notification in the status bar — a key icon or a "VPN connected" notification — when a VPN is active. Android also has more granular VPN controls than iOS, including a system-level "Always-on VPN" setting that is more reliable than relying solely on the VPN app.

Step-by-step verification on Android:

1. Open your VPN app and connect to a server
2. Confirm the key icon appears in your Android status bar
3. Open Chrome or your preferred browser and navigate to IsMyVPNWorking.com
4. Review the check result — look for a VPN-associated IP and provider name
5. For additional DNS testing, use a dedicated DNS leak test tool from your mobile browser

Common Android VPN issues:

• VPN drops when switching between Wi-Fi and mobile data: Enable "Always-on VPN" in Android settings. Go to Settings → Network & Internet → VPN → tap the gear icon next to your VPN → enable "Always-on VPN" and "Block connections without VPN."
• Some apps bypassing the VPN: Check your VPN app's split tunnelling settings and ensure no apps are whitelisted to bypass the tunnel without your knowledge.
• Android Private DNS conflicting with VPN: Android's Private DNS (DNS-over-TLS) setting can conflict with VPN DNS handling. If you experience DNS issues, go to Settings → Network & Internet → Private DNS and set it to "Off" while your VPN is active, as the VPN should handle DNS.
• Battery optimisation killing the VPN: Android's battery optimisation can kill background VPN processes. Go to Settings → Battery → Battery Optimisation, find your VPN app, and set it to "Not optimised."

Checking Your VPN on Windows

Windows is where VPN failures are most technically complex, primarily because of Windows' DNS handling quirks and its "Smart Multi-Homed Name Resolution" feature that can cause DNS leaks even when everything else appears correct.

Step-by-step verification on Windows:

1. Connect to your VPN using your provider's Windows app
2. Look for the VPN connection indicator in the system tray (bottom right)
3. Open your browser and visit IsMyVPNWorking.com
4. Note the IP address, location, and detected ISP — all should reflect the VPN server
5. Run an additional DNS leak test to check for Windows-specific DNS issues
6. For advanced verification: open Command Prompt and type nslookup google.com — the "Server" shown should be your VPN's DNS server, not your ISP's

Common Windows VPN issues:

• DNS leaks despite VPN being connected: Disable "Smart Multi-Homed Name Resolution" via Group Policy (gpedit.msc → Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → Network → DNS Client). Also ensure IPv6 is disabled on your network adapter if your VPN does not support IPv6.
• VPN not connecting after Windows update: Windows updates can change network adapter settings. Reinstall your VPN app and re-enter your credentials.
• Windows Firewall blocking VPN traffic: Some security software treats VPN connections as suspicious. Add your VPN app as an exception in Windows Firewall and any third-party security software.
• TAP adapter issues (OpenVPN): OpenVPN-based VPNs use a virtual TAP network adapter. If this driver becomes corrupted, reinstall your VPN app — the installer will replace the TAP adapter driver automatically.

Checking Your VPN on Mac (macOS)

macOS has generally better out-of-the-box VPN behaviour than Windows, with fewer DNS leak issues. However, there are still macOS-specific gotchas, particularly around system-level DNS caching and the Network Extension framework used by modern VPN apps.

Step-by-step verification on Mac:

1. Connect to your VPN using your provider's macOS app
2. Confirm the VPN is showing as connected in the menu bar or in System Preferences → Network
3. Open Safari or Chrome and visit IsMyVPNWorking.com
4. Verify the IP address and location reflect your chosen VPN server
5. For command-line verification: open Terminal and type curl https://ipapi.co/json/ — this shows your current IP directly from the command line, bypassing any browser-level differences

Common Mac VPN issues:

• macOS asking for VPN permission on every app launch: Go to System Preferences → Security & Privacy → Privacy → VPN and ensure your VPN app is listed and has permission.
• DNS cache persisting after VPN connects: macOS caches DNS responses, and old cached entries from before the VPN connected can resolve even after the VPN is active. Flush the DNS cache by running sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder in Terminal after connecting to your VPN.
• VPN disconnecting when Mac sleeps: Go to your VPN app's settings and enable "Reconnect on wake" or "Auto-reconnect." Most reputable VPN apps support this feature.
• iCloud Private Relay conflicting with VPN: Apple's iCloud Private Relay (available in iCloud+ subscriptions) can conflict with VPN connections. Disable Private Relay in System Preferences → Apple ID → iCloud → Private Relay when using a VPN.

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