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DNS Leak Test

Check whether your DNS requests are resolving through your ISP or your VPN's DNS servers.

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DNS Leak Detection
Verify your DNS is protected

This test checks which DNS servers are handling your requests. For the most accurate results, use a dedicated DNS testing service.

What Is a DNS Leak?

The Domain Name System (DNS) is like the phone book of the internet. When you type "example.com" into your browser, DNS translates that name into an IP address that computers can understand. Normally, your ISP handles these DNS lookups.

A DNS leak happens when your DNS queries bypass the encrypted tunnel of your VPN and are resolved by your ISP's DNS servers instead. This means your ISP (or anyone monitoring your connection) can see which websites you're visiting — even if the rest of your traffic is encrypted.

Why Does It Matter?

If you're using a VPN for privacy, a DNS leak defeats one of its core purposes. The VPN encrypts your traffic and masks your real IP address, but if DNS queries leak outside the tunnel, your browsing activity is still visible to your ISP. This is particularly concerning for:

  • Users in regions with internet censorship
  • Journalists and activists protecting sources
  • Anyone who values their online privacy
  • Remote workers accessing sensitive resources

How to Reduce DNS Leaks

  • Use a VPN provider that supports DNS leak protection
  • Configure your system to use encrypted DNS (DNS over HTTPS or DNS over TLS)
  • Consider using a trusted public DNS provider like Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) or Google (8.8.8.8)
  • Disable IPv6 if your VPN doesn't properly tunnel IPv6 traffic
  • Test regularly — DNS settings can change after software updates
📌 Important Note

This page provides educational information about DNS leaks. For comprehensive DNS leak testing, consider using dedicated services that query multiple DNS servers across different geographic locations.

Frequently Asked Questions

DNS (Domain Name System) translates human-readable domain names like example.com into IP addresses like 93.184.216.34. When you visit a website, your device first queries a DNS server to find the corresponding IP address, then connects to that address.
The simplest way is to compare the DNS servers shown in the test results with what you expect. If you're using a VPN, your DNS should resolve through the VPN provider's servers, not your ISP's. If you see your ISP's DNS servers, you likely have a leak.
Yes. DNS queries reveal which domain names you're requesting. If these queries go to your ISP's DNS servers instead of through your VPN, your ISP can log which websites you visit.

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Written by IP Tester Editorial Team | Last updated: September 9, 2026