×Check whether your VPN or proxy is leaking DNS requests and exposing your real identity.
A DNS leak occurs when your DNS requests bypass your VPN tunnel and go directly to your ISP's DNS servers, revealing your browsing activity.
Quick Check: Compare your IP address on our homepage with and without your VPN connected.
When you use a VPN, all your internet traffic — including DNS requests — should go through the encrypted VPN tunnel. A DNS leak happens when your device sends DNS queries outside the tunnel, directly to your ISP's DNS servers. This means your ISP (and anyone monitoring your network) can see which websites you visit, even though you're using a VPN.
Most reputable VPNs route DNS through their own servers. Make sure this setting is enabled in your VPN app.
Use privacy-focused DNS like Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) or Google (8.8.8.8) instead of your ISP's default DNS.
Some VPNs don't tunnel IPv6 traffic. If you see IPv6 DNS leaks, disable IPv6 in your OS settings or use a VPN that supports it.
NordVPN has built-in DNS leak protection that routes all your DNS queries through encrypted tunnels. No configuration needed — just connect and you're protected.
A DNS leak undermines your privacy by revealing your browsing activity to your ISP. While it doesn't expose your actual data, it defeats the purpose of using a VPN for privacy.
No. Some free or low-quality VPNs don't include DNS leak protection. Always choose a VPN provider that explicitly offers DNS leak protection and routes DNS through their servers.
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