What IPv6 is
IPv6 is the newer version of the Internet Protocol. An IPv4 address has 32 bits and is written as four numbers, such as 203.0.113.7, which allows about 4.3 billion addresses in total. An IPv6 address has 128 bits and is written as up to eight groups of hexadecimal digits separated by colons, such as 2001:db8:85a3::8a2e:370:7334, where the double colon stands for a run of zero groups.
Because IPv4 addresses ran out long ago, many providers put several customers behind one shared IPv4 address. IPv6 has enough addresses for every device to have its own public one, so most networks now run both protocols side by side, which is called dual stack. Your browser then uses whichever works best for each site.
How this IPv6 test works
When the page loads, your browser contacts three Cloudflare endpoints, and each one reports the address it saw: this site, which is reachable over IPv4 and IPv6; 1.1.1.1, which is reachable over IPv4 only; and one.one.one.one, which is reachable over both.
If any of them saw an IPv6 address, IPv6 works on your connection. If all three answered and none of them saw IPv6, the connection is IPv4-only. If one of them could not be reached, for example because an extension or a firewall blocked it, the test says so instead of guessing.
The addresses are shown only in your browser. IPVitals does not store them, and the test does not send them anywhere else.
What the result means
- Yes, IPv6 works: your connection has a public IPv6 address and your browser used it. Sites that support IPv6 can reach you over it, and they see your IPv6 address just as they see an IPv4 address.
- No IPv6 detected: every check answered over IPv4. Nothing is broken and websites still load over IPv4; it only means that your provider, your router or a VPN is not giving you IPv6 right now.
- Not determined: a check failed or timed out. Reload the page, or pause a blocker for this site, and run the test again.
The row “Protocol used for this site” shows which address family your browser chose to reach IPVitals. On a dual-stack connection this is normally IPv6, because browsers prefer it when both protocols work.
Why you might not have IPv6
- Your provider does not offer IPv6 on your plan or in your area yet.
- Your router has IPv6 turned off, or it is an older model without IPv6 support.
- A VPN or proxy carries only IPv4 and blocks IPv6 so that traffic cannot bypass the tunnel.
- IPv6 is disabled on your computer's network adapter, often because of an old troubleshooting tip.
- On mobile data, the access point name (APN) is set to IPv4 only.
None of these is a fault on its own. IPv4 still reaches practically every website, so missing IPv6 matters mainly for online games, peer-to-peer apps, remote access to your own devices, and connections where a shared IPv4 address triggers extra captchas or blocks.
How to turn on IPv6
Router
Open your router's admin page, often at 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1, and look for an IPv6 or WAN section. Most home connections use automatic configuration, labelled DHCPv6 or SLAAC, with prefix delegation turned on. If there is no such option, ask your provider whether IPv6 is available on your line.
Windows
Open Control Panel, then Network and Sharing Center, then Change adapter settings. Right-click your connection, choose Properties and make sure Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6) is ticked.
macOS
Open System Settings, then Network, select your connection and choose Details, then TCP/IP. Set Configure IPv6 to Automatically.
Phones and tablets
On Android, the APN protocol setting in the mobile network menu controls IPv6 on mobile data, and IPv4/IPv6 is the usual choice. On iPhone, IPv6 on mobile data depends on the carrier's settings. On Wi-Fi, both follow the router. After any change, reconnect or restart the router and run this test again.
IPv6 and VPNs
A VPN that tunnels only IPv4 can leave IPv6 traffic going straight out through your normal connection. Sites that support IPv6 then see your real IPv6 address, even though your IPv4 address belongs to the VPN. This is called an IPv6 leak.
If this test shows an IPv6 address from your own provider while the VPN is connected, look for an IPv6 leak protection option in the VPN client, or turn off IPv6 on the device while you use the VPN.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need IPv6?
Not strictly. Almost every website still works over IPv4. IPv6 helps when your provider shares IPv4 addresses between many customers, when you want to reach devices at home directly, and for some games and peer-to-peer apps. As more networks move to IPv6, having it becomes more useful.
Is IPv6 faster than IPv4?
Not by itself. Speed depends on the route and the network, not on the protocol version. IPv6 can be slightly quicker when it avoids a provider's shared IPv4 translation, and slightly slower when it takes a longer route; for most people the difference is too small to notice.
Why does my IPv6 address keep changing?
Many systems use temporary IPv6 addresses, also called privacy extensions, that change regularly so that sites cannot follow one device by a fixed address. The first half of the address, the prefix assigned by your provider, usually stays the same for longer, although some providers change it too.
What do addresses starting with fe80 or ::1 mean?
They are not public addresses. Addresses starting with fe80 are link-local and only work inside your own network segment, and ::1 is the loopback address of your own device. This test shows only the public IPv6 address that websites see.
Does IPv6 make me easier to track?
A public IPv6 address identifies your connection much like a public IPv4 address does. Temporary addresses reduce tracking by rotating the device part of the address, and cookies or browser fingerprinting are usually far more precise ways to follow someone than either kind of IP address.
Is my IPv6 address stored when I run the test?
No. The test runs in your browser and the result appears only on your screen. Page views are counted by our own first-party service, which keeps no IP address and no cookie; the privacy policy explains exactly what it stores.