Verify VPN and test on Windows 11

Testing, resetting, and verifying your VPN connection in Windows 11 using the command line (Command Prompt or PowerShell) typically involves network diagnostic and configuration tools like ipconfig, netsh, and PowerShell cmdlets like Get-VpnConnection.

You must run all these commands from an elevated Command Prompt or PowerShell (Run as administrator).

1. Test the VPN Connection

You can check the existence and status of your VPN connection using PowerShell, and verify the connection's IP and connectivity using both Command Prompt and PowerShell.

A. Check VPN Connection Status (PowerShell)

Use the Get-VpnConnection cmdlet to see the current status of configured VPN profiles.

1. Open PowerShell as administrator.

2. Run the following command, replacing "Your VPN Name" with the exact name of your VPN profile:PowerShellGet-VpnConnection -Name "Your VPN Name" | Select-Object Name, ConnectionStatus

3. If the VPN is connected, ConnectionStatus will show Connected.

4. To see all configured VPNs:PowerShellGet-VpnConnection | Select-Object Name, ConnectionStatus

B. Verify IP Address (Command Prompt)

Once connected, your PC should have a new IP address assigned by the VPN server.

1. Open Command Prompt or PowerShell as administrator.

2. Run the command:DOSipconfig /all

3. Look for the network adapter corresponding to your VPN. It will often be named after your VPN profile or a PPP adapter or TAP-Windows Adapter V9 (for some third-party VPNs).

4. Check the IPv4 Address for this adapter. It should be the IP assigned by the VPN.

C. Test Connectivity and Latency (Command Prompt)

Use ping and tracert to test the connection to a known external host (like Google's DNS server, 8.8.8.8).

1. Open Command Prompt or PowerShell as administrator.

2. Ping Test:DOSping 8.8.8.8A successful response indicates that traffic is flowing through the VPN (assuming your VPN is configured to route all traffic).

3. Traceroute Test:DOStracert 8.8.8.8This shows the path your data takes. When the VPN is active, the first few hops should typically show your VPN server's internal/external IP before reaching the public internet.

2. Reset the Network/VPN

To resolve persistent VPN or network issues, you can reset several key network components. This process is generally safe but will require you to re-enter all Wi-Fi passwords and possibly reconfigure static IP addresses after restarting.

1. Open Command Prompt as administrator.

2. Execute the following commands one by one, pressing Enter after each:DOSnetsh winsock resetnetsh int ip resetipconfig /releaseipconfig /renewipconfig /flushdns

3. Restart your computer for the changes from the netsh commands to fully take effect.

3. Verify the Reset

After the restart, you can use the command line to verify that the core network components are functioning correctly.

A. Verify DNS Resolution

1. Open Command Prompt or PowerShell.

2. Use nslookup on a well-known domain:DOSnslookup google.com

3. The output should show the default DNS server being used (usually your router or ISP's DNS, unless configured otherwise) and the corresponding IP addresses for the domain.

B. Verify General IP and Gateway

1. Open Command Prompt or PowerShell.

2. Run the command:DOSipconfig

3. Verify that your main network adapter (Ethernet or Wi-Fi) has a valid IPv4 Address and a correct Default Gateway (your router's IP).

If these checks pass, your underlying Windows networking is healthy, and you can attempt to connect your VPN again. If the VPN fails to connect after the reset, the issue may be with the VPN configuration itself, the VPN server, or a third-party VPN client application.

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Here's how to test and verify your Windows 11 VPN:

1. Initial Connection and Status Check

First, make sure the VPN is actually connected and routing traffic.

How to Check

1. Connect the VPN: Open your VPN app or go to Settings > Network & Internet > VPN and click Connect.¹

2. Verify Connection Status:

3. In the VPN settings page, the connection should display "Connected" underneath the connection name.²

4. In the Windows Taskbar (near the clock/network icon), the network icon will often change or show a "Connected" status for the VPN.

5. Basic Connectivity Test: Try to browse a website or access a network resource that requires the VPN connection (e.g., a work server). If you can access it, the tunnel is up and routing traffic.

2. Verify IP Address Change (Anonymity Test)

The most critical function of a VPN is to mask your actual IP address with the server's IP address.³

How to Check

1. Disconnect your VPN.

2. Go to an IP checker website (e.g., WhatIsMyIPAddress, IPLeak.net, or BrowserLeaks) and note your real public IP address and geographic location.⁴

3. Connect your VPN to a server in a different location (e.g., if you're in the US, connect to a server in Canada).

4. Refresh the IP checker website. The displayed IP address and geographic location should now match the VPN server you connected to, not your real location.⁵

3. Check for DNS Leaks (Privacy Test)⁶

A DNS leak occurs when your device bypasses the VPN's secure tunnel for Domain Name System (DNS) requests, revealing your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and real location.

How to Check

1. Ensure your VPN is connected.

2. Go to a dedicated DNS leak test website (e.g., IPLeak.net or BrowserLeaks).⁷

3. Look at the list of DNS server addresses.

4. Verification: All listed DNS server IP addresses and locations should belong to your VPN provider and/or be located in the same region as your VPN server.

5. Leak: If you see DNS server IP addresses associated with your ISP or your real geographic location, you have a DNS leak.

4. Check for WebRTC Leaks⁸

WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communication) is a technology used in many modern browsers. A WebRTC leak can expose your real public or local IP address, even when using a VPN.⁹

How to Check

1. Ensure your VPN is connected.

2. Go to a WebRTC leak test website (e.g., BrowserLeaks WebRTC test).¹⁰

3. Look at the results under "Public IP Address" or "Local IP Address."

4. Verification: Only the VPN server's IP address (or a different, non-local IP) should be visible as the Public IP.¹¹

5. Leak: If your real public IP address is listed, you have a WebRTC leak.¹²

5. Test the Kill Switch (Security Feature)¹³

A kill switch is a vital security feature that automatically blocks your internet connection if the VPN connection drops unexpectedly, preventing data exposure.¹⁴

How to Check

1. Ensure the Kill Switch feature is enabled in your VPN application's settings.¹⁵

2. Start downloading a file or open a website that displays your IP (like IPLeak.net).¹⁶

3. Force an unexpected disconnect of your VPN. This is usually done by:

4. Force-quitting the VPN application process via the Task Manager.

5. Switching the VPN protocol in the settings (if available and causes a momentary disconnect).

6. Observe the results:

7. Verification: Your internet traffic should immediately stop, and the download should pause. When you reconnect the VPN, traffic should resume.

8. Failure: If your internet connection remains active and the IP address displayed on the checker site switches back to your real IP address, the kill switch is not working.

Troubleshooting VPN Connection Issues

If your VPN doesn't connect, you can try the following common troubleshooting steps on Windows 11:

• Check Credentials: Double-check your username and password.¹⁷

• Try Different Server/Protocol: Switch to a different VPN server location or try changing the VPN protocol (e.g., from L2TP/IPsec to IKEv2 or OpenVPN) in the VPN client's settings.¹⁸

• Firewall/Antivirus: Temporarily disable the Windows Defender Firewall or any third-party antivirus/firewall software to see if it's blocking the connection.¹⁹ If this fixes it, you need to add an exception for your VPN app and its connection ports.

• Network Reset: In Windows Settings, go to Network & Internet > Advanced network settings > Network Reset and click Reset now.²⁰ This will reinstall network adapters and reset network settings. Note: This will require you to re-enter all Wi-Fi passwords.