Vpn Not Hiding Ip
Why is VPN Not Hiding Your Location (Hide IP) – CyberWaters
One of the VPN features is the ability to virtually change your location. It does that by masking your real IP address and using a VPN server to connect to websites on your anging the location allows you to access otherwise restricted content and browse privately. But does it hide your location all the time? You probably noticed that websites sometimes still know your location even when on a VPN. So why is VPN not hiding your real location when it is supposed to? Let’s see why you can still be discovered and how to solve is VPN not hiding your location? Your VPN leaks IP addressWebsites use tracking cookiesYour browser geolocation is usedHow to hide your location using a VPNTest for IP leaksCut Off Tracking CookiesDisable geolocation on your browserConclusionWhy is VPN not hiding your location? A VPN may not hide your location for a few reasons. First, the VPN you use might have IP leaks that reveal your real location. Second, websites use cookies, browser fingerprinting, and browser’s geolocation API to track you. A VPN can not hide your location completely if these methods are ’s take a look at possible reasons why VPN is not hiding your VPN leaks IP addressThere are three types of leaks: IP, DNS, and WebRTC leaks. IP leak protection is critical for a VPN to hide your location at all times. Even temporarily exposing your IP may reveal where you are, and it’s a serious privacy issue. IPv4 and IPv6 leaks: nowadays your ISP assigns you two types of IP – versions 4 and 6. VPN services mostly use IPv4 and block IPv6 addresses. If any of those are leaked your location is exposed to the leak: before connecting to a website your device makes a DNS query to turn a domain name into a website’s IP address. These queries are often leaked if a VPN is not configured properly. DNS leaks can reveal your real location and show the visited websites to your leak: this type of leak is a browser-specific leak. A VPN apps have no control over it and it needs to be turned off in the browser settings. Find suggestions on how to turn it off s use tracking cookiesMany websites use cookies either for functionality or tracking. Cookies can hold up information about your identity, location, and previously visited websites. Unfortunately, a VPN can not block cookies as they are files that are downloaded inside a VPN tunnel. So even with your IP changed they still may reveal the information about where you websites inject third-party cookies that can track you across the internet. These are mostly used by advertisers that can determine your approximate location. Another tracking technique is called browser fingerprinting. It uses your browser’s parameters to partially identify you and your approximate browser geolocation is usedYour location may be revealed by your browser GPS functionality. Some websites ask permission to use your browser’s geolocation API to let them know where you are. A VPN can not protect from that as all the coordinates are sent over the VPN, inside the encrypted tunnel. You should set browser location permissions manually as a VPN has no control over of the time websites detect your location by IP address. But, if browser geolocation is used your location is revealed even if you are connected to a VPN can test how this works at to hide your location using a VPNThere are still options for what you can do to fully hide your location when on a VPN. You need to tackle IP leaks, tracking, and deal with geo-location with simple ’s how to hide your location on a VPN:Test for IP leaksTo make sure your VPN truly works as intended you need to test for IP leaks. The easiest way to do so is to visit IP leak testing websites: or will tell you if your real IPv4, IPv6, and DNS addresses are shown. It will display the results for WebRTC leak as well. In case a WebRTC leak is detected you need to install a VPN browser extension and disable the setting there. The best VPNs include those extensions in your any of those tests fail this means your VPN leaks your real location. You should seriously consider changing your service provider immediately. NordVPN or ExpressVPN are the leaders in the industry that do not leak any Off Tracking CookiesA VPN on its own does not protect from tracking cookies. But, some services have features that can block malicious websites and advertiser tracking. They do protect from third-party cookies. Another great tip is to use an incognito window. It is a privacy window that deletes all cookies after you close it. It starts your browsing session fresh each time and you can find it on every browser:You can open Private Incognito Window in any browser by keyboard commands:Chrome: CTRL/Command + Shift + NFirefox: CTRL/Command + Shift + PSafari: Command + Shift + NDisable geolocation on your browserTo hide your location on a VPN, you must configure your browser location permissions. Geolocation is the most common way to expose your coordinates even when connected to a VPN. You can do this on every browser. Disable browser geolocation API On Chrome:Go to Menu > SettingsSelect Privacy and Security > Site SettingsThen LocationTurn on “Ask Before Accessing”Disable browser geolocation API On Safari: Go to Preferences > PrivacySelect Website TrackingCheckmark “Prevent cross-site tracking” and “Ask websites not to track me”Disable browser geolocation API On Firefox: Go to Menu > OptionsSelect> Privacy And SecurityThen Permissions > LocationAdd checkmark on “Block new requests” or manage permissionsConclusionWhen using a VPN your location might not be hidden all the time. This might happen because your VPN might leak your real IP address. The use of a browser geolocation API and cookies might also be one of the of the time it is enough to hide your location with a VPN and blocking browser GPS settings. Here are the best VPNs to do that:
FIX: VPN not hiding location (8 foolproof hacks) – Windows …
Elena started writing professionally in 2010 and hasn’t stopped exploring the tech world since. With a firm grasp of software reviewing and content editing, she is always trying new things to improve her skill… Read more
Updated: Dec 3, 2020
Posted: July 2018
If your VPN can’t hide your location, then it’s failing one of its main jobs. You won’t be able to protect your privacy due to IP leaks.
We prepared an eight-step guide below to help you easily fix location issues with your virtual private network solution.
Find out more about how to stop browser leaks and protect your online privacy using our methods.
Join our VPN Troubleshooting Hub if you’re experiencing any other VPN-related issues.
If your VPN doesn’t hide your location, it means that it’s failing at its job.
The main goal of a virtual private network solution is to protect your online privacy. But it can’t do that without masking your IP address and geolocation.
Fortunately, this is a common issue that you can easily solve by exploring our solutions below.
How to tell if your VPN is leaking your location
Without connecting to a VPN, ask Google what’s your IP address
Write it down (that’s your true IP)
Launch your VPN app and connect to a VPN server
Go back to Google and ask the same question
Compare the new IP address with the previous one
If the two IP addresses are the same, it means that your VPN is leaking your IP and location.
What can you do if your VPN isn’t hiding your location?
Avoid using free VPN
If you intend to remain anonymous when going online, you shouldn’t put your faith in a free VPN since it does more harm than good.
A free VPN may have faulty security features and leak your IP address and location. On top of that, it might monitor, collect and share your traffic.
But a paid VPN is another story. Because it’s continuously maintained by a development team, you will often receive updates with new features and improvements.
Take Private Internet Access (PIA), for example. It’s a premium VPN service with more than 3, 300 servers spread across 48 countries.
PIA passes all IP leak tests, so you can trust that this VPN won’t fail to hide your location.
And, if something like that happens, you can immediately get in touch with the development team, thanks to 24/7 live chat support.
Private Internet Access
Get this super-reliable VPN to protect your device from any IP leaks.
Update your VPN app to the latest version
It’s essential to keep your VPN app updated to the newest version, no matter what operating system or device you use. This way, you can prevent issues like the VPN not being able to hide your location.
Check the settings of your VPN client for version updates and make sure it’s set to automatically get the latest versions.
However, it’s not a good idea to join any beta development programs. The beta phase is unstable and could result in further issues, such as IP leaks or crashes.
Disable WebRTC leaks
If WebRTC is enabled in your web browser, then it will leak your IP and location no matter what you do. It’s not a feature that you can control from a VPN desktop app.
You can manually configure browser settings to disable WebRTC leaks. Or, you can turn to a browser extension that automatically does that.
There are plenty of free browser extensions that can turn off WebRTC. Just head over to Chrome Web Store or Firefox Add-ons and search for “disable WebRTC”.
However, if you own Private Internet Access (buy here), make sure to install its browser addon. It has an extra feature for blocking WebRTC IP detection.
Connect to a different VPN server
The VPN provider doesn’t always create the tunnel correctly. It might leak your IP address and location along the way.
What you can do is simple: connect to another VPN server. You can also try restarting the VPN app and reinstalling the TAP drivers.
Always use HTTPS
HTTP requests can leak your IP address and location, without any fault on the VPN client’s side.
To stop this from happening, avoid visiting HTTP pages and make sure you’re always using HTTPS.
You can find a lot of awesome addons that force your web browser to access only HTTPS websites, such as HTTPS Everywhere.
If you’re a premium VPN user, though, check if the VPN‘s browser addon can enforce HTTPS pages. For instance, Private Internet Access (buy here) follows this rule.
Change your GPS location
If you’re trying to access services that track you down by GPS instead of IP, then your regular VPN won’t be able to hide your location. Examples include Waze, Google Maps, and Tinder.
A VPN isn’t designed to change your GPS location. However, if you’re an Android user, look for apps in the Play Store for this purpose.
If you prefer using a VPN with integrated features for changing your GPS location, use Surfshark (buy here).
It’s an excellent premium VPN service that supports unlimited connections. And its Android app can take over your GPS.
An alternative solution is to disable location services in your web browser. But you won’t be able to use those services anymore.
Disable geolocation API
In Chrome, go to Settings > Advanced > Location
In Firefox, head over to Options > Privacy and Security > Permissions > Location
In Opera, visit Settings > Websites > Location
In Microsoft Edge, check out Tools > Internet Options > Privacy > Location
Once you reach the location settings, you can manage permissions by disabling access to your current location for each online service.
Geolocation API is one of the easiest ways for online apps and services to find your location. It’s accurate, easy to use, and unaffected by your VPN.
To test this, connect to your VPN and run a geolocation test using this tool.
Use a VPN kill switch
A VPN kill switch is an excellent addition to any VPN service. It automatically cuts off all Internet access on your device if the VPN drops unexpectedly.
So, the kill switch prevents IP leaks that could occur in the time it takes your VPN client to reconnect.
Private Internet Access (buy here) is a prime example of a virtual private network solution with a built-in kill switch. You can quickly find and activate it from the settings panel.
To recap, you should fix any problem caused by your VPN, even if it doesn’t hide your location.
Avoid using a free VPN, keep your VPN app updated to the latest version, and disable WebRTC leaks in your web browsers.
You can also connect to another VPN server, visit only HTTPS websites, and change your GPS location or disable the geolocation API.
Lastly, it’s essential to get equipped with a reliable VPN service that comes with a kill switch, such as Private Internet Access (buy here).
Your connection is not secure – websites you visit can find out your details:
Your IP Address:34. 138. 201. 227
Companies can sell this information, alongside your location and internet provider name, and profit from it by serving targeted ads or monitoring your data usage.
We recommend Private Internet Access, a VPN with a no-log policy, open source code, ad blocking and much more; now 79% off.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my VPN not hiding my location?
How do I hide my location without a VPN?
You can use a proxy server, join Tor, or use a Smart DNS to unblock streaming content.
What does a VPN hide? | NortonLifeLock
A virtual private network (VPN) can hide a user’s internal protocol address (IP address) and block their location and browser history, allowing them to share and receive information on public internet networks more privately.
Whether you’re searching something online or communicating via social media, you’re leaving digital footprints in the form of your browsing history, cookies, and cached data.
Your Internet Service Provider (ISP), the government, and other third parties can track what you search, visit, and download.
Even if you use a private browsing mode, your IP address can still be collected.
When you download and enable a VPN prior to browsing, a VPN can offer online privacy and increased security by helping hide your online identity and encrypting your traffic. Hackers and third parties will only be able to see the IP address of the remote VPN. This prevents them from accessing your location, browser history, or the personal information you may have sent or received during that browsing session.
Here are the seven main things that a VPN hides:
1. Search History
You can clear your cookies and search history from your browser. But chances are your ISP has recorded the websites that you’ve visited. VPNs can hide your search history and other browsing activity, like search terms, links clicked, and websites visited, as well as masking your IP address.
Try Norton 360 FREE 30-Day Trial* – Includes Norton Secure VPN
30 days of FREE* comprehensive antivirus, device security and online privacy with Norton Secure VPN.
Join today. Cancel anytime.
*Terms Apply
Can you truly remove your search history?
No. You’re removing the file references from your directories, but your operating system won’t simultaneously erase this data. It only moves the information to a special area on your Mac or PC’s hard drive.
If you use a VPN each time you browse, third parties will only be able to see the IP address of the remote VPN. This disables them from pinpointing your location, ISP and, potentially, other personal information.
2. IP Address
Your IP address identifies your device on the Internet or a local network. It’s the key data that connects you to your location, ISP, and web search history.
IP addresses can share sensitive information about you that includes your physical location such as your city, state, ZIP code, and country. It can trace back to your home ISP, which could reveal your name, home address, phone number, and credit card numbers.
Instead of sending information directly from your IP address, the VPN server’s IP address is associated with your activity.
For example, if your VPN service provider has servers around the world, you could appear to be connecting to the internet from a different country.
3. Medical Diagnosis and Health Conditions
Medical providers often operate through private client portals. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) has set standards in the exchange of protected health information (PHI). This is the diagnosis, procedures, and counsel between doctors, clients and medical facilities.
HIPPA requires healthcare facilities to operate on private networks. These secured portals encrypt your medical information from outside parties. VPN networks allow medical professionals and patients to safely access confidential medical information untampered.
4. Travel accommodations
Travel and airline websites associate the information that you’re researching with your IP address. When you visit online travel booking websites multiple times to find better deals, a cookie has likely already locked into a price.
A cookie is data sent from a user’s computer to a website. They can identify your past travel searches, online profiles, all the way to your home address. Any action like clicking on a link can trigger an “event. ” Marketers use analytics tracking tools to track website traffic and user behavior. It only takes a short amount of time for advertisers to bombard you with retargeting ads.
VPNs can block tracking technologies, allowing you to search travel websites anonymously and avoiding advertisers altogether.
5. Geolocation
We already mentioned that your IP address can identify your geolocation. Browsers and websites use this information to map web traffic from different cities, states, and countries.
For example, when you use Google Maps, you must enable your phone to detect your location. Websites use the same technology.
One side benefit of using a VPN is known as geo-spoofing. This means a VPN “fools” websites and other online services into thinking you’re in one location when you’re really in another.
This could provide access to geo-restricted services or help save money while doing online shopping. But remember to always check your service agreement rules and observe government laws and regulations.
6. Personally identifiable material
A VPN can hide your online identity by masking your IP address. It encrypts your location and the data you send and receive, helping protect your personal identifiable information (PII). This data can come in the form of your bank information, as well as Social Security and driver’s license numbers. If a hacker gains access to your computer, your PII is could be vulnerable via audio files, messages, and passwords.
Even secure websites can become vulnerable to cyber-attacks. Using a VPN network can increase your protection when you go online, from hackers and cyber thieves.
7. Torrenting
BitTorrents (torrents) are metadata files and folders that are shared and downloaded between users on a network. This gives users access to movies, music, and other forms of media content.
Though torrenting isn’t illegal, downloading copyrighted material like movies or songs is a violation. Since your ISP can track your activity, so can the government. Using a torrenting service without a VPN can sometimes lead to warning letters or even hefty fines from the government.
Even if performed legally, torrenting can be dangerous. Downloading unknown files can result in you downloading malware. These viruses can infect your computer and corrupt your files. VPNs can prevent online peers from seeing your IP address, which could help prevent hackers from singling you out.
How to choose a VPN
When choosing a VPN, consider your needs for the device. User-friendliness, speed, secure encryption, and price are all important factors to examine. You also want reliable customer service, should anything out of the ordinary occur.
Consider using a secure VPN network that provides powerful protection and is capable of connecting other devices in your home. Research online reviews, but be careful of sites that promote affiliate websites. You can also talk to your tech-savvy friends and get their insight on recommended products.
Most importantly, when purchasing a VPN, it’s best to buy from a software company that you trust. So, no matter where you are, you can search the internet knowing that your connections are safer.
Editorial note: Our articles provide educational information for you. NortonLifeLock offerings may not cover or protect against every type of crime, fraud, or threat we write about. Our goal is to increase awareness about cyber safety. Please review complete Terms during enrollment or setup. Remember that no one can prevent all identity theft or cybercrime, and that LifeLock does not monitor all transactions at all businesses.
Copyright © 2021 NortonLifeLock Inc. All rights reserved. NortonLifeLock, the NortonLifeLock Logo, the Checkmark Logo, Norton, LifeLock, and the LockMan Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of NortonLifeLock Inc. or its affiliates in the United States and other countries. Firefox is a trademark of Mozilla Foundation. Android, Google Chrome, Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google, LLC. Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple and the Apple logo are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U. S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc. Alexa and all related logos are trademarks of, Inc. or its affiliates. Microsoft and the Window logo are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the U. The Android robot is reproduced or modified from work created and shared by Google and used according to terms described in the Creative Commons 3. 0 Attribution License. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.
No one can prevent all identity theft or cybercrime. Not all products, services and features are available on all devices or operating systems. System requirement information on
*Important Subscription, Pricing and Offer Details:
The price quoted today may include an introductory offer. After that, your membership will automatically renew and be billed at the applicable monthly or annual renewal price found here.
You can cancel your subscription at or by contacting Member Services & Support. For more details, please visit the Refund Policy.
Your subscription may include product, service and /or protection updates and features may be added, modified or removed subject to the acceptance of the Customer Agreement.
The number of supported devices allowed under your plan are primarily for personal or household use only. Not for commercial use. If you have issues adding a device, please contact Member Services & Support.
§ Dark Web Monitoring in Norton 360 plans defaults to monitor your email address only. Please login to the portal to review if you can add additional information for monitoring purposes.
Frequently Asked Questions about vpn not hiding ip
Why does my VPN not hide my IP?
Change your GPS location If you’re trying to access services that track you down by GPS instead of IP, then your regular VPN won’t be able to hide your location. … And its Android app can take over your GPS. An alternative solution is to disable location services in your web browser.Dec 3, 2020
Does VPN really hide IP address?
A VPN can hide your online identity by masking your IP address. It encrypts your location and the data you send and receive, helping protect your personal identifiable information (PII). … Using a VPN network can increase your protection when you go online, from hackers and cyber thieves.
What does a VPN not hide?
Since your ISP won’t be able to see what sites you browse, they won’t know what you’re looking up on the Internet. … But using a VPN won’t hide your search history from your browser or any cookies sites might place on your device. To protect your privacy from that, you should also use incognito/private mode.Dec 3, 2020
