How to Check Your IPv6 Address: 12 Tests & Easy Fixes (2025)

In a hurry? This guide shows how to see your IPv6, confirm dual-stack (IPv4+IPv6), and fix the top issues that cause the dreaded “IPv6 not working”. You’ll run quick checks, copy-paste commands (ipconfig, dig AAAA, traceroute -6), and apply simple router and OS tweaks for a clean, secure setup.

1) Find your IPv6 on any device

Windows

1. Win+R → cmd → Enter
2. Run ipconfig and look for IPv6 Address under the active adapter.
3. PowerShell: Get-NetIPAddress -AddressFamily IPv6

macOS

1. System Settings → Network → Wi-Fi/Ethernet → Details → TCP/IP
2. Terminal: ifconfig | grep inet6 or networksetup -getinfo Wi-Fi

Linux

1. Terminal: ip -6 addr show (or ip a, ifconfig)
2. Find inet6 lines — you want a global address (not only fe80::)

Android

1. Settings → Network & Internet → Wi-Fi → your network
2. Advanced → see IPv6 address

iPhone / iPad

1. Settings → Wi-Fi → tap “ⓘ” for the network
2. Scroll to the IPv6 section (for cellular, test with tools below)

2) Confirm end-to-end IPv6 connectivity

• Open What is My IP — page shows IPv4 and IPv6 if both are available.
• Query AAAA records for popular domains via DNS Lookup.
• If only IPv4 appears, your ISP/router might not provide IPv6, or required traffic is blocked by a firewall.

3) Handy commands (copy-paste)

Show addresses on the device

# Windows (CMD)
ipconfig /all

# Windows (PowerShell)
Get-NetIPAddress -AddressFamily IPv6

# macOS / Linux
ip -6 addr show
# or
ifconfig

Force an IPv6 DNS query (AAAA)

# Linux / macOS (requires dig)
dig AAAA myipscan.net +short
# or cross-platform
nslookup -type=AAAA myipscan.net

# Windows (PowerShell)
Resolve-DnsName myipscan.net -Type AAAA

Connectivity tests over IPv6

# ICMP
ping -6 myipscan.net

# Route
traceroute -6 myipscan.net     # macOS/Linux
tracert -6 myipscan.net        # Windows

# HTTP(S)
curl -6 https://myipscan.net/what-is-my-ip/
curl -4 https://myipscan.net/what-is-my-ip/   # compare

4) Enable IPv6 on your network (router + OS)

1. Router: enable IPv6 in WAN/Internet settings. Choose SLAAC or DHCPv6; some ISPs require PPPoE with IPv6 options.
2. Prefix delegation: expect a /56 or /64. Turn on Router Advertisements (RA).
3. Firewall: allow essential ICMPv6 (Neighbor Discovery, RA, PMTU).
4. OS toggles: ensure IPv6 isn’t disabled or deprioritized (“Prefer IPv4”).
5. Reboot: power-cycle router and device to pick up the prefix.

5) “IPv6 not working” — typical root causes & quick fixes

6) Real-world case: dual-stack in 15 minutes

A small distributed team had slow API calls on laptops while phones were fine. IPv4 pings worked; ping -6 api.example.com failed. ipconfig showed only link-local IPv6. The router’s IPv6 was disabled by default. After enabling DHCPv6-PD (prefix /56), devices received global addresses. Adding an AAAA for the API and allowing ICMPv6 on endpoint firewalls eliminated timeouts; median TTFB improved ~18%.

7) Step-by-step checklist (12 quick tests)

1. See IPv6 on What is My IP
2. Resolve AAAA for your site via DNS Lookup
3. Run ping -6 and traceroute -6 to a known host
4. Check router WAN page: verify PD (/56 or /64)
5. Enable RA; ensure clients get global addresses
6. Allow ICMPv6 (Neighbor Discovery, PMTU)
7. Compare curl -6 vs curl -4 responses
8. On Windows/macOS, ensure IPv6 isn’t disabled or deprioritized
9. On VPN, re-test for WebRTC/DNS leaks
10. On mobile, test both Wi-Fi and cellular
11. Log results/screenshots for future debugging
12. Publish AAAA for web/API; for mail, validate SPF/DKIM/DMARC

8) Security & privacy with IPv6

• Randomized interface IDs (privacy extensions) reduce long-term tracking on laptops/phones
• Stateful firewall on the edge is essential; don’t rely on NAT semantics
• Audit services listening on :: (all interfaces); scope to required subnets
• Use a VPN that tunnels IPv6 to avoid leaks; always re-test

9) DevOps: site & email hardening (dual-stack)

• Publish AAAA for www, API, and critical subdomains
• Enable IPv6 at CDN and origin; verify TLS/ciphers on IPv6 endpoints
• Use dual-stack health checks and logs (by IP family) to catch regressions
• SPF/DKIM/DMARC: include IPv6 ranges in SPF; verify DKIM key; set DMARC policy that aligns on IPv6 paths

10) Comparison — IPv4 vs IPv6 checks

Tip: keep identical SLOs for both stacks; some CDNs prefer IPv6 when available.

11) FAQ — IPv6 test & troubleshooting

How do I quickly check if I have IPv6?

Open What is My IP. If you see an address starting with 2a00: or 2001:, your network supports IPv6.

Is IPv6 faster than IPv4?

Often similar. In many networks IPv6 paths are shorter or less NATed, so latency and TTFB can improve slightly.

Do I need AAAA if my site already works on IPv4?

Yes. Without AAAA, IPv6-preferred clients fall back to IPv4 and you lose performance/resilience benefits.

My VPN leaks IPv6 — what now?

Use a VPN that tunnels IPv6. Otherwise temporarily disable IPv6 on the device while connected and re-test for leaks.

What is dual stack?

Running IPv4 and IPv6 simultaneously. Devices pick the best path; you should monitor both.

Why do I only get a link-local fe80:: address?

Your router isn’t sending Router Advertisements or prefix delegation is missing. Enable IPv6 RA/PD and reboot.

12) Conclusion & next steps

IPv6 is mainstream and worth enabling for performance, reach, and future-proofing. Follow the 12 tests above to validate addressing, DNS, routing, and email auth. Then harden your firewall, enable privacy extensions, and monitor both stacks for parity.

✓ Check your IPv6 now   Read next: IPv4 vs IPv6 →