Run IPv4/IPv6 Dual-Stack Detection from this browser to test each protocol's reachability, public exit address, network identity, response time, and troubleshooting guidance.
IPv4 / IPv6
Protocol reachability is checked directly by the browser
How to Read Dual-Stack Test Results
IPv4 and IPv6 are tested independently against protocol-specific public probes. A protocol is marked available only when this browser actually reaches its probe and the probe returns the public source address it observed.
Dual stack means both paths succeeded, but the addresses, ASN, region, response time, gateway, and route can still differ. IPv4-only and IPv6-only results describe this browser test now; they do not prove every application or destination behaves the same way.
Why IPv6 May Be Unavailable
The ISP may not provide a global IPv6 prefix, the router may not advertise it correctly, or a firewall, VPN, proxy, operating-system policy, browser extension, or temporary probe failure may block the path. A link-local address alone does not establish public IPv6 connectivity.
Retry the failed protocol first, then check the router WAN prefix and gateway, prefix delegation, RA or DHCPv6, outbound firewall rules, and tunnels that may take over only IPv4. Change one layer at a time and retest it independently.
Treat reachability and metadata as separate evidence
Network metadata is requested only after a probe returns a valid public address. If metadata fails, the confirmed connectivity result remains available instead of being overwritten by an enrichment error.
Different IPv4 and IPv6 exits are common and do not by themselves prove a privacy leak. When route consistency matters, compare DNS, WebRTC, VPN, and proxy configuration in addition to the two public network paths.
IPv4 and IPv6 Connection Differences
IPv4 and IPv6 are separate address families that can take different routes through the same device, router, ISP, VPN, and destination. Testing them independently avoids assuming that one successful connection proves the other works.
IPv4 and IPv6 at a glance
Topic
IPv4
IPv6
Address size
32 bits, commonly written as four decimal octets.
128 bits, commonly written as hexadecimal groups with compression.
Typical access network
Often uses private addressing plus home NAT or carrier-grade NAT.
Usually assigns a routed prefix; temporary addresses and firewall policy remain common.
DNS publication
A records.
AAAA records.
Reachability requirement
Working local configuration, default route, DNS when names are used, and destination support.
Working prefix and route, router advertisements or other configuration, DNS when names are used, firewall policy, and destination support.
Security
NAT can hide unsolicited inbound mapping but is not a complete firewall.
No NAT is required; a stateful firewall and normal host security are still essential.
Understand the Four Result Patterns
The checker runs protocol-isolated browser probes. Its conclusion summarizes this run and should be repeated after changes or transient failures.
Dual-stack result interpretation
Result
Observed probes
Meaning
Dual stack
Both the IPv4-only and IPv6-only probes completed.
This browser had working paths for both families to the test endpoints.
IPv4 only
IPv4 completed; IPv6 did not.
The current path supports IPv4, while IPv6 needs troubleshooting or is intentionally unavailable.
IPv6 only
IPv6 completed; IPv4 did not.
The current path supports IPv6, while IPv4 is unavailable, blocked, or failed transiently.
Information incomplete
A probe was stopped, blocked, timed out, or did not provide enough observations.
Do not classify the connection until both probes can be retried under stable conditions.
How Browser Dual-Stack Probes Work
The page sends one request to an IPv4-only test endpoint and another to an IPv6-only endpoint. Each successful response reports the address family and public address observed by that endpoint. Keeping the targets isolated prevents a dual-stack hostname and browser fallback behavior from hiding which protocol actually carried a request.
The displayed duration is a single browser measurement that includes current routing, connection setup, server response, and device conditions. If IPv6 is available but slower in this run, that is only a timing signal. The checker does not inspect the operating system protocol-selection policy and does not claim which family other applications will prefer.
Why IPv6 Can Be Configured but Still Fail
A device can display a link-local address without having a usable global prefix. It may have a global address but no working default route, expired prefix, filtered router advertisement, broken ISP delegation, VPN route gap, firewall block, or destination-specific routing problem. DNS can also publish AAAA records even when the path from this network is broken.
Temporary address generation and privacy extensions are normal and do not guarantee reachability. Conversely, a failed browser probe can come from content filtering or a blocked test endpoint rather than the whole IPv6 internet. Confirm with another known IPv6 destination and inspect the local network state before disabling the protocol.
IPv6 Troubleshooting Order
Change one layer at a time so the successful step identifies the likely boundary.
RouterCheck WAN IPv6 status, delegated prefix, LAN advertisements, DHCPv6 settings when used, stateful firewall, and recent firmware.
ISPConfirm the service includes native IPv6 or the expected transition mechanism and that no outage or provisioning issue is active.
VPN or proxyDisconnect briefly for a controlled comparison and verify whether the product supports, blocks, or splits IPv6.
DNSConfirm the hostname has the intended AAAA record and compare resolution through the configured resolver.
Operating system and browserRenew network configuration, inspect routes and firewall rules, update software, and retry with extensions disabled.
NAT, CGNAT, and IPv6 Security Myths
Home IPv4 commonly uses network address translation, while carrier-grade NAT lets an ISP share public IPv4 addresses among subscribers. CGNAT can make inbound connections and address attribution harder, but it does not provide anonymity: providers and services can retain timestamps and mapping or account data.
IPv6 normally avoids address conservation NAT, yet devices are not automatically exposed. A properly configured stateful router firewall can block unsolicited inbound traffic while allowing return traffic, and host firewalls remain important. Disabling IPv6 is not a substitute for correcting DNS, VPN, firewall, or application policy; it can merely hide a broken path and force IPv4.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How can I check IPv6 availability in my browser?
Open this page and wait for the IPv6-only public probe. A successful connection confirms that this browser reached the probe over IPv6 for this test; retry failures because routing, firewalls, VPNs, extensions, or temporary probe availability can affect the result.
How does the checker find my public IP?
When the browser connects to a protocol-specific public probe, the probe returns the source address it sees. MiyaIP does not read your private LAN address during this test.
Why can IPv6 be available but slower than IPv4?
Routing, tunnelling, DNS, wireless conditions, or probe distance can affect response time. The page flags IPv6 as noticeably slower only when it is at least 500 ms and three times slower than IPv4 in this run.
Is it normal for IPv4 and IPv6 exits to be different?
Yes. The two protocols can use different gateways, circuits, or autonomous systems. When privacy consistency matters, review DNS, WebRTC, VPN, and proxy configuration as separate evidence.
Does a detection failure mean the network does not have this protocol?
Not necessarily. Temporary probe unavailability, browser extensions, corporate firewalls, and network fluctuations can cause failure. Retry and compare results from other devices before concluding that the protocol is unavailable.
Do I need both IPv4 and IPv6?
Many networks remain reachable over IPv4, but IPv6 provides direct access to IPv6-capable services and reduces dependence on shared IPv4 translation. Dual stack offers compatibility while migration continues.
Why does the checker say IPv6 is slower?
It means this single isolated IPv6 probe took longer than the comparable IPv4 probe under the current conditions. It does not reveal operating-system preference or guarantee that IPv6 is generally slower.
Does IPv6 expose every device to the internet?
Not when router and host firewalls are configured correctly. Globally routable addressing removes the need for address-conservation NAT, but access policy still controls unsolicited inbound traffic.
