IPv6 Connectivity Test
Test if your network properly supports IPv6 protocol. Check dual-stack configuration, IPv6 DNS support, and router advertisements.
Test your network's IPv6 support and readiness. IPv6 is the future of internet addressing, providing vastly more addresses than IPv4.
Test IPv6 Connectivity
Check if your network properly supports IPv6 protocol and dual-stack configuration
About IPv6
- IPv6: Next generation internet protocol with vastly larger address space
- Dual Stack: Supports both IPv4 and IPv6 simultaneously
- Future-Ready: IPv4 addresses are exhausted, IPv6 is the future
What is IPv6?
IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6) is the most recent version of the Internet Protocol, designed to replace IPv4. While IPv4 uses 32-bit addresses (allowing for about 4.3 billion unique addresses), IPv6 uses 128-bit addresses, providing approximately 340 undecillion (3.4×10³⁸) unique addresses.
IPv4 vs IPv6 Address Examples
192.168.1.1(32 bits, ~4.3 billion addresses)2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334(128 bits, 340 undecillion addresses)How to Use This Tool
- Click "Start IPv6 Test": The tool will automatically detect your network's IPv6 capabilities and configuration.
- Review IPv6 Status: See if your network supports IPv6 connectivity (Supported or Not Supported).
- Check Your Addresses: View both your IPv4 address (always present) and IPv6 address (if available).
- Verify Features: Check for dual-stack support, DNS over IPv6, and router advertisements functionality.
- Understand Results: Read the interpretation to know what your results mean and what actions you might take.
What This Tool Checks
IPv6 Connectivity
Tests whether your device and network can establish IPv6 connections. This is essential for accessing IPv6-only websites and services.
Dual Stack Configuration
Checks if your network supports both IPv4 and IPv6 simultaneously, allowing seamless communication with both old and new internet infrastructure.
DNS over IPv6
Verifies that your DNS queries can be performed over IPv6, which is important for resolving domain names in an IPv6-only environment.
Router Advertisements
Tests for SLAAC (Stateless Address Autoconfiguration) support, which allows devices to automatically configure IPv6 addresses.
Benefits of IPv6
- Vastly Larger Address Space: Eliminates the need for NAT (Network Address Translation) and provides unique global addresses for every device.
- Improved Security: IPsec (Internet Protocol Security) is mandatory in IPv6, providing better encryption and authentication.
- Better Performance: Simplified header format leads to more efficient routing and faster packet processing.
- Auto-configuration: SLAAC allows devices to automatically configure themselves without DHCP servers.
- No More NAT: Every device can have a globally routable address, simplifying peer-to-peer communications.
- Better Mobile Support: Mobile IPv6 allows seamless handover between networks without connection drops.
- Quality of Service (QoS): Built-in QoS support for real-time applications like video streaming and VoIP.
Understanding Your Test Results
✅ IPv6 Supported
Congratulations! Your network supports IPv6. This means:
- You can access IPv6-only websites and services
- Your network is future-ready as the internet transitions to IPv6
- You may experience better performance for IPv6-enabled services
- Your ISP has deployed modern internet infrastructure
❌ IPv6 Not Supported
Your network currently only supports IPv4. What you can do:
- Contact your ISP to inquire about IPv6 availability
- Check if your router firmware needs updating for IPv6 support
- Verify that IPv6 isn't disabled in your router settings
- Most services still work fine with IPv4 only, but this may change
🔄 Dual Stack Configuration
Dual stack means your network supports both IPv4 and IPv6:
- Best of both worlds - compatibility with all internet services
- Your device automatically chooses the best protocol for each connection
- Gradual transition to IPv6 without breaking existing IPv4 connections
- Industry standard for modern networks during the IPv4 to IPv6 transition
Common IPv6 Address Types
| Address Type | Prefix | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Global Unicast | 2000::/3 | Globally routable addresses, equivalent to public IPv4 |
| Link Local | fe80::/10 | Used for local network communication, not routable |
| Unique Local | fc00::/7 | Private addresses, similar to 192.168.x.x in IPv4 |
| Multicast | ff00::/8 | One-to-many communication |
| Loopback | ::1/128 | Equivalent to 127.0.0.1 in IPv4 |
| Unspecified | ::/128 | Equivalent to 0.0.0.0 in IPv4 |
Troubleshooting IPv6 Issues
No IPv6 Detected
- Check if your ISP provides IPv6 connectivity (contact their support)
- Log into your router and verify IPv6 is enabled in settings
- Update your router firmware to the latest version
- Restart your router and modem to refresh network configuration
- Check if your firewall is blocking IPv6 traffic
IPv6 Connectivity Issues
- Verify your router has received a valid IPv6 prefix from your ISP
- Check that DHCPv6 or SLAAC is properly configured
- Ensure IPv6 DNS servers are configured (like 2001:4860:4860::8888 for Google)
- Test with different devices to isolate the problem
- Temporarily disable IPv6 privacy extensions for testing
Slow IPv6 Performance
- Some ISPs have less optimized IPv6 routing - compare with IPv4 speeds
- Check if your DNS server supports IPv6 efficiently
- Verify your router has sufficient resources for IPv6 processing
- Test with multiple websites to determine if it's a specific service issue
- Consider using a different IPv6 DNS server for better performance
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I care about IPv6?
IPv4 addresses have been exhausted globally. As more devices connect to the internet, IPv6 becomes essential. Major services like Google, Facebook, and Netflix already use IPv6. Having IPv6 ensures you're future-ready and can access all internet resources without limitations.
Is IPv6 faster than IPv4?
IPv6 can be slightly faster due to more efficient routing and no NAT overhead. However, the difference is usually minimal for end users. The real benefit is avoiding the complexity and performance issues associated with NAT in IPv4 networks.
Can I use IPv6 and IPv4 together?
Yes! This is called "dual stack" and is the recommended configuration during the transition period. Your device will automatically use IPv6 when available and fall back to IPv4 when needed. Most modern operating systems and networks support dual stack operation.
How do I get IPv6 if I don't have it?
First, contact your ISP to ask about IPv6 availability. Many ISPs now offer IPv6 by default or upon request. If your ISP doesn't support IPv6, you can use IPv6 tunnel brokers (like Hurricane Electric's tunnelbroker.net) as a temporary solution, though native IPv6 from your ISP is preferred.
Is IPv6 more secure than IPv4?
IPv6 was designed with security in mind and includes IPsec as a core feature. However, security depends more on proper configuration than the protocol itself. IPv6 eliminates some IPv4 security issues (like ARP spoofing) but introduces new considerations (like NDP attacks). Always use firewalls and security best practices with both protocols.
What's the difference between SLAAC and DHCPv6?
SLAAC (Stateless Address Autoconfiguration) allows devices to automatically configure their own IPv6 addresses using router advertisements. DHCPv6 is similar to DHCP in IPv4, where a server assigns addresses and provides additional configuration. SLAAC is simpler and more common, while DHCPv6 offers more control and is useful in enterprise environments.
Will IPv4 stop working when IPv6 is everywhere?
No, IPv4 will continue to work for many years to come. The transition to IPv6 is gradual, and dual-stack (supporting both IPv4 and IPv6) will remain the standard for a long time. Think of it as adding lanes to a highway rather than replacing the old road entirely.
Can I disable IPv6 if I don't need it?
While you can disable IPv6, it's generally not recommended. Modern operating systems and applications expect IPv6 to be available, and disabling it can cause unexpected issues. If you're experiencing problems, it's better to troubleshoot the specific issue rather than disable IPv6 entirely.
How do I check my IPv6 address on my device?
On Windows: Open Command Prompt and type ipconfig. On Mac/Linux: Open Terminal and type ifconfig orip -6 addr. Look for addresses starting with "2001:" (global) or "fe80:" (link-local).
What percentage of the internet uses IPv6?
As of 2024, approximately 40-45% of internet users globally have IPv6 connectivity, with higher adoption in some countries (India ~70%, USA ~50%). Major content providers like Google report that over 40% of their traffic now comes over IPv6. Adoption continues to grow steadily.
IPv6 Adoption Worldwide
IPv6 adoption is accelerating globally, with mobile networks leading the transition