How to Test Proxy Functionality: IP, DNS, WebRTC, and Speed - Step-by-Step Guide

You connected a proxy, the browser opened — and it seems everything is working. But is it really? A misconfigured proxy can expose your real IP, leak DNS requests, or slow down your connection to the point where accounts start getting banned. In this article, you'll find a specific step-by-step guide: how to ensure your proxy is working correctly, without leaks and at a normal speed, in just 5–10 minutes.

Why it's important to check the proxy right after connecting

Many beginners make the same mistake: they connect the proxy, see that the page has opened, and think everything is ready to go. In reality, this is not the case. The proxy may be connected formally, but at the same time:

• Show your real IP instead of the proxy address
• Send DNS requests through your provider instead of through the proxy server
• Leak your real IP through WebRTC — a browser technology that most proxies do not block
• Work so slowly that Instagram or Facebook Ads start to consider the behavior suspicious

For arbitrage specialists and SMM professionals, each of these points is a direct path to account bans. Facebook Ads checks the IP with every login. Instagram analyzes geolocation and compares it with previous sessions. If the proxy is "leaking" — the platform sees it.

The check takes literally 5–10 minutes but saves hours of work recovering banned accounts. Let's go through each step in order.

Step 1 — Check the IP address: is the real one visible?

The first and most basic step is to ensure that your real IP address is hidden and that the proxy server's IP is displayed instead. This is done in two clicks.

Tools for checking IP:

Step by step:

1. First, go to 2ip.ru without the proxy and note your real IP address.
2. Connect the proxy — through browser settings, an anti-detect browser, or an extension.
3. Refresh the page on 2ip.ru or open it again.
4. Compare IP: if the address has changed — the proxy is connected. If it remains the same — there is a configuration issue.

Pay attention not only to the IP itself but also to the "Provider" or "Organization" line. If it shows the name of your home internet provider — it means the proxy either isn't working or is misconfigured. If a data center or foreign provider is listed — everything is fine.

Also check the geolocation: the country and city should match what you selected when setting up the proxy. This is especially important for arbitrage specialists who run ads on Facebook Ads for specific GEOs — for example, working with accounts from the USA or Germany.

Step 2 — Check for DNS leaks

A DNS leak is when your browser sends requests to the DNS server of your real provider, even when you are connected through a proxy. Simply put: the IP is hidden, but the DNS requests still reveal who you are and where you are from.

For most tasks — browsing websites, parsing — this is not critical. But if you manage accounts on Instagram or work with Facebook Ads, some anti-fraud systems can match DNS and IP. A discrepancy is a warning sign.

How to check for DNS leaks:

1. Connect the proxy.
2. Open the site dnsleaktest.com.
3. Click the "Standard test" button.
4. Wait for the results — usually 10–15 seconds.
5. Look at the list of DNS servers in the results table.

How to read the result:

If you detect a DNS leak — in the anti-detect browser (Dolphin Anty, AdsPower, GoLogin), go to the profile settings and ensure that the "DNS through proxy" option is enabled. In a regular browser, switching to public DNS: 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare) or 8.8.8.8 (Google) helps — but this is not a 100% solution; it's better to use anti-detect.

Step 3 — Check for WebRTC leaks

WebRTC is a browser technology for video and audio calls (used in Zoom, Google Meet, messengers). The problem is that WebRTC can directly "ask" your operating system for your real IP address, bypassing any proxy. This is called a WebRTC leak, and it's one of the most common reasons for bans among arbitrage specialists.

Imagine: you connected through a proxy with a German IP, but Facebook Ads sees your real Russian address through WebRTC. The result — instant account blocking as suspicious.

How to check for WebRTC leaks:

1. Connect the proxy.
2. Open any of the services: browserleaks.com/webrtc or ipleak.net.
3. The page will automatically check WebRTC — the result will appear in a few seconds.
4. Find the section "WebRTC" or "Local IP addresses".

What should be in the result:

• No leak: the WebRTC section is empty or shows the proxy IP — everything is fine.
• There is a leak: your real IP (the one you noted in step 1) is visible — it needs to be fixed.
• Local IP (192.168.x.x): this is the IP of your local network, not critical, but better to disable it.

How to eliminate a WebRTC leak:

• In an anti-detect browser (Dolphin Anty, AdsPower, Multilogin, Octo Browser): in the profile settings, find the WebRTC option and set it to "Disabled" or "Fake" — the browser will replace the IP with the proxy address.
• In Chrome/Firefox: install the uBlock Origin or WebRTC Leak Prevent extension and disable WebRTC in the extension settings.
• In Firefox: enter about:config in the address bar, find the media.peerconnection.enabled parameter and set it to false.

Step 4 — Check the proxy speed

The speed of the proxy is a parameter that directly affects your work. A slow proxy slows down page loading, makes working with ad accounts uncomfortable, and when parsing — reduces the number of requests processed per minute. Additionally, some platforms (e.g., Instagram) analyze response time and may consider an account with a very slow connection suspicious.

How to check speed:

1. Connect the proxy.
2. Open fast.com (by Netflix) or speedtest.net.
3. Run the test and wait for the result.
4. Note the metrics: download speed (Download), upload speed (Upload), and ping (Ping/Latency).

Speed benchmarks for different tasks:

If the speed is significantly lower than expected — try changing the proxy server (most providers have several servers in one country), check the protocol type (HTTP/HTTPS/SOCKS5 — the last one is usually faster), and ensure that your main internet connection is not a bottleneck.

For tasks where speed is crucial (mass parsing, price monitoring on Wildberries and Ozon), data center proxies are well-suited — they work significantly faster than residential and mobile proxies, although they leave a more "noticeable" fingerprint for websites.

Step 5 — Check the proxy in an anti-detect browser

If you work with multiple accounts on Instagram, Facebook Ads, or TikTok, you are likely using an anti-detect browser — Dolphin Anty, AdsPower, GoLogin, Multilogin, or Octo Browser. Each of them has a built-in proxy check that needs to be run before each work session.

Checking in Dolphin Anty:

1. Open Dolphin Anty and go to the "Proxy" section in the left menu.
2. Click "Add proxy" and enter the details: type (HTTP/SOCKS5), host, port, username, password.
3. Click the "Check" button — the browser will automatically check the IP, country, and speed.
4. If the check passes — a green checkmark appears and the proxy IP is displayed. If not — a red cross appears, and you need to recheck the details.

Checking in AdsPower:

1. When creating or editing a profile, go to the "Proxy" tab.
2. Enter the proxy details and click "Check proxy".
3. AdsPower will show the IP address, country, and response time.
4. Additionally, open the profile and go to browserleaks.com — check all parameters manually.

Checking in GoLogin:

1. In the profile settings, find the "Connection" block.
2. Enter the proxy details and click "Check proxy".
3. GoLogin will show the country, IP, and connection status.
4. Make sure that WebRTC in the profile is set to "Altered" or "Disabled".

For working with multiple social media accounts, mobile proxies have proven to be especially effective — they simulate a connection through mobile internet (4G/LTE), making them virtually indistinguishable from real smartphone users. Instagram and TikTok are particularly lenient towards such IPs.

What to do if the proxy fails the check

If any of the steps showed a problem — don't panic. Let's go through the most common situations and what to do about them.

❌ Proxy does not change IP:

• Check the accuracy of the entered details: host, port, username, password.
• Make sure the correct proxy type is selected (HTTP, HTTPS, or SOCKS5).
• Try another server or port — sometimes one port is blocked by your provider.
• Check if the proxy has expired or if the traffic has been exhausted.

❌ DNS leak detected:

• In the anti-detect browser, enable the "DNS through proxy" option (available in Dolphin Anty, AdsPower, Multilogin).
• Change DNS manually to 1.1.1.1 or 8.8.8.8 in the operating system settings.
• If using a regular browser — switch to an anti-detect solution.

❌ WebRTC leak detected:

• In the settings of the anti-detect browser profile, change WebRTC to "Disabled" or "Altered".
• In Chrome, install the WebRTC Leak Prevent extension.
• In Firefox, disable WebRTC via about:config.

❌ Proxy is too slow:

• Change the proxy server to one that is geographically closer.
• Try the SOCKS5 protocol instead of HTTP — it is usually faster.
• Check the load on your main connection (close unnecessary tabs and programs).
• If the speed is consistently low — it may be time to change the proxy provider.

❌ Proxy identified as "proxy" or "datacenter":

• Some services (e.g., ipqualityscore.com) show the type of IP: residential, datacenter, mobile.
• If you work with social media and the proxy is identified as a datacenter — this increases the risk of bans.
• For working with Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook Ads, use residential or mobile proxies — they are identified as regular home or mobile connections.

Checklist: quick proxy check in 5 minutes

Save this checklist and use it every time before starting work with a new proxy or after switching accounts.

Additional tools for advanced checks:

Conclusion

Checking the proxy is not a one-time procedure but a mandatory ritual before each work session. Especially if you manage accounts on Instagram, TikTok, or work with Facebook Ads and TikTok Ads. Five minutes to check IP, DNS, WebRTC, and speed is insurance against losing accounts and wasted advertising budgets.

Remember the main point: a proxy may "work" in the sense that pages load, but it can still leak your real IP through WebRTC or DNS. That's why a visual check ("the page loaded — everything is fine") doesn't work. You need tools: 2ip.ru, dnsleaktest.com, browserleaks.com, and speedtest.net.

If you are just choosing a proxy for working with social media or advertising platforms, pay attention to residential proxies — they have IPs of real home users, pass most anti-fraud checks, and raise suspicion with Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok algorithms much less frequently. This is especially important for arbitrage specialists and SMM professionals who work with multiple accounts simultaneously.