Blog · IPv6

Why is IPv6 not showing?

Common reasons: your connection only has IPv4 from the ISP; IPv6 is disabled on the router; or the browser lookup timed out. What Is My IP Address IP shows an IPv6 row only when a public IPv6 address is returned.

Check ISP and modem first

Confirm your provider actually offers IPv6 in your area. Some lines are still IPv4-only. If the ISP enables it, your modem/router must request prefixes (DHCPv6-PD or similar) and pass them to the LAN. A misconfigured firewall rule can block ICMPv6 or neighbor discovery and break detection in browsers.

Operating system toggles

Windows, macOS, and Linux can disable IPv6 on an interface. If the OS never configures a global address, our checker cannot display one even when the LAN could support it.

VPNs and tunnels

Some VPNs tunnel only IPv4 unless you enable IPv6 in settings. Compare with what IP a VPN shows and verify both families after changing options.

Why IPv4-only is still common

Millions of sites and apps work on IPv4; dual-stack is the long-term goal, not an instant requirement for casual browsing. Background: IPv4 exhaustion and IPv4 vs IPv6.

People also ask

My friend has IPv6 but I don’t—why? Different ISPs, plans, and router models—availability is not universal.

Should I disable IPv6 for “security”? Usually no—misconfigured networks sometimes blame IPv6 for unrelated issues; fix the root cause instead.

Extended guide: verification steps

Start upstream: confirm IPv6 is on your service plan. Then verify the modem is not in a bridge mode that strips prefixes. On the router, enable IPv6 passthrough or DHCPv6-PD as your ISP documents. Finally check client OS settings to ensure IPv6 is enabled on the interface.

Firewalls must allow neighbor discovery and ICMPv6 where appropriate—overly aggressive rules can make clients look IPv4-only even when the ISP provides IPv6.

VPN users should confirm the provider supports IPv6 or explicitly tunnels it; otherwise you might only ever see IPv4 through the tunnel.

If everything looks correct but browsers still fail, try another device to isolate Wi‑Fi vs ISP issues. Document modem model and firmware when asking support—details speed up fixes.

Carrier and ISP rollout timelines

IPv6 deployment is uneven. Some fiber providers delegate a /56 or /64 prefix to your router immediately; others still ship IPv4-only CPE firmware until you ask for an upgrade. Mobile carriers often run dual-stack LTE/5G with IPv6-first preferences, yet a buggy APN profile on your phone can leave you IPv4-only until you reset network settings.

Enterprise networks sometimes disable IPv6 intentionally until security teams finish auditing firewalls and logging. In those environments, “why no v6?” is a policy decision, not a mystery bug. Home users rarely hit that case, but remote workers should remember split-tunnel VPNs can hide IPv6 from split horizons.

Operating systems can prefer IPv4 for certain APIs when v6 path MTU discovery fails silently. Symptoms include “some sites load, some hang”—often misread as DNS issues. Testing with our checker confirms whether the browser ever receives a global IPv6; if not, focus on prefix delegation from the ISP before chasing application bugs.

Lab enthusiasts: if you enable IPv6 on your LAN without upstream delegation, you might craft ULA addresses locally while still showing no global IPv6 on WAN checks. That is expected—global visibility requires ISP cooperation.

When IPv6 does appear, you may see both a temporary address and a stable interface ID depending on privacy settings. Our page lists what your session presents; deeper SLAAC details live in OS networking docs.

Patience and escalation

If first-line support insists “we do not support IPv6,” ask calmly for escalation—sometimes frontline scripts lag actual engineering readiness.

Bring data: modem model, router firmware, screenshot of WAN settings, and output from your OS’s IPv6 status command when available.

Neighbor forums may know regional quirks (“ISP X enables IPv6 only after ticket #123”)—search with your city and ASN.

Lab users: disable experimental tunnel brokers unless you enjoy debugging MTU black holes—native dual-stack is simpler when available.

Remember IPv4 will not disappear overnight—missing IPv6 on a checker is not an emergency if your apps function.

When IPv6 finally lights up, rerun tests on both Wi‑Fi and Ethernet; some drivers behave differently.

Summary checklist

ISP IPv6 yes/no → modem IPv6 enabled → router receives prefix → LAN advertises addresses → OS enables IPv6 → VPN allows IPv6 → browser test. Fail early at the first broken step instead of guessing.

Keep ISP ticket numbers when escalating; intermittent issues need timestamps and traceroutes they may request later.

Related guides