What IPv6 is and why you might need it
IPv6 is the newer internet protocol that replaces IPv4, the system that has assigned addresses to devices on the internet for decades. IPv4 addresses are running out — there are only about 4.3 billion of them, and the world has more devices than that now. IPv6 solves this by using a much larger address space, so every device can have its own unique address without sharing.
You may not need to enable IPv6 right now. Most home networks work fine with IPv4 alone, and your internet service provider (ISP) may not offer IPv6 yet. But if your ISP supports it, turning it on gives your devices direct addresses on the internet instead of hiding behind your router's address translation. This can improve performance for video calls, online gaming, and streaming, because your router doesn't have to translate between address formats.
IPv6 also matters for future-proofing. More websites and services are moving to IPv6-only, and enabling it now means your network is ready when that happens. The process is straightforward on most routers and takes about five minutes.
Key Takeaways
- IPv6 is a newer internet protocol that gives devices direct addresses instead of relying on your router to translate between address formats.
- Your ISP must support IPv6 for it to work — check your account or call them to confirm before you change router settings.
- Most routers have IPv6 enabled by default, but you should verify it is turned on in your router's settings and check that your devices are receiving IPv6 addresses.
- Enabling IPv6 does not weaken security if your router has a firewall, which nearly all modern routers do.
- You can test whether IPv6 is working by visiting a website that shows your connection details and looking for an IPv6 address.
Check whether your ISP supports IPv6
Before you change anything on your router, confirm that your internet service provider actually offers IPv6. Many do, but not all, and if your ISP does not support it, enabling it on your router will not help.
Call your ISP's customer service or log into your account online and look for IPv6 in the service details. You can also ask directly: "Does my internet plan include IPv6?" If they say no, you can stop here — your network will work fine with IPv4 alone. If they say yes, move to the next step.
Log into your router and find the IPv6 settings
Open a web browser and type 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 into the address bar. This is the default address for most home routers. If neither works, look on the back or bottom of your router for a sticker that lists the router's address — it usually says "Gateway" or "Admin URL".
When the login page appears, enter your router's username and password. If you have never changed these, they are usually printed on the same sticker on the router. The default is often "admin" for both username and password, but this varies by brand. If you do not remember the password, you can reset the router to factory settings by holding the reset button for ten seconds, which will restore the default credentials.
Once you are logged in, look for a section called Network Settings, Internet Settings, WAN Settings, or Advanced. The exact name depends on your router brand. You are looking for an option that mentions IPv6.
Enable IPv6 in your router settings
In the IPv6 section, you should see a toggle or checkbox labeled "Enable IPv6" or "IPv6 Support". Turn it on. Some routers also ask you to choose an IPv6 connection type — the most common options are DHCPv6 (automatic) and Static (manual). Unless your ISP gave you specific IPv6 settings, choose DHCPv6, which works the same way IPv4 does: your router asks your ISP for an address automatically.
After you enable IPv6, save your changes. Your router may restart — this usually takes one to three minutes. Do not unplug it during this time.
Some routers have IPv6 enabled by default and do not show a toggle. If you do not see an IPv6 option in your settings, it is probably already on. You can verify this in the next step.
Verify that IPv6 is working on your devices
Once your router has restarted, open a web browser on any device connected to your network and visit test-ipv6.com or ipv6-test.com. These sites show you your current internet addresses. If IPv6 is working, you will see both an IPv4 address and an IPv6 address listed.
If you see only an IPv4 address, IPv6 is not working yet. Wait a few more minutes — sometimes it takes time for your devices to receive IPv6 addresses from your ISP. Then refresh the page and check again. If it still shows only IPv4 after ten minutes, go back into your router settings and confirm that IPv6 is enabled. If it is enabled but still not working, contact your ISP to confirm they have activated IPv6 on your account.
Check the same test on a few different devices — your phone, a laptop, a tablet. They should all show IPv6 addresses if everything is working correctly.
Understand IPv6 and your firewall
A common concern is whether IPv6 makes your network less find. It does not, as long as your router has a firewall, which nearly all modern routers do. Your router's firewall protects both IPv4 and IPv6 traffic the same way — it blocks incoming connections from the internet unless you explicitly allow them.
Enabling IPv6 does not bypass your firewall or expose your devices to the internet. Your devices still sit behind your router, and the router still controls what traffic gets through. The only difference is that your devices now have direct IPv6 addresses instead of relying on address translation, which actually reduces the work your router has to do and can improve performance.
If your router has a separate IPv6 firewall setting, make sure it is enabled. Most routers turn this on automatically when you enable IPv6, but it is worth checking in your settings to be certain.
Troubleshooting if IPv6 is not showing up
If you have waited ten minutes and the test site still shows only IPv4, try these steps in order. First, restart your router by unplugging it for thirty seconds, then plugging it back in. Wait three minutes for it to fully restart, then test again.
Second, restart the device you are testing on — your computer, phone, or tablet. Sometimes a device holds onto old network settings and does not ask for a new IPv6 address until it reconnects.
Third, go back into your router settings and confirm that IPv6 is still enabled. Some routers reset to default settings if there is a power loss, so check that your changes were saved.
If none of these work, contact your ISP. They may need to set up IPv6 on your account, or there may be a problem on their end. When you call, tell them you have enabled IPv6 on your router but your devices are not receiving IPv6 addresses. They can check whether IPv6 is active on your line and troubleshoot from their side.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to enable IPv6?
No. IPv4 still works fine for most home networks, and you can leave IPv6 off if your ISP does not support it or if you prefer not to use it. Enabling it is optional and does not break anything if you turn it on.
Will enabling IPv6 slow down my internet?
No. IPv6 typically performs the same as IPv4 or slightly better, because your router does not have to translate addresses. If anything, you may see a small improvement in speed or latency, especially for video calls and gaming.
What if my router does not have an IPv6 option in the settings?
It is probably already enabled by default. Visit test-ipv6.com to check whether your devices are receiving IPv6 addresses. If they are, IPv6 is working and you do not need to change anything. If they are not, contact your ISP to confirm they support IPv6 on your account.
Can I disable IPv6 again if I change my mind?
Yes. Go back into your router settings, find the IPv6 option, and turn it off. Save your changes and your router will restart. Your network will go back to using IPv4 only, and everything will work the same as before.
Is IPv6 safe?
Yes, as long as your router has a firewall enabled, which it does by default. IPv6 is protected by the same firewall rules as IPv4. Enabling it does not expose your devices to the internet or bypass any security.