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How Do I Test If My ISP Supports IPv6?

As the internet transitions from IPv4 to IPv6, understanding whether your Internet Service Provider (ISP) supports IPv6 connectivity is crucial for future-proofing your network. This comprehensive guide walks you through multiple methods to test IPv6 support, from quick online checks to detailed command-line verification.

Using test-ipv6.run

The fastest and most reliable way to check IPv6 support is to visit test-ipv6.run. This pure frontend testing tool runs comprehensive connectivity tests directly in your browser:

  1. Open your web browser and navigate to https://test-ipv6.run
  2. The site automatically runs 6 parallel tests:
    • IPv4 connectivity test
    • IPv6 connectivity test
    • Dual-stack connectivity (most critical)
    • IPv4 latency measurement
    • IPv6 latency measurement
    • Protocol preference detection
  3. Within seconds, you'll receive a score (0-10) and detailed results showing:
    • Your IPv4 and IPv6 addresses (if available)
    • Connection status for each protocol
    • Network readiness assessment

What the results mean:

Alternative Online Tools

Other reputable IPv6 testing services include:

Checking Your Router or Modem

Your router or modem often provides IPv6 status indicators that can confirm ISP support before running connectivity tests.

Accessing Router Settings

  1. Open a web browser and enter your router's admin address (typically 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1)
  2. Log in with your admin credentials
  3. Navigate to the Status, Connection Status, or WAN page
  4. Look for IPv6-related information:
    • IPv6 Address: Should show an address starting with 2xxx:
    • IPv6 Gateway: Indicates your ISP's IPv6 router
    • Prefix Delegation: Shows the IPv6 prefix your ISP assigned (e.g., /60 or /64)

Key Router Indicators

Positive signs your ISP supports IPv6:

Signs of no IPv6 support:

Common Router Manufacturers

Brightspeed/CenturyLink Modems: Scroll to the modem status screen and look for "Modem IPv6 IP Address" section.

Linksys Routers: Check under Status > Local Network > IPv6 to verify connectivity and local IPv6 addresses.

TP-Link Routers: Navigate to Advanced > Network > Internet > IPv6 to configure and view IPv6 connection type.

Netgear, ASUS, and others: Look under Advanced Settings or Internet/WAN sections for IPv6 configuration pages.

Command-Line Verification

For users comfortable with command-line tools, direct system checks provide detailed IPv6 configuration information.

Windows (Command Prompt or PowerShell)

  1. Press Win + R, type cmd, and press Enter
  2. Run the following command:
    ipconfig /all
  3. Look for network adapter sections showing:
    • IPv6 Address: Starting with 2xxx: (global unicast address)
    • Link-local IPv6 Address: Starting with fe80: (always present, not internet-routable)
    • Default Gateway: Should show an IPv6 address if ISP supports it

Example output with IPv6 support:

Ethernet adapter Ethernet:
   IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 2001:db8:1234:5678::1
   Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::1234:5678:abcd:ef01
   Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : fe80::1
                                       2001:db8:1234:5678::1

macOS and Linux (Terminal)

macOS:

  1. Open Terminal (Applications > Utilities > Terminal)
  2. Run:
    ifconfig
  3. Look for inet6 entries with addresses starting with 2xxx:

Linux:

ip addr show

Or:

ip -6 addr

Testing connectivity from command line:

Test IPv6 reachability to Google:

ping6 google.com

Test IPv6 DNS resolution:

nslookup -type=AAAA google.com

Understanding IPv6 Address Types

When checking your IPv6 configuration, you'll encounter different address types:

Important: Only seeing fe80: addresses means IPv6 is enabled on your device but your ISP is NOT providing IPv6 connectivity.

ISP-Specific Status Pages

Some major ISPs provide dedicated pages or account portals showing IPv6 status:

Major U.S. ISP IPv6 Support (2025 Status)

Comcast/Xfinity:

AT&T:

Verizon:

T-Mobile:

Spectrum (Charter):

CenturyLink/Brightspeed:

What If My ISP Doesn't Support IPv6?

If testing confirms your ISP lacks IPv6 support, you have several options:

1. Contact Your ISP

Call customer support and ask specifically about:

Tip: Be specific and mention "IPv6" or "Internet Protocol version 6" - avoid generic "internet upgrade" requests.

2. Check Equipment Compatibility

Ensure your modem and router support IPv6:

3. Enable IPv6 in Router Settings

Even if your ISP supports IPv6, it may need manual activation:

  1. Log into router admin interface
  2. Navigate to IPv6 settings (usually under Internet, WAN, or Advanced)
  3. Enable IPv6 and select connection type:
    • DHCPv6: Most common for cable/fiber ISPs
    • SLAAC (Stateless Address Autoconfiguration): Common for DSL
    • Native/Dual Stack: Preferred method
    • Prefix Delegation: Enable with size /60 or /64 (as specified by ISP)
  4. Save settings and reboot router
  5. Test again at test-ipv6.run

4. IPv6 Tunnel Brokers (Advanced)

If your ISP doesn't offer native IPv6, tunnel brokers provide IPv6-over-IPv4 connectivity. However, this approach is no longer recommended for home users due to:

Better approach: Advocate for native IPv6 from your ISP or switch providers if IPv6 is critical for your needs.

Step-by-Step Testing Procedure

Follow this comprehensive testing workflow to definitively determine IPv6 support:

Step 1: Quick Online Test

  1. Visit https://test-ipv6.run
  2. Wait 15-30 seconds for all tests to complete
  3. Note your score and connection status

Step 2: Verify Router Status

  1. Log into router admin interface
  2. Check WAN/Internet status page
  3. Confirm presence of IPv6 address (2xxx:)
  4. Verify IPv6 gateway is listed

Step 3: Command-Line Confirmation

  1. Run ipconfig /all (Windows) or ifconfig (Mac/Linux)
  2. Confirm global IPv6 address (2xxx:) on network interface
  3. Test connectivity: ping6 google.com

Step 4: Interpret Results

Full IPv6 Support Indicators:

No IPv6 Support Indicators:

Broken/Misconfigured IPv6:

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Router Shows IPv6 But Tests Fail

Possible causes:

Solutions:

  1. Reboot modem and router (modem first, then router)
  2. Check router firewall settings for IPv6
  3. Enable prefix delegation in router IPv6 settings
  4. Contact ISP technical support

Cause: Router not receiving IPv6 prefix from ISP

Solutions:

  1. Verify ISP supports IPv6 in your area
  2. Check if modem needs firmware update
  3. Enable DHCPv6 or SLAAC in router settings
  4. Request IPv6 activation from ISP

Slow IPv6 Performance

Cause: Routing issues or ISP IPv6 network congestion

Solutions:

  1. Run speed tests on both protocols at test-ipv6.run
  2. Compare IPv4 vs IPv6 latency
  3. Report persistent issues to ISP
  4. Consider IPv6 MTU adjustments in advanced router settings

Requesting IPv6 From Your ISP

If your ISP supports IPv6 but it's not active on your account:

Effective Communication Template

"Hello, I'd like to request IPv6 connectivity on my internet service. Can you confirm if IPv6 is available at my address and enable it on my account? My current modem is [model number]. Please let me know if any equipment upgrades are required."

What to Ask

Follow-Up Steps

  1. Document the support ticket number
  2. Request estimated activation timeline
  3. Ask for IPv6 configuration guide specific to your equipment
  4. Verify activation after ISP confirms enablement

Why IPv6 Matters

Understanding your ISP's IPv6 support is important because:

Conclusion

Testing IPv6 support from your ISP is straightforward with modern tools like test-ipv6.run. Start with a quick online test, verify your router configuration, and use command-line tools for detailed confirmation. If your ISP doesn't support IPv6, contact them to request activation or inquire about deployment timelines.

As IPv6 adoption continues growing (currently ~48% in the U.S.), having IPv6 connectivity ensures your network is ready for the next generation of internet services. Regular testing helps you stay informed about your connection capabilities and identify issues before they impact your internet experience.

Quick Reference:

For the most accurate and comprehensive IPv6 connectivity assessment, visit test-ipv6.run and run the full test suite today.