Have you ever utilized test-ipv6.com to determine if your network is IPv6 ready? I certainly assume so. It falls into the category of one of those straightforward, yet supremely value-filled, sites that every server Admin should have a bookmark defined for. It helps troubleshoot your Internet connections, check for IPv6 issues, and establish connectivity. Here’s the news - it is shutting down in December 2025. Yes, that matters, a lot for us Admins.
So, why does it matter that it will go away in the future? It goes back to the fact that it is more than just a website - it is a trusted testing tool that many systems rely on, including some scripts and automation checks, to name a few. When the moment the site shuts down and those tests fail to function, you likely will not notice until you encounter some issue down the road.
Have you ever experienced the script you're using to stop working after a website disappeared? That is that kind of shock you don't want to think about yet.
• RIPE Atlas - An excellent method of testing networks on a large scale.
• Google IPv6 Test - Quick and easy method of confirming your connection.
• Cloudflare IPv6 Checker - Useful for website owners and administrators.
• Self-hosted test pages - Perhaps even more beneficial for testing for internal use. You will install your own internal test environment.
To be honest, it may even be a good thing to avoid relying on just one public site. It is always risky.
1. Check your scripts - If they point to test-ipv6.com, switch those to something else
2. Create your own tests - Try to create a very small local page or local tool to test IPv6
3. Update your documentation - Swap outdated links in your documentation and your team docs
4. Be mindful of your DNS - Some administrators did use test-ipv6 to test DNS, make sure everything in your system is still functioning properly
It is obviously better to address any issues with your scripts to your end users than react to a travel delay or disaster (e.g, "test-ipv6.com is no longer available").
In any case, for many of us who began their journey in the days of IPv4, it feels odd to say goodbye to such an old friend.
The End of a Trusted Tool
For many of us, test-ipv6.com has always been in existence. Like that old wrench you have in the toolbox. You know it will work, and trust that it will not fail you. It has always helped us instigate IPv6 or DNS problems, test dual-stack networks, and has always eased troubleshooting, or more correctly, has likely been part of our troubleshooting kit.So, why does it matter that it will go away in the future? It goes back to the fact that it is more than just a website - it is a trusted testing tool that many systems rely on, including some scripts and automation checks, to name a few. When the moment the site shuts down and those tests fail to function, you likely will not notice until you encounter some issue down the road.
Have you ever experienced the script you're using to stop working after a website disappeared? That is that kind of shock you don't want to think about yet.
What Can I Use as a Substitute?
Don't worry, IPv6 will not go away. There are other tools that may replace it. Here's a few you could use:• RIPE Atlas - An excellent method of testing networks on a large scale.
• Google IPv6 Test - Quick and easy method of confirming your connection.
• Cloudflare IPv6 Checker - Useful for website owners and administrators.
• Self-hosted test pages - Perhaps even more beneficial for testing for internal use. You will install your own internal test environment.
To be honest, it may even be a good thing to avoid relying on just one public site. It is always risky.
What You Should Do Now
Before you run out of time in December 2025:1. Check your scripts - If they point to test-ipv6.com, switch those to something else
2. Create your own tests - Try to create a very small local page or local tool to test IPv6
3. Update your documentation - Swap outdated links in your documentation and your team docs
4. Be mindful of your DNS - Some administrators did use test-ipv6 to test DNS, make sure everything in your system is still functioning properly
It is obviously better to address any issues with your scripts to your end users than react to a travel delay or disaster (e.g, "test-ipv6.com is no longer available").
What This Really Means
The closure of test-ipv6.com is truly an indicator of how far we have progressed with IPv6. This is not a new or niche technology - this is the default standard now. Almost all web hosts, ISPs, and data centers have been providing IPv6 connectivity for many years. With the closure of test-ipv6.com, the Internet has matured a little.In any case, for many of us who began their journey in the days of IPv4, it feels odd to say goodbye to such an old friend.
