VPN connection monitor for Android: detect drops and IP changes
NetPulse is a free, open-source Android app that monitors whether your VPN or proxy connection is still up. It is not a VPN itself — instead it continuously checks that the internet is reachable and shows your current exit IP, then alerts you the instant the connection drops or your exit IP changes. If your tunnel silently fails and your traffic falls back to your ISP's real IP, NetPulse makes that visible right away.
Why monitor a VPN connection?
VPNs and proxies fail quietly. A tunnel can drop on a network switch, a sleeping radio, a server timeout, or an app crash — and your phone keeps browsing as if nothing happened, now over your real ISP connection. Unless something tells you, you may not notice for hours.
A dropped tunnel has two observable symptoms: your exit IP reverts to your ISP's address, and there is usually a brief loss of connectivity while the tunnel reconnects. NetPulse watches both — it shows your live exit IP and highlights the exact moment it changes, and it detects when the open internet stops being reachable.
This matters most for people who rely on a stable exit IP or location: remote workers behind a corporate VPN, users on a privacy VPN, anyone using a proxy for a fixed region, or developers testing geo-based behaviour.
How NetPulse detects a VPN drop
NetPulse never touches your VPN. It observes the connection from the outside and infers a drop from two independent signals:
- Exit IP change — every check looks up your current public exit IP. While the VPN is up you see the VPN server's IP and region; the moment it drops you see your ISP's IP instead, and the check log highlights the change.
- Reachability loss — each check requests a lightweight generate_204 endpoint and accepts only a strict 204 No Content. A reconnecting tunnel usually causes a short reachability gap, which NetPulse logs and can alert on.
A monitor, not a kill switch
Be clear about the boundary: NetPulse observes, it does not enforce. A VPN kill switch blocks all traffic the moment the tunnel drops so nothing leaks; NetPulse does not block anything — it tells you the drop happened. If you need hard leak prevention, use your VPN client's built-in kill switch, and use NetPulse alongside it for awareness, a check log, and a second pair of eyes on the connection.
Because it only observes, NetPulse needs no VPN permission, routes none of your traffic, and adds no attack surface to your tunnel. It runs as a single lightweight foreground service and keeps every check on your device.
How to set up VPN monitoring with NetPulse
- 1
Install NetPulse
Download the APK from GitHub Releases and install it on Android 8.0 (API 26) or later.
- 2
Connect your VPN as usual
Start your VPN or proxy app the way you normally do. NetPulse runs alongside it and never interferes with the tunnel.
- 3
Start monitoring
Open NetPulse and tap start. It begins probing on a fixed, configurable interval and shows your current exit IP and region.
- 4
Enable drop alerts
Turn on the vibration and sound alerts so you are notified the moment connectivity drops or your exit IP changes.
Signs your VPN has dropped
- Your exit IP in NetPulse suddenly matches your ISP instead of the VPN server.
- A check fails (cross icon) and then recovers a few seconds later — typical of a reconnecting tunnel.
- The exit-IP region changes from your chosen location back to your real one.
Frequently asked questions
Can NetPulse reconnect my VPN automatically?
No. NetPulse only observes and alerts; it cannot start, stop, or reconnect your VPN because it never controls the tunnel. Use your VPN client's auto-reconnect for that. NetPulse's job is to make a drop visible so you can react or investigate.
Is NetPulse a kill switch?
No. A kill switch blocks traffic when the tunnel drops; NetPulse does not block anything. It is a passive monitor that reports the drop. For leak prevention, enable the kill switch in your VPN client and run NetPulse alongside it for visibility and a check log.
Does NetPulse see my VPN traffic?
No. NetPulse does not route, intercept, or inspect any traffic, and it requests no VPN permission. Its only network activity is small connectivity probes and an exit-IP lookup. Everything stays on your device — no account, no analytics.
How quickly will I know the VPN dropped?
As fast as your check interval. NetPulse probes on a fixed, configurable interval and alerts on the first failed check or exit-IP change. A shorter interval detects drops sooner at a small battery cost; a longer interval saves power.
Does it work with any VPN or proxy?
Yes. Because NetPulse observes from outside the tunnel it is VPN-agnostic — it works with any VPN client, WireGuard or OpenVPN config, or proxy, since it only reads your resulting exit IP and reachability. It needs no integration with the VPN app.