How does Mullvad VPN work?

It encrypts your internet traffic with the WireGuard protocol or OpenVPN, then routes it through a VPN server so websites see the server IP address.

How to use Mullvad VPN on phone?

Download the mobile app, log in with your account number, and connect. Split tunneling on Android lets chosen apps bypass the tunnel.

Can you change location with Mullvad?

Yes. Open the location list on the connection screen and pick any country or city. The app reconnects to that VPN server within seconds.

Why does Mullvad take so long to connect?

Busy servers, obfuscation overhead, or a slow local network. Pick a closer city, switch back to WireGuard, and reboot if the delay continues.

Why does Mullvad block my internet?

The app's built-in kill switch blocks the Internet upon VPN connection failure to ensure that your traffic is not leaked. Reconnect or quit the app to restore access.

Is Mullvad faster than NordVPN?

On nearby WireGuard servers speeds are close. NordVPN usually wins on long-distance routes because it runs a much larger server network.

Is Mullvad really anonymous?

It asks for no email, no password, and no personal data, and accepts cash. That makes it as close to anonymous as a paid VPN gets.

Is Mullvad trustworthy?

Its apps are open source, it publishes independent audits, and it has run a flat €5 price for years without upsells or data deals.

How to Use Mullvad VPN Like a Pro (2026 Guide)

by Fahim Joharder | Last updated Aug 11, 2026

Quick Start

This guide covers every Mullvad VPN feature:

Getting Started — Create your Mullvad account and finish setup
How to Use the Mullvad VPN App — One-click connect that hides your real IP address
How to Use Browser Extension — Route only browser traffic through a Mullvad proxy
How to Use VPN Traffic Hides — Disguise the tunnel so firewalls cannot block it
How to Use Encrypted DNS — Keep DNS requests inside the tunnel and filter ads
How to Use Mullvad Browser — Browse with a shared fingerprint that sites cannot track
How to Use Anonymous Account Generation — Sign up without an email address or personal data

Time needed: 5 minutes per feature

Also in this guide: Pro Tips | Common Mistakes | Troubleshooting | Pricing | Alternatives

Why Trust This Guide

I’ve run the Mullvad app on Windows, Linux, and Android for two years and tested every setting covered here. This tutorial comes from real hands-on use, not vendor screenshots.

Mullvad VPN is the strictest privacy tool in the VPN market today.

But most people never open the settings screen.

This guide explains how to use the Mullvad VPN app feature by feature.

Step by step, with screenshots and pro tips.

Mullvad VPN Tutorial

This How to Use Mullvad VPN tutorial walks through how to use Mullvad from first login to advanced app settings like obfuscation and split tunneling.

Mullvad VPN

No email. No password. Just a 16-digit account number and a flat €5 per month, whether you pay for one month or ten years. Open-source apps, audited code, and cash accepted by mail.

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MULLVAD VPN ALTERNATIVES →

Getting Started with Mullvad VPN

Before any feature works, finish this one-time setup.

It takes about 3 minutes.

Here is what the process looked like on my own machine:

Now let’s walk through each step.

Step 1: Generate Your Account Number

Go to the Mullvad website and click Generate account number.

You get a 16-digit Mullvad account number and no signup form.

✓ Checkpoint: Save that number before you close the tab.

Step 2: Download and Install the App

Users can install the Mullvad app on various platforms including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS.

Run the installer, then open the app and paste your number.

Here’s what the dashboard looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: You should see the connection screen with a map.

Step 3: Add Time and Connect

Add time to the account, then click Secure my connection.

If you are running an old version of the app, you will see a notification on the connection screen that says ‘Update available’.

✅ Done: You’re ready to use any feature below.

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How to Use the Mullvad VPN App

The Mullvad VPN app lets you connect to Mullvad in one click and hide your real IP address behind a VPN server.

Here’s how to use it step by step.

Step 1: Add Time to Your Account

To start using the Mullvad app, you need to add time to your account.

Pick 1 month, 1 year, or 1 decade, then pay.

Step 2: Log In and Connect

Open the app and paste your Mullvad account number.

Click the Secure my connection button on the main screen.

Mullvad VPN can be connected using the WireGuard protocol by default.

Here’s what this looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: The status text reads Secure connection and the map pin turns green.

Step 3: Check Your Status

The app will visually signal when you are connected in a few ways.

Green means connected to Mullvad and your data is encrypted.

✅ Result: You are connected to Mullvad and your IP address is hidden.

💡 Pro Tip: If you log in on an account that already has 5 devices, you will be notified about this. Remove an old device first.

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How to Use Mullvad VPN Browser Extension

The browser extension lets you route only browser traffic through a Mullvad proxy instead of your whole machine.

Here’s how to use it step by step.

Step 1: Install the Extension

Add the extension from the Firefox or Chrome store.

It works alongside the desktop app, not instead of it.

Step 2: Link It to the App

Click the extension icon and allow it to read the local app.

It picks up your session automatically.

Here’s what this looks like:

How to use Mullvad Browser with Mullvad VPN

✓ Checkpoint: The extension badge shows a green dot and the chosen country code.

Step 3: Pick a Proxy Location

Choose a country from the list to switch the proxy server.

Websites you open now see that exit IP.

✅ Result: Your browser uses a different exit than the rest of your internet traffic.

💡 Pro Tip: Use the extension when you need one browser on a foreign IP while local apps stay on your normal connection.

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How to Hide Mullvad VPN Traffic

Traffic hiding lets you disguise VPN traffic so restrictive firewalls cannot detect or block the tunnel.

Here’s how to use it step by step.

Step 1: Open VPN Settings

Click the gear icon, then open VPN settings.

Scroll to the WireGuard section.

Step 2: Turn On Obfuscation

Users can enable obfuscation options in settings to bypass restrictive firewalls.

Shadowsocks and UDP-over-TCP both wrap the tunnel in ordinary looking traffic.

Here’s what this looks like:

Mullvad Hides VPN Traffic Inside HTTPS With QUIC Obfuscation

✓ Checkpoint: The connection screen shows the obfuscation method under the protocol name.

Step 3: Force a Common Port

Set the port to 443 so the traffic blends with normal https requests.

Reconnect and confirm the tunnel holds.

✅ Result: Your tunnel survives networks that block plain VPN ports.

💡 Pro Tip: DAITA (Defense Against AI Traffic Analysis) can be enabled to protect against traffic analysis on the same screen.

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How to Use Mullvad VPN Encrypted DNS

Encrypted DNS keeps DNS requests inside the tunnel and filters ads, trackers, and malware.

Here’s how to use it step by step.

Step 1: Open the DNS Panel

In VPN settings, find DNS content blockers.

Mullvad VPN supports DNS filtering rules that can be applied based on the selected protocol.

Step 2: Pick Your Blockers

Mullvad offers DNS content blockers within the VPN settings to block ads, trackers, and malware.

Toggle only what you need, since aggressive lists break some websites.

Here’s what this looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: Ad-heavy pages load with empty slots where banners used to sit.

Step 3: Add a Custom DNS Server

Mullvad VPN allows users to use a custom DNS server instead of the default DNS on the Mullvad VPN server.

The default DNS address for WireGuard in Mullvad is 10.64.0.1.

✅ Result: Every DNS request now resolves through an encrypted DNS server you chose.

💡 Pro Tip: If a page breaks, clear the custom entry, reconnect, and test again before you change anything else.

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How to Use Mullvad VPN Browser

Mullvad Browser lets you browse with a shared fingerprint so websites cannot single you out.

Here’s how to use it step by step.

Step 1: Download the Browser

Grab the installer file from the Mullvad website.

It is a hardened Firefox build made with the Tor Project.

Step 2: Run It Behind the Tunnel

Connect the app first, then open the browser.

Leave the window size alone, since resizing weakens the shared fingerprint.

Here’s what this looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: The start page confirms the browser is running behind the tunnel.

Step 3: Keep the Defaults

The default settings already block third-party cookies and telemetry.

Adding extensions makes you easier to identify, not harder.

✅ Result: Your browsing blends in with thousands of identical users.

💡 Pro Tip: Use this browser for sensitive research and a normal browser for banking, where a familiar login pattern helps.

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How to Use Mullvad VPN Anonymous Account Generator

Anonymous account generation lets you sign up without handing over an email address or any personal data.

Here’s how to use it step by step.

Step 1: Generate a Number

Users can generate a 16-digit account number as their only login credential on the Mullvad website.

Mullvad VPN app does not require an email or password for account creation.

Step 2: Save It Somewhere Safe

Copy the number into a password manager or write it down.

Lose it and the account is gone, since there is no recovery email.

Here’s what this looks like:

How To Torrent Anonymously With Mullvad VPN

✓ Checkpoint: Your account page shows remaining time and no personal details at all.

Step 3: Pay Without a Trail

Mullvad offers several payment methods including cash, Monero, and Bitcoin.

For maximum privacy, Mullvad’s payment options include cash sent via mail.

✅ Result: You hold a working account that is not tied to your identity.

💡 Pro Tip: Buy a voucher with cash and add time later, so the payment and the account never touch the same record.

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Mullvad VPN Pro Tips and Shortcuts

After two years with this app, here are the tips I actually use.

Terminal Commands and Shortcuts

Action	Command
Connect to Mullvad	mullvad connect
Disconnect	mullvad disconnect
Check connection status	mullvad status
Switch tunnel protocol	mullvad relay set tunnel-protocol wireguard

Hidden Features Most People Miss

Lockdown mode: You can enable Lockdown mode in the Command Prompt or Terminal before logging in to the Mullvad app.
Multihop: You can enable multihop to increase your anonymity when using WireGuard with Mullvad, at a small speed cost.
Custom MTU: The default MTU for WireGuard in the Mullvad app is 1380. Lower it if large downloads stall on mobile data.
Auto-connect: The auto-connect feature can be enabled in settings to ensure the VPN launches and connects automatically after every reboot.

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Mullvad VPN Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake #1: Leaving Local Network Sharing On

❌ Wrong: Keeping local network sharing enabled on café and airport Wi-Fi.

✅ Right: Local network sharing must be disabled on public networks for better security in Mullvad VPN settings. Devices on a different subnet stay unreachable either way.

Mistake #2: Trusting the App on a Fresh macOS Boot

❌ Wrong: Assuming nothing escapes during the first seconds after startup.

✅ Right: If you are using macOS, the Mullvad app can’t ensure it starts before other applications start sending traffic to the Internet. Use Lockdown mode.

Mistake #3: Ignoring the WSL2 Leak

❌ Wrong: Running Linux tools in WSL2 while the app reconnects.

✅ Right: Your IP address will leak when using WSL2 when the Mullvad VPN app is disconnected, connecting, reconnecting, or blocking. Wait for green before you run anything.

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Mullvad VPN Troubleshooting

Problem: The App Will Not Connect

Cause: Your network blocks the UDP port WireGuard uses by default.

Fix: Switch to OpenVPN over TCP, or turn on obfuscation and set the port to 443.

Problem: The Internet Is Blocked

Cause: Mullvad VPN has a built-in kill switch that blocks the Internet upon VPN connection failure to prevent traffic leaks.

Fix: Reconnect, or quit the app fully. Check the log file if the problem continues after a reboot.

Problem: DNS Requests Are Leaking

Cause: A custom DNS server outside the tunnel, or an IPv6 route your network still answers.

Fix: Clear the custom DNS entry and let Mullvad VPN block IPv6 communication to prevent leaks if you do not need it.

📌 Note: If none of these fix your issue, contact Mullvad support with your app version.

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What is Mullvad VPN?

Mullvad VPN is a Swedish VPN service that encrypts your internet traffic and sells time instead of subscriptions.

Think of it like a locked mailbox you rent with cash and a number.

Watch this quick overview:

Mullvad VPN review | Is Mullvad Actually As Good As They Say?

It includes these key features:

Mullvad VPN: One-click connect that hides your real IP address behind a VPN server
Browser Extension: Route only browser traffic through a Mullvad proxy
VPN Traffic Hides: Disguise the tunnel so firewalls cannot block it
Encrypted DNS: Keep DNS requests inside the tunnel and filter ads
Mullvad Browser: Browse with a shared fingerprint that sites cannot track
Anonymous Account Generation: Sign up without an email address or personal data

For a full review, read our Mullvad VPN review.

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Mullvad VPN Pricing

Here’s what Mullvad VPN costs in 2026:

Plan	Price	Best For
1 Month	€5 per month	Testing the app before you commit
1 Year	€5 per month	Everyday users who want one payment
1 decade	€5 per month	Privacy diehards paying with cash or Monero

Free trial: No free trial and no free tier. You add time in advance.

Money-back guarantee: Yes, unused time is refundable within 30 days.

💰 Best Value: 1 Year — same €5 rate with one payment and less admin.

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Mullvad VPN vs Alternatives

How does Mullvad VPN compare? Here’s the competitive landscape:

Tool	Best For	Price	Rating
Mullvad VPN	Privacy and anonymity	€5/mo	⭐ 4.6
NordVPN	Speed and streaming	$12.99/mo	⭐ 4.7
ExpressVPN	Ease of use	$12.95/mo	⭐ 4.6
ProtonVPN	Free tier	$9.99/mo	⭐ 4.6
Surfshark VPN	Unlimited devices	$15.45/mo	⭐ 4.5
CyberGhost	Streaming presets	$12.99/mo	⭐ 4.4
Private Internet Access	Deep settings	$11.95/mo	⭐ 4.4
PureVPN	Budget long plans	$10.95/mo	⭐ 4.2

Quick picks:

Best overall: Mullvad VPN — audited, flat priced, and free of account data
Best budget: FastestVPN — cheap lifetime deals for light use
Best for beginners: NordVPN — presets do the thinking for you
Best for streaming: ExpressVPN — most reliable at unblocking libraries

🎯 Mullvad VPN Alternatives

Looking for Mullvad VPN alternatives? Here are the top options:

🚀 NordVPN: Huge server network with fast speeds, streaming unblocking, and a polished app for people who want everything handled for them.
💰 ExpressVPN: Simple apps on every platform and reliable access to blocked streaming libraries, at a clearly higher monthly price.
🎨 PureVPN: Cheap long plans with port forwarding and dedicated IP add-ons for users who want extras without paying premium rates.
⚡ Surfshark VPN: Unlimited devices on one account, which suits families and anyone who refuses to count connected phones and laptops.
🔒 ProtonVPN: The closest privacy match, with a real free tier, open-source apps, and Swiss jurisdiction behind it.
🧠 PrivadoVPN: A generous free plan with 10GB monthly data, good for light users testing whether a VPN fits their routine.
👶 AdGuard VPN: Pairs a fast tunnel with the strongest ad blocking on this list, ideal if trackers bother you more than geo-blocks.
🏢 VirtualShield: Beginner-friendly setup with family plans and simple support, aimed at people who never want to open app settings.
🔧 StrongVPN: Quiet, stable, and no-nonsense, with solid speeds and no upsell clutter inside the app.
🌟 FastestVPN: Very cheap lifetime deals for casual users who need basic protection on public Wi-Fi and nothing more.
⭐ AuraVPN: Bundled with identity theft monitoring, which fits people who want privacy tools and credit alerts in one bill.
🎯 CyberGhost: Preset server lists for streaming and torrenting, so beginners never guess which VPN server to pick.
💼 McAfee VPN: Comes free with the antivirus suite, a reasonable pick if you already pay for that subscription.
📊 Private Internet Access: Open-source apps, unlimited devices, and deep settings for users who like tuning ports and encryption themselves.
🔥 Mysterium: Decentralized network paid per gigabyte, an experiment worth trying if you dislike central providers entirely.
🚀 SafeShell VPN: Built around streaming access with dedicated unblocking modes rather than deep privacy features.
💰 Oyster VPN: Small provider with ad blocking and low prices, best for single users on a tight budget.

For the full list, see our Mullvad VPN alternatives guide.

⚔️ Mullvad VPN Compared

Here’s how Mullvad VPN stacks up against each competitor:

Mullvad VPN vs NordVPN: NordVPN is faster on distant servers and better for streaming, but Mullvad wins on privacy with no email signup.
Mullvad VPN vs ExpressVPN: ExpressVPN has smoother streaming access, while Mullvad costs a fraction of the price and collects nothing about you.
Mullvad VPN vs PureVPN: PureVPN offers more add-ons, though Mullvad’s flat €5 rate beats its renewal pricing and its logging history.
Mullvad VPN vs Surfshark VPN: Surfshark allows unlimited devices, but Mullvad’s 5-device cap comes with a far cleaner privacy record.
Mullvad VPN vs ProtonVPN: ProtonVPN has a free tier and secure core routing, while Mullvad stays simpler and cheaper on long plans.
Mullvad VPN vs PrivadoVPN: PrivadoVPN gives you free data, though Mullvad delivers steadier speeds and true anonymous account generation.
Mullvad VPN vs AdGuard VPN: AdGuard blocks ads better at the browser level, while Mullvad blocks them at the DNS server for every app.
Mullvad VPN vs VirtualShield: VirtualShield is easier for total beginners, but Mullvad gives power users obfuscation, multihop, and split tunneling.
Mullvad VPN vs StrongVPN: StrongVPN matches Mullvad on simplicity, yet Mullvad publishes audits and accepts cash payments.
Mullvad VPN vs FastestVPN: FastestVPN is cheaper upfront, though Mullvad’s open-source apps and no-logs policy are far better documented.
Mullvad VPN vs AuraVPN: Aura bundles identity monitoring, while Mullvad focuses only on the tunnel and does it better.
Mullvad VPN vs CyberGhost: CyberGhost has more servers and streaming presets, but Mullvad asks for no email and no personal data.
Mullvad VPN vs McAfee VPN: McAfee VPN is convenient inside its suite, though Mullvad offers real protocol control and leak protection.
Mullvad VPN vs Private Internet Access: PIA rivals Mullvad on configurability and price, while Mullvad’s account system stays more anonymous.
Mullvad VPN vs Mysterium: Mysterium is decentralized and pay-per-use, but Mullvad is far more predictable for everyday browsing.
Mullvad VPN vs SafeShell VPN: SafeShell is built for streaming, while Mullvad is built for privacy and audited security.
Mullvad VPN vs Oyster VPN: Oyster undercuts on price, though Mullvad has the track record, the audits, and the WireGuard tuning.

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Start Using Mullvad VPN Now

You learned how to use every major Mullvad VPN feature:

✅ Mullvad VPN
✅ Browser Extension
✅ VPN Traffic Hides
✅ Encrypted DNS
✅ Mullvad Browser
✅ Anonymous Account Generation

Next step: Pick one feature and try it now.

Most people start with the Mullvad VPN app itself.

It takes less than 5 minutes.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How to know if Mullvad VPN is working?

Mullvad recommends using the Mullvad Connection Check after connecting to verify IP protection. The connection screen also turns green and shows the VPN server city.

How does Mullvad work?

You buy time, log in with a 16-digit number, and the app builds an encrypted tunnel. Your traffic exits from a Mullvad VPN server instead of your home IP address.

How to use Mullvad on phone?

Install the app from the Play Store or App Store, paste your account number, then tap Secure my connection. Settings and obfuscation options work the same as desktop.

How do I use Mullvad on my router?

To connect a GL.iNet router to Mullvad, you need to access the router’s web Admin Panel. Add a WireGuard config file and input your Mullvad account number.

Why is Mullvad VPN not connecting?

Usually a blocked port or a restrictive firewall. Switch the tunnel protocol, turn on obfuscation, or set the port to 443, then reconnect.