- Mullvad has fully shut down its OpenVPN servers
- Desktop users were already migrated to only-WireGuard connections
- Mullvad says the move enables better performance and stability
Mullvad’s long-planned transition away from OpenVPN has reached its conclusion. As of today, all OpenVPN servers are offline, meaning that connections relying on this legacy protocol will no longer function.
This change was first announced at the end of 2024, with Mullvad VPN consistently advising users to migrate before today’s cutoff. However, many users were caught off guard, reporting broken connections as they woke up to VPN setups that had suddenly ceased to work.
The final switch marks a significant milestone for Mullvad, which is now fully committed to a WireGuard-only future. Most users have already completed the transition, but for those using older configurations or routers, today’s deadline is critical.
What’s changing in Mullvad VPN
The shutdown of Mullvad’s OpenVPN servers is now complete. According to the provider’s official server list, all remaining OpenVPN servers are offline, and the protocol has been fully retired.
Most desktop users won’t notice the change, as Mullvad removed OpenVPN support from desktop apps in December and automatically transitioned everyone to WireGuard. The disruption primarily affects those still utilizing OpenVPN on routers, external VPN clients, and custom scripts or configurations.
With the servers now offline, OpenVPN connections will fail, as there is nothing to connect to. This has already led to some real-world issues, with some Reddit users reporting that their VPN setups broke overnight.
To restore functionality, any setups still relying on Mullvad’s OpenVPN infrastructure must now migrate to WireGuard.
Mullvad has been transparent about its decision to end OpenVPN support, stating that the protocol no longer aligns with its long-term technical vision. The company asserts that WireGuard provides superior performance, security, and a cleaner codebase.
This shift has been bolstered by Mullvad’s recent development of a Rust-based WireGuard engine, aimed at enhancing speed, stability, and reliability across its applications. From Mullvad’s perspective, focusing on a single modern protocol simplifies service maintenance, resulting in a more consistent user experience.
While OpenVPN has played a role in bypassing censorship, Mullvad assures users that these use cases are now addressed by WireGuard-based alternatives, including UDP-over-TCP, Shadowsocks, and automatic fallback modes that activate when standard connections fail.
What Mullvad users should do now – and what comes next
If your Mullvad connection has stopped working today, the solution is straightforward for most users. Ensure you’re using the latest Mullvad app, confirm that WireGuard is enabled, and attempt to connect again.
If you’re on a restrictive network and still cannot connect, consider checking Mullvad’s anti-censorship settings, such as UDP-over-TCP or Shadowsocks, which may help restore your access.
For router users and advanced users, this change could be more disruptive. OpenVPN configurations are no longer functional and need to be replaced with WireGuard-compatible setups. Mullvad has also cautioned that OpenVPN configurations may already be unavailable, limiting the time frame for delayed migrations.
Looking ahead, Mullvad is now entirely WireGuard-focused. This means fewer protocol options, but a more streamlined and modern VPN architecture. It remains to be seen whether other top VPN applications will follow Mullvad's lead.
While some users may understandably feel frustrated by the abrupt disruption, the provider has consistently communicated the January 15 deadline over the past year. Although there may be some challenges during this transition, Mullvad asserts that stability and performance should significantly improve.