- WhatsApp suggests using a VPN to bypass network restrictions on its service
- Explicitly lists Mullvad and AmneziaVPN as “well-regarded” VPN providers
- The move comes as WhatsApp is increasingly a target of censors around the world.
For millions of users living under restrictive Internet regimes, maintaining access to basic communication tools is a daily battle. In a crucial update to its support documentation, WhatsApp has started explicitly recommending two privacy-focused services, Mullvad and Amnezia VPN, to help users stay connected when the app is blocked.
While Meta-owned platforms often offer generic advice on using the best VPN services to get around restrictions, naming specific third-party providers is a break from tradition.
The update appears in the platform’s Help Center in the section dedicated to connecting when the network is down or blocked, indicating a more practical approach to helping users in jurisdictions with strong Internet censorship.
According to the new update WhatsApp FAQ, the company states: “Using a VPN can allow you to connect to WhatsApp if it is not available on your current network.” He then goes a step further and adds: “Examples of well-regarded VPN providers include Mullvad and Amnezia.”
The page also directs users to digital rights group Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF)’s website for more information on digital security, reinforcing the privacy-focused nature of this advice.
Why Mullvad and Amnezia?
The selection of these two specific providers is revealing. Unlike the massive commercial VPNs often seen in TV ads, both Mullvad and Amnezia occupy a more technical, privacy-enhancing niche.
Mullvad VPN is a Swedish vendor widely revered in the cybersecurity community for its fanatical approach to anonymity. In addition to operating a strict No-logs VPN, Mullvad requires no email address or personal information to sign up; Users simply generate a random account number.
While privacy is Mullvad’s main concern, the provider has also been strengthening its resistance to censorship over the years. It even recently added QUIC (Fast UDP Internet Connections) in all its apps for better unlocking.
🔥 Now @WhatsApp recommends connecting to Amnezia VPN if your network is down. They’ve added a link to @AmneziaVPN in their Help Center because our technology is designed to bypass even the harshest censorship. Try it yourself – request a demo. pic.twitter.com/6r4Zepv1rtFebruary 27, 2026
AmneziaVPN is a Russia-based provider specifically designed to bypass harsh censorship. It is especially known for creating protocols that hide VPN traffic, making it look like normal web browsing to fool censorship firewalls.
While it offers its own apps, Amenzia is an open source solution that allows users to set up their own self-hosted VPN on a rented virtual private server (VPS). NymVPN and Windscribe have integrated Amenzia’s proprietary protocol, AmenziaWG, into their services, precisely because of its efficiency in avoiding deep packet inspection (DPI) blocking techniques.
By highlighting these two, WhatsApp effectively directs users towards tools designed to survive in hostile network environments, rather than just tools designed for streaming or casual browsing.
Stay connected in 2026
The context of this update cannot be ignored. With digital authoritarianism on the rise, the ability to access end-to-end encrypted messages is no longer guaranteed.
WhatsApp would like to remind users that the use of these tools does not compromise the security of their chats. The support page reiterates: “Please note that while using a VPN, WhatsApp’s default end-to-end encryption keeps your personal messages and calls private… No one outside the chat, not even WhatsApp, can read, listen to, or share them.”
For users in regions where WhatsApp is frequently limited or blocked, this official recognition of specific features Secure VPN tools validate what many activists and tech-savvy users have known for years: in 2026, a VPN is not just an accessory; It is essential infrastructure.
If you’re currently looking for a way to protect your connection, these “well-considered” options are a good starting point, but they’re not your only options. For other safe and reliable alternatives, I suggest checking out our guides on the best free VPNs and the best VPN services overall.
