- Mullvad adds a “Force All Apps” feature for iOS to ensure traffic isn’t lost during updates
- The update takes advantage of an iOS configuration option called include all networks act as a tight switch
- Users will now receive a notification to manually disconnect the VPN before installing future app updates.
Privacy-focused provider Mullvad is rolling out a major update to its iOS app designed to plug potential traffic leaks during updates.
In a bid to offer absolute security to the most demanding privacy purists, the top VPN competitor is introducing a strict new tool called “Force All Apps.”
“We will soon be releasing a new version of the iOS app which will contain a feature called Force All Apps,” Mullvad confirmed in a recent blog post. “Under the hood, enabling this feature sets the include all networks set option to true.”
In the Apple ecosystem, the include all networks The setting essentially works like a kill switch. When enabled, it tells iOS that every byte of your Internet traffic should be routed through the VPN tunnel. If the tunnel goes down, traffic stops, preventing your real IP address or browsing data from being leaked to your Internet Service Provider.
However, Mullvad previously avoided using this setting due to complications with the way iPhones handle automatic software updates from the App Store.
The infinite update loop
Historically, automatic iOS app updates briefly interrupt your VPN connection. For the average user, an app going offline temporarily while transitioning to a new version is completely expected. However, because there is no VPN tunnel active during that exact moment, technically all traffic from the device is being filtered.
Mullvad sees this as a critical vulnerability for users who expect 24/7 protection. But allow include all networks creates a unique technical drawback.
According to Mullvad, if the setting is active when an automatic update begins, the old VPN connection is closed, preventing the iOS downloader from getting the new version of the app. As a result, the device loses connectivity completely and the update gets stuck in a broken loop.
Apple’s networking stack prevents the iOS app from being as secure as possible. We have now protected our application to mitigate this despite the difficulties around the update procedure. Read more here: https://t.co/sbX72s2O7m
“We have decided that we are not going to wait any longer and would like to offer our users the best possible privacy and security, even if this comes with significant UX limitations,” the company said.
To avoid this frustrating update cycle, the new version of Mullvad will actively notify you when a new update is available. before the iOS App Store activates an automatic download.
To continue safely without breaking the connection, users should “Disconnect VPN while app is updating” or “Turn off Force all apps while app is updating.” Once the update finishes safely, you can manually re-enable your protection.
While Mullvad admits that “your traffic will be filtered during the update process,” this proactive notification system ensures that you can explicitly choose a safe time to disconnect, rather than being caught off guard by a silent update in the background.
Mullvad acknowledges that a minority of users can still accidentally end up with a broken network stack if they skip the manual disconnection step.
“If this has affected you, we can only encourage you to capture the distress and express it as a feedback report to Apple,” the supplier added.
Ultimately, Mullvad is building on its reputation as one of the most private VPN apps on the market. By handing the reins back to the user, the provider ensures that those who want watertight protection on their iPhone finally have the tools to enforce it.
