- Mullvad has completely shut down its OpenVPN servers
- Desktop users have already been migrated to WireGuard-only connections
- Mullvad says the move allows for better performance and stability
Mullvad’s long-planned transition away from OpenVPN is coming to an end. As of today, all OpenVPN servers have been taken offline, meaning connections still using the legacy protocol will no longer work.
The move was first announced in late 2024, with Mullvad VPN regularly warning users to migrate before today’s deadline. Despite this, the timing appears to have taken many by surprise, with reports of broken connections as years woke up to VPN setups that had suddenly stopped working.
The final change marks an important milestone for Mullvad, which is now fully committed to a Future exclusive to WireGuard. For most users, the transition is now complete. However, for others, particularly those running older setups or routers, today’s deadline is crucial.
What is changing in Mullvad VPN?
Mullvad’s OpenVPN shutdown is finally complete. As shown by the supplier official server list, all remaining OpenVPN servers are offline and the protocol has now been completely retired.
Most desktop users won’t notice the change, as Mullvad removed OpenVPN support from desktop apps in December and automatically moved everyone to WireGuard. The outage primarily affects those still using OpenVPN elsewhere: routers, external VPN clients, and custom scripts or configurations.
Since the servers are now offline, OpenVPN connections simply fail as they no longer have anything to connect to. This is already causing some problems in the real world, with some Reddit users reporting VPN setups crashing overnight.
To get back up and running, any configuration that still relies on Mullvad’s OpenVPN infrastructure must now be migrated to WireGuard.
This is the latest reminder that we will be completely removing support for OpenVPN on January 15, 2026, one month from now. Read more here: https://t.co/FNX53XxAauDecember 15, 2025
Mullvad has been clear about his reasoning for ending OpenVPN support: the protocol no longer fits his long-term technical direction. Mullvad says WireGuard offers better performance, security, and a cleaner code base.
This shift has been reinforced by Mullvad’s recent work on a Rust-based WireGuard engine, designed to improve speed, stability, and reliability across all your applications. From Mullvad’s perspective, focusing on a single modern protocol makes the service easier to maintain and, as a result, more consistent for users.
However, OpenVPN’s role in circumventing censorship has not been ignored. Mullvad says those use cases are now covered by WireGuard-based alternatives, such as UDP over TCP, Shadowsocks, and automatic backup modes that kick in when standard connections fail.
What Mullvad users should do now and what comes next
If your Mullvad connection stopped working today, the solution is simple for most users. Make sure you are running the latest Mullvad application, confirm that WireGuard is enabled, and try connecting again.
If you’re on a restrictive network and still can’t connect, it’s worth checking Mullvad’s anti-censorship settings, such as UDP-over-TCP or Shadowsocks, which can help restore your access.
For router users and power users, the change could be more disruptive. OpenVPN configurations no longer work at all and must be replaced with WireGuard compatible configurations. Mullvad also warned that OpenVPN configurations may no longer be available, narrowing the window for delayed migrations.
Looking ahead, Mullvad is now completely exclusive to WireGuard. This means fewer protocol options, but a simpler, more modern VPN stack. Now we have to wait and see if some of the best VPN apps decide to go Mullvad’s way.
While some users are understandably frustrated by the sudden breakage, the vendor has regularly mentioned the January 15 deadline over the past year. And while there may be some friction during the transition, Mullvad says stability and performance should improve noticeably.
