This guide will tell you how you can access Mullvad VPN from locations where downloading our app or connecting is difficult.
Creating an account
If you cannot access our website to generate an account, and cannot access a store where our vouchers are sold, you can try to use our Onion site using the Tor Browser which is available on the Tor Project website. After installing it visit the Mullvad VPN Onion website.
Downloading the Mullvad app
If you have trouble connecting to the Google Play Store, accessing our website, or obtaining our app, you can try the following for Android, Windows, macOS and Linux:
- Download from our Github page (see details below).
- Download using F-Droid for Android.
Note: The Mullvad iPhone and iPad apps can only be downloaded via the Apple App Store.
Github
The latest app versions are published on our website, and on our Github Releases page.
On Github when selecting an app to download, selecting the latest stable version where possible means you can have a stable experience, but beta versions may include some new features and updates that are useful in restrictive situations. The stable versions are those that do not include "beta" in their title.
When in doubt, try the latest stable first, and resort to a beta only if stable versions do not function for your usage.
Under Assets, download the version for your system, for example on Windows you would click on the app link that ends with .exe. All the options are listed below:
- Windows: .exe
- macOS: .pkg
- Linux (Debian / Ubuntu): .deb
- Linux (Fedora): .rpm
- Android: .apk
Remember to return to the Github Releases page in the future for updates to the app to ensure you are updated. The desktop app will notify you, but the Android app won't if you install it from an .apk file.
Android specific releases
The Android version of the app starts with "android/" in the name.
Connecting to Mullvad VPN from restrictive locations
On our website and on our Onion Website we have many guides and blogs on how to connect to our service.
Desktop only
This applies to Windows, macOS and Linux (Debian, Ubuntu and Fedora).
OpenVPN over TCP: By enabling OpenVPN over TCP in our app you may be able to bypass blocked UDP traffic. UDP is blocked in many public networks like in cafés and on trains. The app will automatically attempt to connect over UDP, TCP and via bridges by default. You can change the settings to use only TCP however.
- Go to the Mullvad app settings by clicking on the gear icon in the top right corner of the app.
- Click on VPN settings and select OpenVPN as the tunnel protocol.
- Click on OpenVPN Settings and click on TCP and then 443.
WireGuard over TCP: WireGuard normally use UDP but can also be used over TCP with the Mullvad desktop app.
- Go to the Mullvad app settings by clicking on the gear icon in the top right corner of the app.
- Click on VPN settings and select WireGuard as the tunnel protocol.
- Click on WireGuard Settings and then click on On (UDP-over-TCP).
Shadowsocks with the Mullvad app: Shadowsocks OpenVPN bridges are available in all Mullvad desktop app versions.
- Go to the Mullvad app settings by clicking on the gear icon in the top right corner of the app.
- Then click on VPN settings and select OpenVPN as the tunnel protocol.
- Click on OpenVPN Settings and set Bridge mode to On.
SSH with OpenVPN: SSH tunneling is one method of using bridges to get around a restrictive firewall. It is available for Windows, Linux, and macOS. It uses port 22. Read how to use it in our guide:
- SSH and Mullvad VPN (normal link)
- SSH and Mullvad VPN (Onion link)
Android only
Shadowsocks with OpenVPN: Shadowsocks is an open-source proxy project built with the intention of circumventing internet censorship.
- Shadowsocks for Android (normal link)
- Shadowsocks for Android (Onion link)
Desktop and Android
Shadowsocks and v2ray with OpenVPN: v2ray is a plugin to Shadowsocks, available on our bridge servers. You can read how to configure it in our guide:
- Shadowsocks with v2ray (normal link)
- Shadowsocks with v2ray (Onion link)