Mullvad has silently revamped its Android VPN app — here’s what you need to know

Mullvad recently updated its Android VPN application to version 2026.10, introducing a range of features aimed at enhancing speed and security, all while making the user experience more engaging. The key updates include an interactive globe that highlights server locations, an advanced multi-hop feature, and several bug fixes. However, despite these improvements, the new version is not yet listed on Google Play, with the previous version 2026.08 still displayed on the official website.

The company recently announced the update on its cloud platform, following months of preparation that included beta releases and extensive testing. Mullvad maintains its commitment to transparency, notifying users of issues related to the new version and justifying the accountability expected from leading VPN providers. The VPN service, renowned for its commitment to anonymity and privacy, allows users to pay with cash for an additional layer of anonymity.

It also boasts advanced security features, including robust ad and malicious domain blocking, alongside impressive speeds. The new version of the app features a rotating globe that visually represents available server locations, allowing users to interactively explore server regions and connection routes. Additionally, the multi-hop feature, which routes traffic through two servers for added privacy, can now be enabled automatically under certain conditions, making the functionality more user-friendly.

This feature is particularly useful when DAITA, a security technique designed to obscure network traffic patterns, is enabled, and the selected servers don't support it directly. The VPN app will automatically activate the multi-hop mode to ensure a high level of security, reverting to a single-server connection if DAITA is disabled to save bandwidth and maintain speed.

The new app version also includes improved server location search, with results now sorted based on relevance to users' queries, and approximate matches are now recognized to enhance the overall user experience. Additionally, the app has fixed several bugs, including an issue causing the tunnel to get stuck when using the QUIC obfuscator, and an error that could freeze the tunnel state machine.

Despite these improvements, Mullvad advises users to avoid version 2026.09 due to a bug that could cause connection issues, especially when using features like quantum-resistant tunnels or DAITA. A future update is expected to address these issues.