Mullvad pushes update in a bid to make your i OS VPN app even more secure — but there's a catch | Tech Radar

Overview

News, deals, reviews, guides and more on the newest computing gadgets

Start exploring exclusive deals, expert advice and more

Details

Unlock and manage exclusive Techradar member rewards.

Mullvad pushes update in a bid to make your i OS VPN app even more secure — but there's a catch

Mullvad's new feature seeks to prevent any potential leaks with i OS updates, but comes with 'major' UX limitations

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Unlock instant access to exclusive member features.

Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.

Mullvad adds a "Force all apps" feature for i OS to ensure traffic cannot leak during updates

The update leverages an i OS configuration option called include All Networks to act as an airtight kill 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 i OS application designed to plug any potential traffic leaks during updates.

In a bid to offer absolute security for the most demanding privacy purists, the best VPN contender is introducing a strict new tool called "Force all apps."

"Soon we will be releasing a new version of the i OS app that 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 configuration option to true."

Privado VPN’s Phantom Mode lands on i OS to stop apps spying on you — here's everything you need to know and how to set it up

Nym VPN's latest update brings crucial anti-censorship and usability boost

Mullvad Browser's testers now get access to updates every four weeks, also on Linux ARM devices

In the Apple ecosystem, the include All Networks setting essentially operates like a kill switch. When toggled on, it tells i OS that every single byte of your internet traffic must be routed through the VPN tunnel. If the tunnel drops, the traffic stops, preventing your true IP address or browsing data from leaking to your internet service provider.

However, Mullvad previously avoided using this configuration due to complications with how i Phones handle automatic software updates from the App Store.

Historically, automatic i OS app updates briefly drop your VPN connection. For the average user, the fact that an app temporarily disconnects while transitioning to a new version is completely expected. However, because there is no active VPN tunnel during that exact moment, all device traffic is technically leaking.

Mullvad views this as a critical vulnerability for users who expect 24/7 protection. But enabling include All Networks creates a unique technical snag.

According to Mullvad, if the setting is active when an automatic update begins, the old VPN connection shuts down, preventing the i OS downloader from fetching the new app version. As a result, the device loses connectivity entirely, and the update hangs in a broken loop.

Apple's networking stack is preventing the i OS app from being as secure as possible, we have now secured our app to mitigate this despite the rough edges around the update procedure. Read more here: https://t.co/sb X72s 2O7m

Apple's networking stack is preventing the i OS app from being as secure as possible, we have now secured our app to mitigate this despite the rough edges around the update procedure. Read more here: https://t.co/sb X72s 2O7m

"We have decided that we are not going to wait anymore and we would like to offer our users the best possible privacy and security, even if it comes with major UX limitations," the company stated.

To bypass this frustrating update loop, Mullvad's new version will actively notify you when a fresh update is available before the i OS App Store triggers an automatic download.

Mullvad VPN takes its banned anti-surveillance ad to the streets after UK TV rejection

Proton VPN releases "quality-of-life" update for i OS users — Mac and Linux VPN apps are next

Proton VPN just made securing your i Phone a whole lot faster

To safely proceed without breaking your connection, users are instructed to either "Disconnect the VPN while the app is updated" or "Disable Force all apps while the app is updated." Once the update securely finishes, you can manually re-enable your protection.

While Mullvad admits that "your traffic will leak during the update process," this proactive notification system ensures you can explicitly choose a safe moment to disconnect, rather than being caught off guard by a silent background update.

Mullvad acknowledges that a minority of users may still accidentally end up with a broken networking stack if they miss the manual disconnection step.

"If you've been affected by this, we can only encourage you to capture the anguish and express it as a feedback report to Apple," the provider added.

Ultimately, Mullvad is leaning into its reputation as one of the most private VPN apps on the market. By handing the reins back to the user, the provider is ensuring that those who want airtight protection on their i Phone finally have the tools to enforce it.

Rene Millman is a seasoned technology journalist whose work has appeared in The Guardian, the Financial Times, Computer Weekly, and IT Pro. With over two decades of experience as a reporter and editor, he specializes in making complex topics like cybersecurity, VPNs, and enterprise software accessible and engaging.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

1 The 12 best Garmin watch deals for running, swimming, and hiking at Amazon — save up to $250 on best-rated models

2 This FLAC vs MP3 test is going to really annoy audiophiles

3 Which is the best new i OS 26.4 emoji? Have your say in our reader poll

4 Mullvad pushes an update in a bid to make your i OS VPN app even more secure — but there's a catch

5 This trackable wallet for Android or i OS is made from recycled materials

Tech Radar is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Key Takeaways

• News, deals, reviews, guides and more on the newest computing gadgets

• Start exploring exclusive deals, expert advice and more

• Unlock and manage exclusive Techradar member rewards

• Mullvad pushes update in a bid to make your i OS VPN app even more secure — but there's a catch

• Mullvad's new feature seeks to prevent any potential leaks with i OS updates, but comes with 'major' UX limitations