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Mullvad IKEv2 support does not exist, and never has. Mullvad offered OpenVPN and WireGuard, and since 15 January 2026 only WireGuard, TechRadar and AlternativeTo reported; a router maker’s compatibility table lists Mullvad as not supporting IKEv2. If a device or router can only do IKEv2, it cannot connect to Mullvad. For phones, WireGuard handles network changes well, so most people lose nothing.
This guide covers why Mullvad skips IKEv2, what WireGuard gives instead, devices that are affected and alternatives.
Mullvad’s Protocol History, and Why It Skips IKEv2
Mullvad backed WireGuard early, making a sizable donation to its development in 2017, TechRadar notes. Its Android and iPhone apps already ran WireGuard only before desktop apps dropped OpenVPN in version 2025.14.
All of Mullvad’s OpenVPN servers were switched off on 15 January 2026. Our Mullvad OpenVPN guide covers what changed for old setups.
Mullvad’s CEO told TechRadar that focusing on one protocol frees servers and lets developers build features for WireGuard instead of maintaining others. Fewer than 7% of users were still on OpenVPN when Mullvad announced its removal, though 28% of its servers ran it.
Adding IKEv2 would run against that one-protocol strategy.
What WireGuard Gives Instead of Mullvad IKEv2
IKEv2’s main selling point is keeping a connection alive when a phone switches between Wi-Fi and mobile data. WireGuard also copes with changing addresses, reconnecting quickly as you move between networks.
Mullvad’s apps add DAITA, multihop, lockdown mode and QUIC and LWO obfuscation on top of the protocol. Our Mullvad WireGuard guide covers those features.
Devices That Only Speak IKEv2
Some older routers and business firewalls support IKEv2 but not WireGuard, particularly models sold before WireGuard became common. They cannot connect to Mullvad, since it has no IKEv2 servers and no OpenVPN fallback any more.
Upgrading to a router with WireGuard, such as a GL.iNet model or one running OpenWrt, is the fix, without replacing your whole home network. Our Mullvad router guide lists options.
Getting WireGuard Working Instead
On phones and computers, install Mullvad’s app, which uses WireGuard by default with no protocol menu to change. On routers, generate a WireGuard file in your account and import it.
If a network blocks WireGuard, turn on obfuscation in the app’s anti-censorship settings, and adjust WireGuard’s MTU if pages stall, as Mullvad suggested to former OpenVPN users.
On iPhone and Mac, Battery and Speed
Apple devices have IKEv2 built in, which is why some people look for it. Mullvad’s iPhone and Mac apps use WireGuard instead, set up through Apple’s own VPN framework.
Our Mullvad iPhone guide covers the iOS app’s settings.
WireGuard’s small code base makes it fast and light on battery, one reason Mullvad chose it. Any speed difference you notice will come mostly from distance to the server, so pick a nearby location.
DAITA adds padding traffic and costs some speed; leave it off unless you need it.
If You Need IKEv2, and Price
Providers such as IPVanish and Windscribe still offer IKEv2 in their own apps, and Windscribe generates IKEv2 files for manual setups. ExpressVPN keeps IKEv2 only on Mac and iOS.
Our IKEv2 vs WireGuard guide explains when IKEv2 still matters.
Mullvad costs a flat €5 a month for five devices, with an account number instead of an email and cash accepted, and has more than 10 audits in our table.
Its no-logs design is the same whatever protocol you use, and its apps rotate WireGuard keys regularly.
Mullvad IKEv2 Questions From Router Owners
Router owners ask most often, since IKEv2 is a common built-in client on older models. If your router’s VPN menu lists only IKEv2, L2TP or PPTP, it cannot use Mullvad. Check for a firmware update that adds WireGuard before buying anything.
GL.iNet travel routers are an inexpensive way to add WireGuard in front of an older router.
If You Used OpenVPN Before
Desktop version 2025.14 removed the OpenVPN option, TechRadar reported, and custom location lists containing only OpenVPN servers stopped connecting until users picked new ones. Mullvad advised replacing OpenVPN’s mssfix tweak with WireGuard’s MTU setting.
Old router setups built on OpenVPN files need new WireGuard files from your account.
Censored Networks
WireGuard is easier for strict networks to recognise than some protocols, which is why Mullvad added QUIC and LWO obfuscation to its apps. IKEv2 would not help there either, since it uses UDP port 500 and is easy to block.
Turn on obfuscation in the app’s anti-censorship settings if connections fail on a restrictive network, then reconnect.
Checking Your Connection
Visit Mullvad’s connection check page in a browser after connecting; it shows whether you are using Mullvad and which server. Repeat after changing networks to confirm WireGuard reconnected.
A DNS leak test on the same page confirms your lookups stay inside the tunnel.
How We Research
This page draws on TechRadar’s and AlternativeTo’s reports on Mullvad’s OpenVPN removal, pcWRT’s VPN compatibility table and our Mullvad tables. We cross-checked these sources against each other, and where they conflict or something can’t be verified, we say so in the text rather than guessing. We checked time-sensitive figures, including prices in US dollars, on 8 October 2026. The main source we relied on is TechRadar on Mullvad’s protocol change. Our full approach lives on the About Us page.
Mullvad IKEv2 FAQ
No; it never offered IKEv2.
WireGuard only, since 15 January 2026.
No; it needs WireGuard support.
Yes, it reconnects quickly when you switch networks.
IPVanish and Windscribe, and ExpressVPN on Apple devices.
The Verdict
Mullvad IKEv2 support is not coming; Mullvad bets on WireGuard alone. For most devices that costs nothing, but IKEv2-only routers need replacing.