Mullvad VPN's Android beta adds smarter multi-hop and interactive server globe

Multi-hop, a privacy tool that routes traffic through two servers instead of one, is not new to Mullvad. The provider describes it as a “tunnel within a tunnel”: an entry server sees the user’s real IP address but not their destination, while an exit server sees the destination but not the IP, making activity harder to trace. The feature arrived on Android in March 2025 following earlier releases on desktop and iOS. The beta redesign focuses on ease of use and automation. A new “when needed” mode allows the app to automatically enable multi-hop when the current setup requires it, such as when DAITA — Mullvad’s defense against AI-guided traffic analysis — is active and the selected server does not support it directly. Previously, users had to enable multi-hop manually. The beta also separates entry and exit filters, so each can be configured independently.

The server globe in the app is now interactive, with pan, pinch-to-zoom, and fling gestures. Users can spin the globe to inspect the locations of VPN servers and trace their connection path. Location search has been upgraded to rank results by relevance and support fuzzy matches, so misspelled city names should still surface the correct servers. Search terms are highlighted as the user types.

Mullvad has been active with other updates, including a speed-focused desktop build and more frequent Mullvad Browser releases for testers, according to TechRadar. The Android beta continues the provider’s pattern of steady, privacy-first refinement. Mullvad remains one of the few VPN services that accepts cash payments for anonymity, and its advanced security features include ad and malicious domain blocking.