How to Check if Mullvad VPN Is Working
If you use Mullvad VPN, confirming that it is actually working is just as important as turning it on.
The fastest way to verify it is to check your IP address, DNS behavior, and WebRTC exposure while the VPN is connected.
Mullvad is known for a privacy-first design, but no VPN should be trusted blindly.
A few quick tests can tell you whether your traffic is being routed through a secure tunnel or whether something on your device is bypassing it.
What “working” means for Mullvad VPN
Before testing, define what success looks like.
A VPN can appear connected while still failing in subtle ways, especially if split tunneling, a firewall rule, or a browser leak is exposing data.
- Your public IP address changes to a Mullvad exit location.
- Your DNS queries are handled through the VPN, not your ISP.
- Your browser does not leak WebRTC data showing your real IP.
- Your internet traffic is blocked if Mullvad disconnects and the kill switch is active.
Check your IP address first
The simplest test is to compare your public IP before and after connecting to Mullvad.
This confirms whether the VPN tunnel is changing how websites see your connection.
How to do it
- Disconnect from Mullvad.
- Open a trusted IP-checking site such as whatismyipaddress.com or ipinfo.io.
- Note your public IP and approximate location.
- Connect to a Mullvad server.
- Refresh the site and compare the new IP address and country.
If Mullvad is working, the displayed IP should belong to the VPN server location, not your home ISP or mobile carrier.
If the location stays the same, the tunnel may not be active or traffic may be bypassing it.
Use Mullvad’s built-in connection details
Mullvad’s desktop and mobile apps show the current relay, tunnel status, and connection time.
These details are useful because they confirm the app believes the VPN is connected, but they should not be your only check.
- Connected state: shows the tunnel is active.
- Selected relay: identifies the server and country.
- Account status: confirms your Mullvad account is valid.
- Kill switch status: helps verify traffic blocking behavior.
Use the app as your first signal, then confirm with external tests.
A VPN client can report “connected” even if a network issue prevents full traffic routing.
Test for DNS leaks
DNS leaks are one of the most important ways to tell whether Mullvad VPN is truly protecting your browsing.
If your device sends DNS requests to your ISP or another resolver outside the tunnel, websites may still see your network activity patterns.
How to check DNS behavior
- Connect to Mullvad.
- Visit a DNS leak test site such as dnsleaktest.com or ipleak.net.
- Run the standard and extended tests.
- Review the listed resolvers and locations.
When Mullvad is functioning properly, the DNS servers shown should match Mullvad-owned or privacy-protected infrastructure, not your internet provider.
If you see your ISP name, your local city, or a resolver you do not recognize, investigate immediately.
Look for WebRTC leaks in your browser
WebRTC can reveal local and sometimes public IP information through supported browsers.
This does not mean the VPN is useless, but it can expose identifying details if browser settings are not hardened.
What to check
- Open a WebRTC leak test site while connected to Mullvad.
- Look for your real IP address, local IP, or ISP name.
- Compare the result with the VPN IP shown in your browser.
If WebRTC shows your actual IP, disable or restrict WebRTC in the browser you use most often.
Firefox, Brave, Chrome-based browsers, and Safari handle this differently, so the fix depends on your browser and extensions.
Confirm the kill switch is functioning
A reliable kill switch is one of the best signs that Mullvad is doing its job.
It prevents your device from silently falling back to your regular connection if the VPN tunnel drops.
Simple kill switch test
- Connect to Mullvad.
- Open a website or continuously ping a stable endpoint.
- Disconnect Mullvad abruptly.
- Check whether the internet connection stops immediately.
If traffic continues after disconnection, the kill switch may be off or your device may have another network path active.
On desktop systems, this is especially important if you use Wi-Fi and Ethernet simultaneously or if other networking tools are installed.
Check whether your real location is still visible
Even when your IP address changes, websites can infer location using browser data, language settings, time zone, and GPS permissions.
This is especially relevant on mobile devices and in browsers with location access enabled.
- Verify your device time zone matches the VPN location only if you intentionally set it that way.
- Disable browser location permissions for sites that do not need it.
- On mobile, deny precise GPS access unless required.
- Re-run an IP and location test after changing relays.
Mullvad masks network location, but it cannot override every signal your device voluntarily shares.
Use multiple test sites for a stronger verdict
No single test site is perfect.
A more reliable method is to check several sources and compare the results.
This helps rule out caching issues, browser anomalies, or site-specific detection quirks.
- IP checker: confirms public-facing IP and country.
- DNS leak test: confirms resolver path.
- WebRTC leak test: checks browser exposure.
- Whoer or similar privacy test: can reveal timezone, proxy, and fingerprint mismatches.
If all tests agree that your IP, DNS, and browser data align with Mullvad, the VPN is behaving as expected.
Signs Mullvad may not be working properly
Sometimes the issue is obvious, and sometimes it is subtle.
These warning signs suggest your connection deserves a closer look.
- Your public IP never changes after connecting.
- DNS leak tests show your ISP.
- WebRTC reveals your real IP.
- Streaming or browsing sites show your home country unexpectedly.
- Mullvad reports connected, but pages do not load.
- Your internet keeps working after a forced disconnect even though the kill switch should stop it.
If any of these happen, try another Mullvad relay, restart the app, switch network adapters, and check whether a firewall, antivirus suite, or custom DNS setting is interfering.
Troubleshooting steps that often fix false failures
Occasionally a test result looks wrong even when Mullvad is fine.
Before assuming the VPN is broken, rule out common causes on the device or network.
- Reconnect to a different Mullvad server.
- Restart the Mullvad app and your browser.
- Clear browser cache and DNS cache.
- Disable other VPNs, proxies, or security tools.
- Check system DNS settings for manual overrides.
- Update the Mullvad app to the latest version.
On restrictive networks, such as public Wi-Fi or corporate environments, firewall rules may interfere with the tunnel or block specific protocols.
Testing on a different network can help isolate the problem.
How to verify Mullvad on iPhone and Android?
Mobile devices can be more difficult to test because apps and system services may keep using cached network data.
The same core checks still apply, but they should be performed carefully.
Mobile verification checklist
- Confirm the Mullvad app shows an active connection.
- Open a browser and run an IP test.
- Run a DNS leak test in the same browser.
- Disable browser location permissions if needed.
- Check whether the app reconnects automatically after switching Wi-Fi and cellular data.
On Android and iOS, also review whether battery optimization, VPN permissions, or local network permissions are limiting the app’s reliability.
Best practice for ongoing verification
Once you know how to check if Mullvad VPN is working, repeat the same tests whenever you change servers, update your device, or install new security software.
Regular verification is especially useful after operating system upgrades, browser updates, or changes to DNS settings.
A practical routine is simple: confirm the app is connected, check your IP, test DNS, and scan for WebRTC leaks.
That sequence takes only a few minutes and gives you a much clearer picture of whether Mullvad is protecting your traffic the way it should.