Mullvad to Retire Public Encrypted DNS to Sponsor Quad9 Foundation

Mullvad is discontinuing its public encrypted DNS (DoH) servers to provide financial support to the Quad9 Foundation. The transition marks a strategic pivot away from maintaining redundant infrastructure in favor of bolstering an established industry leader.

According to an official announcement from Mullvad, the public encrypted DNS servers—operational since 2022—will be shut down by November 2, 2026. Users who manually configured these servers must migrate to Quad9 before the deadline. For those using the Mullvad Browser with default DoH or ad-blocking settings, the migration to Quad9 will happen automatically. However, users with existing Mullvad DoH profiles on iOS and macOS will find their current setups stop working and must manually replace them with Quad9 profiles.

The Shift to Specialized Infrastructure

Mullvad introduced its public DNS over HTTPS (DoH) service in 2022 to allow users, including those not utilizing a VPN, to shield their DNS queries from internet service providers. While this provided a layer of privacy for the general public and served as the default for the Mullvad Browser, it created a duplication of effort within the privacy ecosystem.

In a statement, Mullvad explained that running a privacy-focused public DNS is a "highly specialized undertaking" and identified the Quad9 Foundation as the "undisputed leader in the field." The company stated that rather than duplicating Quad9's efforts to achieve only a fraction of their capabilities, it is redirecting its resources toward financial sponsorship of the foundation.

Industry Implications

This move signals a broader trend toward consolidation and specialization within the privacy tool sector. By stepping back from DNS hosting, Mullvad acknowledges the immense technical overhead required to maintain a high-tier, secure public resolver. This shift allows the company to focus on its core competencies while ensuring its users still have access to top-tier DNS privacy through a dedicated specialist.

Crucially, this change only affects the public-facing DNS service. Mullvad confirmed that the internal DNS used by Mullvad VPN users remains unaffected and will continue to operate as usual within the VPN tunnel.

What to Watch

As the November 2, 2026, deadline approaches, the primary focus for users will be the manual migration of mobile profiles on Apple devices. While the automatic transition for browser users simplifies the process, the company's move highlights the ongoing challenge of maintaining independent, privacy-centric infrastructure against the scale of specialized foundations like Quad9.