- WhatsApp suggests using a VPN to avoid network restrictions on its service
- It specifically lists Mullvad and AmneziaVPN as “reputable” VPN providers
- The move comes as WhatsApp is increasingly a target of censors around the world
For millions of users living under restrictive internet regimes, maintaining access to basic communication tools is a daily struggle. In a crucial update to its support documentation, WhatsApp has begun explicitly recommending two privacy-focused services, Mullvad and Amnezia VPN, to help users stay connected when the app is blocked.
While Meta-owned platforms typically offer generic advice on using the best VPN services to navigate restrictions, naming specific third-party providers is a break from tradition.
The update appears in the platform’s Help Center under the section dedicated to connecting when the network is down or blocked, signaling a more hands-on approach to helping users in jurisdictions with heavy internet censorship.
According to the recently updated WhatsApp FAQ, the company states: “Using a VPN can allow you to connect to WhatsApp if it is not accessible from your current network.” It then goes a step further, adding: “Examples of reputable VPN providers include Mullvad and Amnesia.”
The site also directs users to the website of the digital rights group Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) for further reading on digital security, reinforcing the privacy-centric nature of this advice.
Why Mole and Amnesia?
The selection of these two specific providers is telling. Unlike the massive commercial VPNs often seen in TV spots, both Mullvad and Amnezia occupy a more technical, privacy-hardened niche.
Mole Vad VPN is a Swedish provider widely respected in the cybersecurity community for its fanatical approach to anonymity. In addition to driving a string no-log VPN, Mullvad requires no email address or personal information to sign up; users simply generate a random account number.
While privacy is Mullvad’s biggest concern, the provider has also strengthened its censorship resistance over the years. It even added QUIC (Quick UDP Internet Connections) across all its apps recently to better unblock.
🔥Now @WhatsApp recommends connecting to Amnezia VPN if your network is down. They have added a link to @AmneziaVPN in their Help Center because our technology is built to bypass even the toughest censorship. Try it yourself – request a demo. pic.twitter.com/6r4Zepv1rt27 February 2026
AmnesiaVPN is a Russian-based provider specifically designed to bypass harsh censorship. In particular, it is known for building protocols that hide VPN traffic, making it look like regular web browsing to fool censorship firewalls.
While offering its own applications, Amenzia is an open source solution that also allows users to set up their own self-hosted VPN on a rented virtual private server (VPS). NymVPN and Windscribe have both integrated Amenzia’s proprietary protocol, AmenziaWG, into their services precisely for its effectiveness in bypassing Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) blocking techniques.
By highlighting these two, WhatsApp is effectively pointing users toward tools designed to survive in hostile network environments, rather than just tools designed for streaming or casual browsing.
Remain connected in 2026
The context of this update cannot be ignored. With digital authoritarianism on the rise, the ability to access end-to-end encrypted messages is no longer guaranteed.
WhatsApp is keen to remind users that using these tools does not compromise the security of their chats. The support page reiterates: “Please note that while using a VPN, WhatsApp’s standard end-to-end encryption keeps your personal messages and calls private… No one outside the chat, not even WhatsApp, can read, listen or share them.”
For users in regions where WhatsApp is often throttled or blocked, this official recognition is specific secure VPN tools validate what many activists and tech-savvy users have known for years: in 2026, a VPN is not just an accessory; it is essential infrastructure.
If you’re currently looking for a way to secure your connection, these “reputable” options are a strong place to start, but they’re not your only options. For other safe and reliable alternatives, I suggest you check out our guides to the best free VPN and the best VPN services in general.
