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How to Completely Uninstall Mullvad VPN on Mac

To remove Mullvad VPN completely, you must remove both the application and its system daemon. Dragging the icon to the Trash alone leaves background processes and configuration files on your Mac.

Last updated: November 1, 20263 min read

Remove Mullvad VPN and everything it leaves behind

Mullvad VPN data usually takes 100 MB – 500 MB on a Mac. The free scan shows the exact size on your Mac before you change anything.

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Free scan · No account · Nothing is deleted without your OK · Moves to the Trash first · macOS 14+

Application: Mullvad VPN
Typical data size: 100 MB – 500 MB
Category: VPN
File Location: ~/Library/Application Support/Mullvad VPN

Mullvad VPN has its own uninstaller

Quit the app completely (⌘+Q in the menu bar).
The app bundle includes an uninstall script in its Resources folder that removes the daemon and its settings.
Remove the folders Mullvad VPN left behind, listed in the table below.
Empty the Trash to free up the space.

Everything Mullvad VPN keeps on your Mac

5 locations. Tick each one as you remove it; back up anything marked as your data first.

~/Library/Application Support/Mullvad VPN App data · desktop app interface settings and logs Yes, once the app is gone/Library/LaunchDaemons/net.mullvad.daemon.plist Background item · starts the Mullvad background daemon at boot Yes, once the app is gone/Library/Caches/mullvad-vpn Cache · cached relay and server list Yes, rebuilt automatically~/Library/Logs/Mullvad VPN Logs · app window (GUI) logs Yes, rebuilt automatically/usr/local/bin/mullvad Other · link to the mullvad command-line tool Yes, once the app is gone

Locations are the standard macOS folders Mullvad VPN uses; some appear only after you use the matching feature.

What happens when you trash Mullvad VPN

Specific to Mullvad VPN

Dragging the app to the Trash does not delete its data folders, which typically occupy 100 MB – 500 MB. Because the app uses a root-level daemon to manage the tunnel, the process continues running at startup via a plist file in /Library/LaunchDaemons/. Other remaining items include a command-line tool link in /usr/local/bin, GUI logs, and a relay cache. These components remain until you manually delete them or use the official uninstaller.

Background items: A root-level daemon manages the tunnel and keeps running even when the app window is closed, and a mullvad command-line link is placed in /usr/local/bin.
Account and sync: Mullvad uses an anonymous account number instead of an email address; keep that number, since it is the only way back into the account.

Preparing to uninstall Mullvad VPN

Before removal, ensure your internet connectivity remains active by disabling specific security features. You should also secure your identity credentials, as the service does not use emails. For a full cleanup, use the uninstall script located in the app bundle's Resources folder. This script removes the daemon and associated settings that the Trash cannot reach.

Write down your account number to maintain access to your accountDisconnect and turn off lockdown mode to avoid blocking your connectionQuit the app before removing any filesRun the official uninstall script to remove the background daemon

0 of 4 done

By hand or with OptiClear

	By hand	With OptiClear
Places to check	5 folders, one by one	One scan
File sizes	You look them up yourself	Shown for every item
Removing the wrong thing	Easy to delete the wrong folder	Goes to the Trash first, so it can be restored
Cost	Free	Scan is free; cleaning needs Pro (yearly plan has a 7-day free trial)

See it working

OptiClear — Scan overview — every category on one screen — Scan overview — every category on one screen

OptiClear — Privacy audit: what each app has been allowed to reach — Privacy audit: what each app has been allowed to reach

OptiClear — Large and aging files, ranked by what they cost you — Large and aging files, ranked by what they cost you

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Frequently asked questions

Yes. Folders marked “Yes, rebuilt automatically” are rebuilt automatically; removing them only makes the next start slower. Items marked “Yes, once the app is gone” only matter while Mullvad VPN is installed, so remove them after the app.

Why is the daemon still running after I deleted the app?

The daemon is a separate system process that requires the official uninstall script or manual deletion of its plist file to stop.

Where are the hidden settings folders located?

Most app data is in the hidden ~/Library folder, accessible via Finder > Go > Go to Folder.