Mullvad Browser 16.0 brings generic window titles, Quad9 DNS, and Linux on ARM support

Mullvad has released version 16.0 of its privacy-focused web browser, marking the first build based on Firefox ESR 153 and Tor Browser 16.0. As with every annual ESR transition, the update rolls in a full year's worth of changes from upstream Firefox, code introduced between Firefox 115 and Firefox ESR 153, each of which Mullvad audits for potential effects on users' privacy and security. The most visible change is a complete redesign of the settings' experience, mirroring a parallel redesign Mozilla shipped with Firefox in June, bringing a cleaner layout, updated navigation, and clearer labels and descriptions.

Among the headline features is a new opt-in option for generic window titles. Because browsers use the page title as the window name, other applications or the operating system can read those titles without special permissions, effectively exposing a user's browsing history. When enabled, the setting replaces all window titles with “Mullvad Browser”, though Mullvad cautions that it may interfere with accessibility tools such as screen readers and with heavily customized desktop environments. Another visual change: the long-standing “New Identity” broom button has been replaced by the “Clear Private Session” flame button, which Firefox introduced in private browsing mode and which behaves identically.

The release also addresses networking and platform support. Following the discontinuation of Mullvad's own encrypted DNS service, users of it will be automatically migrated to Quad9, while those with custom DoH configurations are unaffected, though anyone manually using a Mullvad DNS variant is advised to revert to the default. The encrypted DNS settings themselves have been simplified to a choice between always using DoH or the operating system's default DNS, the latter recommended when using a VPN. Finally, after a year of testing, Mullvad Browser 16.0 adds native support for Linux on 64-bit ARM (AArch64) processors, extending compatibility to devices like Raspberry Pis and Apple Silicon Macs running Linux.