factory-reset

Reset all settings, caches, and logs

The mullvad factory-reset command completely resets the Mullvad VPN app to its initial state, removing all settings, cached data, logs, and account information.

Usage

mullvad factory-reset [OPTIONS]

Options

-y, --assume-yes · flag

Automatically answer “yes” to confirmation prompt. Useful for scripting.

What gets reset

A factory reset removes:

Account data

• Logged in account (you’ll need to log in again)
• Account token
• Device information
• WireGuard keys

Settings

• All VPN settings (relay selection, tunnel options, etc.)
• Custom relay lists
• Split tunneling configuration
• DNS settings
• All preferences

Cached data

• Relay list cache
• Geographic location cache
• API response caches
• Version information

Logs

• All daemon logs
• Problem report data
• Debug logs

What persists

The following are NOT reset:

• Installed application files
• GUI application data (desktop only)
• System-level configuration (systemd service, launch daemons, etc.)

Examples

Interactive reset

mullvad factory-reset

Prompts for confirmation:

This will reset all settings, remove all logs and cached data, and log you out.
Continue? [y/N]

Non-interactive reset

mullvad factory-reset --assume-yes

Skips confirmation prompt. Useful in scripts.

Scripting example

#!/bin/bash
# Reset VPN and reconfigure
mullvad factory-reset -y
mullvad account login 1234567890123456
mullvad relay set location se got
mullvad auto-connect set on

When to use factory reset

Use factory reset when:

• Troubleshooting persistent configuration issues
• Transferring the app to a new user
• Starting with a clean configuration
• Resolving corrupt settings
• Following security incident response procedures

Don’t use if you only want to:

• Reset settings but keep logs → Use reset-settings instead
• Change one specific setting → Use the relevant set command
• Clear logs only → Delete log files manually or use log commands

Alternative: Reset settings only

To reset only settings while keeping logs and account:

mullvad reset-settings

See reset-settings for details.

Safety considerations

Factory reset is irreversible. Ensure you have:

• Your account number saved elsewhere
• Exported any important settings
• Backed up custom configurations

Before factory reset checklist

1. Save account number

   mullvad account get
   

   Write down or save the account number.

2. Export settings (optional)

   mullvad export-settings settings-backup.json
   

3. Disconnect from VPN

   mullvad disconnect
   

4. Perform reset

   mullvad factory-reset
   

After factory reset

After reset completes:

1. The daemon continues running but is logged out
2. All settings are at default values
3. You must log in to use the VPN again
4. The app is in the same state as a fresh installation

Post-reset steps

# Log in with your account
mullvad account login YOUR_ACCOUNT_NUMBER

# Restore settings (if exported)
mullvad import-settings settings-backup.json

# Or reconfigure manually
mullvad relay set location us nyc
mullvad auto-connect set on
mullvad lan set allow

Platform-specific behavior

Linux

Resets:

• /etc/mullvad-vpn/settings.json
• /var/cache/mullvad-vpn/
• /var/log/mullvad-vpn/

macOS

Resets:

• /etc/mullvad-vpn/settings.json
• /Library/Caches/mullvad-vpn/
• /var/log/mullvad-vpn/

Windows

Resets:

• C:\ProgramData\Mullvad VPN\settings.json
• C:\ProgramData\Mullvad VPN\cache\
• C:\ProgramData\Mullvad VPN\*.log

Exit status

• 0 - Successfully reset
• 1 - Reset failed or user cancelled
• 2 - Daemon not running

Related commands

• reset-settings - Reset settings only
• export-settings - Backup current settings
• account logout - Log out but keep settings