Home / WoW: Forever / Install

WoW: Forever / Install

Install WoW: Forever through Battle.net

Blizzard’s install guide covers the Battle.net desktop app, game version, account selection, and first launch.

View Blizzard’s install steps

Updated

Before you install

Check the computer and account first.

  • Update the operating system and graphics drivers.
  • Review the full requirements on the Battle.net Shop page. This guide does not reproduce spec values.
  • Blizzard’s GPU notice sets a floor at AMD Graphics Core Next 1 (2012), NVIDIA Maxwell (2014), Intel Skylake (2015), or newer. Blizzard says these are still well below the game’s minimum requirements.

In Windows, check the GPU under Settings > System > Display > Advanced display, or in Device Manager > Display adapters.

Blizzard’s instructions

Install WoW: Forever in five steps.

  1. Download the Battle.net desktop app for Windows or Mac, then log in.
  2. Open the app and select WoW: Forever from the game menu.
  3. Under Game Version, select WoW: Forever. If you have more than one World of Warcraft account, use the second dropdown to select the active account.
  4. Click Install. The progress bar shows when the game is available to play.
  5. When installation is done, click Play.

These steps come from Blizzard’s Return to Azeroth guide.

For launch timing and first-login order, see the WoW: Forever launch checklist.

Mac install

Installing on a Mac

Blizzard says you can play WoW: Forever on Windows or Mac with a keyboard and mouse. The same five Battle.net install steps above apply in the Mac app.

Check the Mac column on Blizzard’s Battle.net Shop page for system requirements. The GPU notice applies to Mac as well.

Desktop shortcut

Desktop shortcut for WoW: Forever

A player in a Blizzard EU forum thread describes opening WoW: Forever in the Battle.net app, clicking the cog next to Play, and choosing Create Desktop Shortcut.

Players in a Blizzard US bug report say that option returns: “Something went unexpectedly wrong. We'll try to fix it, so please try again later.” Blizzard had not responded to the thread as of Nov 5, 2026.

A player in the EU thread reported that a Windows 11 shortcut to the Battle.net launcher using --productcode=wow_forever worked for them. MMOSetup hasn’t tested this player-reported workaround. Another player in the US thread said the same argument gave them a different error.

Account recovery

Use Blizzard Support if sign-in fails.

Blizzard’s Return to Azeroth guide points to the Support “Can’t Log In?” page for finding an account, resetting a password, unlocking an account, and authenticator problems. Blizzard’s Support portal also provides a way to contact a Game Master.

Launch notices

No separate launch preload by November 2.

As of November 2, 2026, Blizzard had not announced a separate launch preload in the notices we checked. The install flow above follows Blizzard’s Return to Azeroth guide.