WoW Forever Launch Day Checklist: Everything to Do

QUICK ANSWER WoW Forever opens on Wednesday, November 4 at 3:00 PM PST. Before then, check your game time, update Battle.net and your graphics driver, free up 128 GB of SSD space, install the Forever client, and agree on a ruleset and faction with your friends. On launch night, log in on time, expect a queue, and make one character you really want to play.

Launch day goes smoothly for people who sort out the boring parts early. Work through this list from top to bottom. There is a copy-and-paste version at the end.

At a Glance

Detail	Info
Launch	November 4, 2026 at 3:00 PM PST (23:00 UTC)
What you need	Active WoW subscription or Game Time or Invite a Friend code
Free space	128 GB on an SSD
Where to install	Battle.net app, Game Version menu
Rulesets at launch	Normal, PvP, Roleplay, Roleplay-PvP
Name reservation	Ends November 3 (pack buyers only)
Level cap	60
First raids	December 9

Launch Time in Your Region

These are Blizzard’s own launch times.

Region	Launch Time	Date
Americas (PST)	3:00 PM	Nov 4
Brazil (BRT)	8:00 PM	Nov 4
UK (GMT)	11:00 PM	Nov 4
Central Europe (CET)	12:00 AM	Nov 5
Taiwan (CST)	7:00 AM	Nov 5
Korea (KST)	8:00 AM	Nov 5
Australia and New Zealand (AEDT)	10:00 AM	Nov 5
UTC	23:00	Nov 4

Tip: Set two alarms, one for an hour before launch and one for ten minutes before.

Your Timeline

When	What to Do
Now to November 3	Check account, PC, install, name, ruleset plan
The day before	Update everything, test your connection, clear your evening
2 hours before launch	Restart your PC, close other apps, open Battle.net
At launch	Log in, pick ruleset and faction, make your character
First hour	Quest in the starting zone, set your options
First week	Hit level 10 talents, plan professions and your mount

1. Check Your Account and Access

Check	Why It Matters
Active subscription or Game Time	Forever is included, but you still need paid time
Right WoW account selected	Wrong account gives an access error (WOW51900337)
Skyborne pack on the same account	Pack perks work only on the account that bought them
Battle.net login works	A failed login on launch night costs you your spot
Invite-A-Friend code redeemed (if you have one)	Friends can play launch week without paid time

Tip: One Battle.net account runs one WoW version at a time. To play Forever and modern WoW together, use a second WoW account.

Tip: Buying a pack? Check the account before you pay. Buying for the wrong account cannot be easily undone.

2. Check Your PC or Mac

Blizzard lists these requirements for Forever. Both Windows and Mac need broadband, a keyboard and mouse, and a screen of at least 1280 x 720.

Part	Windows Minimum	Windows Recommended
Operating system	Windows 10 64-bit (May 2019 update or newer)	Windows 11
Memory	8 GB	16 GB
Graphics card	DirectX 12, 4 GB	DirectX 12, 8 GB
Storage	128 GB SSD	128 GB SSD

Part	Mac Minimum	Mac Recommended
Operating system	macOS 12	macOS 15
Chip and memory	See Blizzard’s product page	Apple M4 with 16 GB
Storage	128 GB SSD	128 GB SSD

Tip: Blizzard no longer supports some older graphics cards. The GTX 760, 770 and 780 are among them.

Tip: Update your graphics driver now. Do not do it during the launch rush.

Tip: Run Windows Update (or macOS Update) and restart. Pending updates love to hit at the worst moment.

Tip: A hard drive will not do. Forever needs an SSD, and the 128 GB figure is free space you need to have, not the exact download size.

3. Install the Client

Forever installs through the Battle.net app. These are Blizzard’s steps.

1. Install the Battle.net desktop app and let it update.
2. Pick World of Warcraft from your game list.
3. In the Game Version menu above the Play button, choose World of Warcraft: Forever.
4. Click Install.
5. When it finishes, press Play and choose your ruleset.

Tip: If you do not see Forever in the menu, update Battle.net first, then check you are on the right Battle.net account with game time.

Tip: Blizzard has not said whether everyone can download early. Check the Game Version menu now rather than on launch night.

Optional shortcut: Some players start the install from a command line. On Windows, press Windows key + R and run "C:\Program Files (x86)\Battle.net\Battle.net.exe" --game=WoWF --install. This is unofficial, and it only works if the client is released to your account.

4. Set Up Before You Log In

Setting	Where	Why
Preferred Online Language	Esc, Options, System, Languages and Social	Helps you meet players with the same choice. Account-wide, with a 24-hour wait between changes
Hide second name	Esc, Options, Nameplates, My Secondary Name	Hides the last name in the world. It still shows in chat
Character models	Options	Switch between classic and new looks
Controller	Options	Controller support exists if you want it

Tip: Set your language once and leave it. The 24-hour cooldown makes flip-flopping a pain.

5. Addons: Keep It Small

• Forever uses the modern addon system, so old Classic addons do not work by default.
• Install only addons that list a Forever version. Download from CurseForge, Wago or the author’s GitHub page.
• Open Battle.net, click the gear next to Play, choose Show in Explorer, and open the forever folder to find the right AddOns folder.
• If an addon shows as out of date, tick Load out of date AddOns at the top of the AddOns menu.
• Questie has Forever support. WeakAuras has no official Forever version.
• Add addons in small batches. A pile of broken ones makes it hard to find the culprit.

Tip: Skip heavy setups on day one. You can add addons after your first level-up.

6. Plan Your Character

Decision	Questions to Settle
Ruleset	Normal, PvP, Roleplay or Roleplay-PvP. You cannot switch later
Faction	On PvP you get one faction only
Race	Each faction has 5 races, including the Skyborne (needs the Heroic Pack)
Class	Nine classes, no new ones
Name	First and last name, unique across your region

Tip: Agree with your friends on ruleset, faction and meeting spot before launch. You cannot group across rulesets, and Horde and Alliance cannot group.

Tip: On PvP, new characters for the bigger faction can be paused. Have a second faction in mind.

Tip: Pick your main now and stick with it. Rerolling on launch night wastes the hour you are most excited.

7. Plan Your Name

• Reservation ends November 3 and only works with a premium pack. Up to 3 names across all rulesets.
• Everyone else makes characters at launch, first come, first served.
• Each part of the name is 2 to 12 letters. No spaces, hyphens, numbers or apostrophes.
• The same letter cannot appear more than twice in a row.
• The Roleplay ruleset has extra rules, and names must sound medieval or fantasy.
• Write down 5 first and last name pairs in order of preference.

Tip: First names can repeat. If your first name is taken, change the last name. For example – first name “Leeroy”, last name “Jenkins” is obviously taken but “Leeroy” + “Moonkins” may still be up for grabs.

8. Launch Night: What to Expect

• Blizzard has not announced queue limits, so plan for a wait.
• Blizzard designed the realmless setup to ease long queues, and crowds in capital cities are a known concern.
• Do not schedule anything tight around launch.
• The first rush of logins is the worst. Staying calm costs you less than logging out and in.

What You See	What It Means	What to Do
Realm is full, position in queue	A login queue	Stay in it. Do not keep relogging
Ruleset temporarily unavailable	A server problem on Blizzard’s side	Wait a few minutes and reconnect
Access error WOW51900337	The selected WoW account has no access	Switch to the account that holds your game time
Character creation timed out	The attempt failed	Reconnect and check your character list
Faction locked on PvP	One faction has too many players	Try the other faction or wait

Tip: Keep Blizzard’s official channels open in another window. They post the real status.

9. Your First Hour

1. Log in at launch. You cannot get in before 3:00 PM PST.
2. Choose your ruleset and faction. Double-check before you click.
3. Make your character. Use your name list. If every pair fails, try the random name button.
4. Open your options. Set your language and the second-name display.
5. Take every quest in the starting zone before you walk away. One trip beats three.
6. Check your quest log and map so you know where to turn in.
7. Save your gold. Do not buy gear. Riding training costs more gold than it used to. Unless you’re a Warlock or Paladin.
8. Take a break at your first few level-ups. That is a good time to setup your addons.

10. Your First Week

Goal	What to Do
Level 10	Talents unlock, so pick your first points
Early levels	Learn a gathering profession. Forever has 12 professions in all
Level 40	Dual spec and your first mount arrive around here. Prices are not confirmed
Along the way	Open the Legacy panel. It is an account-wide system that rewards exploring
Camps	Use campfires and camp objects for group buffs
Level 60	The cap. There is no flying and no level scaling
December 9	The first raids open

Tip: There is no WoW Token or boost. Plan your gold slowly.

What Is Not in the Game on Day One

Thing	Status
Hardcore ruleset	After launch, no date
Raids	December 9
Flying mounts	Not in Forever
Level scaling	None
WoW Token and boosts	Blizzard says no plans
Beta and stress test characters	Wiped. Everyone starts at level 1
Switching rulesets	Not allowed. Make a new character
Cross-faction groups	Not allowed
Cross-ruleset groups	Not allowed

Stay Safe

• Install Forever only through the Battle.net app. Some sites offer a separate “Forever” client, and it is not the official game.
• Do not buy gold. Blizzard has warned that buying it can cost you your account for good.
• Skip addon downloads from random sites. Use CurseForge, Wago or the author’s GitHub.
• Turn on two-step login on your Battle.net account if you have not already.

Mistakes to Avoid

• Waiting until launch night to install.
• Picking a ruleset alone, then finding your friends are elsewhere.
• Rerolling classes for an hour.
• Using the wrong WoW account.
• Loading a huge addon pile.
• Spending your first gold on gear or bags.
• Forgetting that the reservation window ends November 3.

Master Checklist

Account

• Subscription or Game Time is active
• Right WoW account selected
• Battle.net login works
• Pack bought on the right account (if any)
• Invite-A-Friend codes shared or redeemed

PC

• 128 GB free on an SSD
• Graphics driver updated
• Windows or macOS updated and restarted
• Battle.net updated

Install

• Forever shows in the Game Version menu
• Client installed
• Language and nameplate settings ready

Character

• Ruleset chosen
• Faction chosen (with a backup for PvP)
• Race and class chosen
• 5 name pairs written down
• Friends agreed on ruleset, faction and meeting spot

Launch

• Alarms set for your region’s launch time
• Evening cleared
• Official Blizzard channels open

Key Dates

Date	What Happens
November 3	Name reservation ends
November 4, 3:00 PM PST	Launch
December 9	First raids open
After launch	Hardcore, no date

FAQ

What time does WoW Forever launch? November 4 at 3:00 PM PST, which is 23:00 UTC. Details here.

Can I pre-load WoW Forever? Blizzard has not confirmed a pre-load but those that signed up for the stress test can use the same client to update. There are a few ways to force install the client, do them at your own risk. Otherwise, simply wait for the official release to go live on launch day.

How much space does it need? Blizzard lists 128 GB of free SSD space.

Do I need a pack to play? No. Packs are optional. Only the Skyborne race needs one.

Will there be a queue? Most definitely. The beta registered 8 million+ characters, expect a good portion of gamers to line up for the big release.

Can I play with friends on another ruleset? No groups, dungeons or raids across rulesets. Battlegrounds can mix, except Hardcore.

Do my beta characters carry over? No. Everyone starts at level 1.

Can I use my Classic addons? Not by default. Forever uses the modern addon system.

When can I get a first mount? At level 40, but exact prices are not confirmed. Riding training costs more gold than before.

Is there a free way to play? Only with an Invite-A-Friend code during launch week.