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To preserve your World of Warcraft UI and addon settings, close the game and copy the full WTF folder from the correct game installation. Copy InterfaceAddOns too if you also want to keep the installed addon files. To restore, close WoW again and put the folders back in the corresponding game-flavor directory, preserving their internal structure.
What to back up
WoW keeps addon files and saved settings in separate folders. WTF contains game settings and saved variables, while InterfaceAddOns contains addon code. Copying only the addon folder does not preserve addon settings.
| Folder | What it preserves | When to copy it |
|---|---|---|
WTF |
Game settings and addon saved variables, including data that may be account-wide or character-specific. | Copy this to preserve settings. |
InterfaceAddOns |
Installed addon files. | Copy this for a complete local copy of your addons; otherwise, reinstall compatible addons separately. |
CurseForge Support describes backing up the Addons and WTF folders as a way to save addons and settings for a reinstall: World of Warcraft Addons – FAQ and Troubleshooting.
Find the folder for the right WoW version
Locate the World of Warcraft installation folder, then select the folder for the game flavor you play. The path varies by installation and flavor; Retail, for example, commonly uses a folder named _retail_. CurseForge’s FAQ explains how to select a game flavor in its app and uses _retail_ as an example.
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Inside the matching flavor folder, look for WTF and, if you want to preserve addon files, InterfaceAddOns. Do not copy folders from one flavor and assume they belong to another.
Back up your UI and addon settings
- Exit World of Warcraft. Wait until the game has fully closed before copying files. A community troubleshooting discussion warns that the client may overwrite restored files when it exits, so keep it closed throughout the copy.
- Open the correct game-flavor folder. Find the installation directory for the WoW version you want to preserve.
- Copy the entire
WTFfolder. Save it somewhere separate from the game installation, such as another drive or a backup location. Keeping the whole folder avoids having to guess which account- or character-specific files an addon uses. - Optionally copy
InterfaceAddOns. Include it if you want to preserve the addon files as well as their settings. If you plan to reinstall addons with an addon manager, you can back up onlyWTFand install compatible addon versions separately. - Keep the folder names and hierarchy intact. Do not flatten the backup or move saved-variable files out of their account, realm, or character folders.
Where addon settings are stored
Saved variables may be account-wide or tied to a particular character. Common locations include:
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WTFAccount<account>SavedVariablesfor account-wide saved variables.WTFAccount<account><realm><character>and related character-specific saved-variable paths for settings associated with a character.
Not every addon uses the same location. Community guidance on the folder layout recommends preserving the full WTF tree rather than selecting files individually. See the discussions on restoring addon profiles after a UI reset and syncing addons between computers.
Restore the backup
- Close WoW completely. Do not restore files while the game is open.
- Open the corresponding game-flavor folder. Use the same flavor and installation you backed up, or the matching flavor on the new computer.
- Copy the saved
WTFfolder into place. Preserve the account, realm, character, and SavedVariables subfolders. If prompted about existing files, make sure you have a separate backup before replacing them. - Restore
InterfaceAddOnsif you backed it up. If you are reinstalling addons instead, install compatible versions before launching the game. - Start WoW and check the result. Confirm the relevant addons are enabled and inspect their profiles or settings in game.
The folder-specific restore procedure is based on community descriptions of the WoW folder layout; the cited sources do not establish a current official Blizzard checklist for restoring a complete UI backup.
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Moving settings to another computer, account, or character
For another computer, copy the backup to the corresponding game-flavor folder on that machine. The account, realm, and character paths should remain intact. Addon profiles do not necessarily transfer automatically when you switch to a different account or character: some addons associate settings with a particular character or realm, and you may need to select the intended profile in that addon’s interface. A discussion about transferring addon settings between PCs distinguishes the settings in WTF from addon files in Interface.
Manual backup versus CurseForge sync
A copied folder backup and addon-installation sync solve different problems. CurseForge’s support page describes Sync Profiles for syncing addon installations between devices, and a backup of the Addons and WTF folders. However, the same page, modified July 7, 2026, says its Sync feature’s Backup option was not available. Do not treat syncing addon installations as a confirmed way to create and restore a complete settings backup.
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| Approach | Preserves | Best suited to | Important distinction |
|---|---|---|---|
Copy WTF |
Saved settings and variables. | Backing up settings before a reset, reinstall, or move. | Does not include addon code. |
Copy WTF and InterfaceAddOns |
Saved settings and installed addon files. | Keeping a broad local copy for a reinstall or computer move. | Addon versions may differ from those currently installed. |
Reinstall addons separately, then restore WTF |
Saved settings, with addon code obtained separately. | When you prefer to install compatible addons through an addon manager. | Profiles may need adjustment if the account, realm, character, or addon version differs. |
| CurseForge Sync Profile | Addon installations, according to CurseForge Support. | Syncing addon installations between devices. | Its FAQ said the Sync feature’s Backup option was unavailable when modified July 7, 2026. |
If the restored settings cause problems
If you are restoring after an addon-related UI issue, avoid re-enabling everything at once. Community troubleshooting advice recommends restoring selectively where possible, starting with a minimal set of addons, and testing before enabling the rest.
Addon updates can change how saved variables are stored. Community guidance cautions that old saved data and a different addon version may not work together. Keeping the previous addon files and settings as a separate backup gives you a rollback option, but does not guarantee compatibility.
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