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To install or update a Battle.net game safely, first select the exact game and version, then determine whether its files already exist. Use Locate the game when the files are present but Battle.net shows Install; do not point a new installation at a folder that already contains game data. Before removing or replacing local files, preserve any settings the game does not synchronize. Blizzard specifically warns that Overwatch hero configuration profiles can be overwritten permanently, so save screenshots or short videos of important profiles before troubleshooting.
Account and player data may be stored on Blizzard’s servers, but that does not prove that every preference, add-on, interface file, or custom profile is backed up. Treat local settings as separate data until the support documentation for your particular game and version says otherwise.
What to check before installing or updating
1. Select the right game and version
Open the Battle.net desktop app and sign in. Select the game you intend to install or update, then verify the edition or mode shown in the game tab. This matters most for World of Warcraft: Blizzard’s installation instructions treat the available versions as separate installations. Choosing the wrong version can make a working installation appear to be missing or lead you to download a different client.
- Confirm the game title, region, and account before changing anything.
- For World of Warcraft, choose the intended version or mode before selecting Install.
- Do not assume that a control or folder layout documented for one title appears identically in every Battle.net game.
2. Decide whether the files already exist
Look at the destination drive in File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (macOS) and identify the game’s existing folder if you believe it is already installed. A game may be present after a drive change, operating-system reinstall, Battle.net app reset, or manual folder move even though the app offers Install. In that case, locating the folder is safer than starting a second installation.
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3. Separate account data from local settings
Blizzard’s uninstall guidance says player data is saved on Blizzard’s servers and can be available from another computer with the game client installed. That statement concerns player data; it is not a blanket promise that local preferences are synchronized. Graphics choices, keybinds, add-on files, interface layouts, and custom control profiles may be stored in local game data or in a title-specific settings system.
Before deleting a folder, clearing support files, or allowing a repair process to replace files, identify which settings you cannot easily recreate. If the game’s current support documentation does not describe an export or cloud-sync feature, assume that local settings need your own backup.
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Battle.net desktop app procedure
- Install and open the Battle.net desktop app.
- Sign in to the Blizzard account that owns the game or has the required access.
- Select the game from the app’s game list.
- Choose the intended game version or mode when the title offers more than one.
- Select Install.
- Choose a writable destination folder that does not already contain another installation of that game.
- Review the path and available space, then start the installation.
- Leave the app open until downloading, unpacking, and any initial updates finish. Start the game only after the button changes to the normal launch state.
Blizzard’s Overwatch 2 instructions follow this sequence: install the Battle.net app, sign in, select Overwatch 2, and choose Install. Other games use the same general app flow, but labels, version selectors, and required space can differ.
Choose a safe destination
Use a folder you can write to and a path that is reasonably short. Avoid protected operating-system directories and folders that already contain a game. Blizzard’s installation troubleshooting guidance warns that selecting a directory where a game is already installed may cause existing game data to be lost. If you need a second copy, create a separate, clearly named folder rather than selecting the current installation as the target for a new install.
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When Battle.net says “Install” although the game is already installed
Use Locate the game first
If the complete game files are on the drive, do not immediately click Install and choose the same folder. In Blizzard’s World of Warcraft procedure, select Locate the game beneath the install control, browse to the existing game folder, and confirm it. When the correct folder is selected, the control changes to Play.
- Open the game’s page in Battle.net.
- Under Install, select Locate the game (the wording can vary by title or app revision).
- Browse to the folder that contains the game’s executable and data folders.
- Confirm the selection and wait while Battle.net checks the files.
- Verify that the button changes to Play or another normal launch/update control.
This is an official recovery path for World of Warcraft and a useful way to reconnect an existing folder in the app. It is not a guarantee that every game, version, or future app revision exposes exactly the same control. If the app rejects the folder, recheck the selected title and version, then choose the directory that contains the actual game files rather than a parent folder or a shortcut location.
Why locating is safer than reinstalling over the folder
Locating tells Battle.net where the files are without asking it to create a new installation. Starting a fresh install in a folder that already has game data can overwrite or remove files, while locating preserves the existing directory for the app’s verification and patch process. If you are unsure whether the folder is complete, copy important local settings elsewhere before you attempt any repair or cleanup.
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Protecting settings before file changes
Overwatch hero profiles require special care
Blizzard’s support article about accidentally resetting personalized Overwatch settings states that hero-specific configuration profiles are saved in the game’s settings and cannot be restored by Customer Support after they are overwritten. The article’s explicit warning is: “Customer Support cannot restore these profiles.”
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Before changing files, resetting heroes, or troubleshooting an Overwatch installation:
- Open each hero’s personalized configuration that matters to you.
- Capture readable screenshots showing controls, sensitivities, and other values.
- For settings that are difficult to capture in one image, record a short video while scrolling through the profile.
- Store the captures somewhere outside the game folder, such as a separate drive or a cloud location you control.
- After an update, compare the in-game values with your captures before playing competitively.
Screenshots and videos do not create an automatic import file; they give you a reliable reference for manual recreation if a profile is changed. Blizzard’s support guidance does not promise restoration of an overwritten profile.
For other games, verify instead of assuming
The available Blizzard guidance does not establish one settings-export method that applies to every Battle.net title. Some games may synchronize particular choices, while others keep configuration or add-on data locally. Before deleting or replacing a game folder, consult the current support instructions for that title and preserve any documented configuration, interface, or add-on directories. If no backup behavior is documented, copy the relevant local files to a separate folder and keep the original untouched until the updated game launches correctly.
Updating an installed game without losing its configuration
- Open Battle.net and select the already installed title and correct version.
- Confirm that the app recognizes the existing installation. If it shows Install, stop and use Locate the game rather than starting a second install.
- Save screenshots, videos, or copies of important local settings before you begin, especially for Overwatch hero profiles.
- Start the update from the game’s normal update control.
- Allow the patch to finish. Do not close the app while it is applying or verifying files.
- Launch the game and check the settings that matter to you before changing additional files.
- Keep your backup captures or copied configuration until you have confirmed that the updated client behaves as expected.
An ordinary patch is different from uninstalling and reinstalling. Do not delete the game folder merely because an update is slow or appears stuck; use the troubleshooting sequence below first.
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If a patch fails or the game will not launch
Blizzard’s World of Warcraft technical troubleshooting guidance places basic checks before a reinstall. Apply the steps in order so that a network or permission problem does not turn into unnecessary data removal.
Restart and check the connection
- Close the game and Battle.net completely, then restart the app and try the update again.
- Check that the computer has a stable internet connection.
- If you use a VPN, proxy, or managed network, test whether the connection is blocking the patch service.
Check security software
Firewall, antivirus, or endpoint-security rules can block the Battle.net app or game executable. Review the security software’s blocked or quarantined items and allow the legitimate Battle.net and game processes according to your security policy. Do not disable protection permanently; restore normal protection after testing.
Run the repair tool
Use Battle.net’s repair tool for damaged or incomplete game files. Let verification and replacement finish before launching the game. Repair can redownload corrupted data, but it is intended to correct the existing installation; it is not a reason to erase the folder first.
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Escalate only after the basic checks
Blizzard’s troubleshooting sequence lists reinstalling the Battle.net app and additional account or permission steps later. On Windows 10 or Windows 11, if permissions remain the problem after earlier checks, the guidance includes trying an updated or new Windows account. Follow those steps only after preserving settings and confirming that the game folder is not the issue.
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Install-folder permissions, paths, and data-loss risks
Battle.net must be able to read, write, create, and rename files in the destination. A path can fail because the account lacks permission, the drive is unavailable, security software is blocking changes, or the path is too complex for the installer to handle reliably.
- Use a folder your operating-system account can write to.
- Keep the path short and avoid unusual characters when troubleshooting a path error.
- Check that the drive is mounted and has enough free space for both downloaded and temporary files.
- Do not select a folder that already contains a game unless you are explicitly using Locate the game.
- Do not move or rename the folder while Battle.net is downloading or patching.
Blizzard’s guidance for installation error code BLZBNTBTS0000005A specifically cautions that choosing a folder where a game is already installed may result in the loss of existing game data. Treat that warning as a reason to stop, verify the folder, and choose a different destination for a new installation.
When Battle.net forgets an installation
Deleting Battle.net support files can make the app forget where games are installed. That does not necessarily mean the game data is gone. Blizzard’s guidance is to use Locate this game to reconnect the existing folder or run the game’s launcher so Battle.net can rediscover the installation.
- Do not delete the game folder just because the app no longer lists it as installed.
- Open the game’s page and look for Locate this game or the equivalent recovery control.
- Select the existing folder and allow the app to verify it.
- If the control is unavailable, run the game’s launcher from its existing folder once, then reopen Battle.net.
- After recognition returns, check that the app shows the normal launch or update state.
Reconnect the folder before attempting a reinstall. If verification reports missing files, use the repair tool after your local settings are protected.
Install, locate, repair, or reinstall? Use the right action
| Your situation | Safer action | Why |
|---|---|---|
| No game files exist and the destination is empty | Install | Creates a new installation in a writable folder. |
| Game files exist, but Battle.net shows Install | Locate the game | Reconnects the existing folder and avoids an unnecessary download. |
| Files are present but damaged or incomplete | Protect settings, then run the repair tool | Repairs the current installation without deleting it first. |
| Battle.net lost the path after support-file cleanup | Locate this game or run the game launcher | Lets the app rediscover the existing files. |
| You need a second, independent installation | Install to a new, empty folder | Choosing an existing game directory risks losing its data. |
| You plan to remove the game permanently | Back up local settings first, then use the app’s uninstall flow | Server-held player data may remain available, but local settings are not universally guaranteed to sync. |
Safe recovery checklist
- Correct title and version selected.
- Existing files located before any reinstall attempt.
- Important local settings captured or copied outside the game folder.
- Destination folder is writable, available, and not an existing installation when performing a new install.
- Battle.net restarted and the network checked before deleting files.
- Security software reviewed for blocked Battle.net or game processes.
- Repair tool run before a full reinstall.
- Game launched and critical settings checked after patching.
What you can and cannot safely assume
You can safely use Blizzard’s documented app flow to install a selected game and version, reconnect an existing World of Warcraft folder with Locate the game, and use the repair tool after basic restart, network, and security checks. You cannot safely assume that every title exposes the same controls, that every local setting is stored on Blizzard’s servers, or that Customer Support can restore a profile overwritten during troubleshooting.
The safest habit is to identify the installation state first, preserve settings second, and only then choose between locating, repairing, updating, or installing. That order avoids the two most damaging mistakes: downloading over a folder that already contains the game and deleting local configuration that was never backed up.
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