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Install every current World of Warcraft version through the Battle.net desktop app: select World of Warcraft, choose the game version above Install, and then install and launch it. Choose your realm only after confirming the same game version as your friends. In Modern WoW, choose Normal unless role-playing is a regular part of what you want; choose RP when you specifically want an role-play-oriented community.
This guide follows Blizzard’s current installation and new-player guidance, while clearly separating confirmed access rules from information that changes, such as the launcher’s version list and realm availability.
What you need before installing
World of Warcraft is distributed through Blizzard’s Battle.net desktop app rather than a separate installer for each mode. Blizzard states that “all versions and game modes of World of Warcraft are installed through the Battle.net desktop app.” You can read the full procedure in Blizzard Support’s How to Install World of Warcraft article.
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- The Battle.net desktop app downloaded and installed on your computer.
- Enough storage for the specific version you select. Blizzard treats each game version as a separate installation, and minimum system requirements can differ between versions.
- A decision about which game version you intend to play first. The available choices and labels can change, so use the list shown in the current launcher rather than relying on an old screenshot.
You do not need to install every version. Install only the versions you plan to play, because selecting another version later can result in a separate download and separate disk usage.
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- 30 days of free game time included
- Includes levels 1 through 90
- Subscription, Internet connection, and Battle.net registration required
How to install World of Warcraft in Battle.net
- Download and open Battle.net. Install the Battle.net desktop app, sign in, and complete any account verification it requests.
- Select World of Warcraft. In the app’s game list, choose World of Warcraft. Do not select a similarly named companion product or a shortcut created for a different installation.
- Choose the game version. Look above the Install button for the version selector. Blizzard’s support guidance lists Modern WoW, WoW Classic Era, and Cataclysm Classic; the current launcher may show a different or expanded list as releases change.
- Select the account, if prompted. If your Battle.net account has more than one active World of Warcraft account, choose the one you intend to use. Selecting the wrong account can make an otherwise valid subscription or game-time balance appear unavailable.
- Click Install. Choose the installation folder, review the space requirement shown by the launcher, and start the download. Let Battle.net finish downloading and applying updates before launching.
- Click Play. When installation completes, use Play in the World of Warcraft page. The launcher will start the version you selected, not necessarily the last version you played.
These steps reflect Blizzard Entertainment’s New Players Starter Guide: Welcome to World of Warcraft, published February 25, 2026. The exact wording or placement of controls can change with Battle.net updates, but the version-before-install sequence remains the important part.
If Battle.net says Install when WoW is already on your computer
Do not immediately download a second copy. Blizzard’s support instructions say to choose Locate the game when the launcher shows Install for an existing installation. Browse to the folder that contains that World of Warcraft installation and confirm it. Battle.net can then scan the files and associate the folder with the selected game version. If you have several versions installed, locate the folder belonging to the version currently selected in the launcher.
If you cannot find the download
Open Battle.net, select World of Warcraft, and check the version selector above the main action button. The download controls are on the game page, not in a generic store page. If the app is showing a different Blizzard game, switch to World of Warcraft in the left-hand game list first.
Which World of Warcraft version should you install?
The version selector determines both the files Battle.net downloads and the realms you will see after launch. Installations are separate, and Blizzard notes that each version can have different minimum system requirements.
| Launcher choice | What it represents | Access condition stated by Blizzard | Realm implication |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modern WoW | The current retail version presented as Modern WoW in the launcher | Free to download and play through level 20; progressing beyond level 20 requires a subscription or game time. | Use the Modern WoW realm list and its current realm rules. |
| WoW Classic Era | The Classic Era version shown by the current launcher | Game time or a subscription is required to install and play. | Classic grouping and realm rules apply; confirm the version before choosing a realm. |
| Cataclysm Classic | The Cataclysm Classic version shown by the current launcher | Game time or a subscription is required to install and play. | Use the Cataclysm Classic realm list rather than a Modern WoW realm list. |
These are the access terms described in Blizzard Support at the time of the current guidance. Blizzard can change game versions, labels, and access policies, so verify the launcher and account page before paying for game time.
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Starting with Modern WoW
Modern WoW is the simplest entry point if you want the current retail experience and are testing the game without immediately purchasing access. Blizzard Support says the free portion reaches level 20. A subscription or game time is needed to continue beyond that level.
Starting with a Classic version
Choose the Classic entry that matches the era you want to play. Classic versions are not an alternate mode inside a Modern WoW installation; Battle.net installs them separately. Blizzard’s stated requirement is game time or a subscription to install and play Classic versions.
Choose a realm in the right order
Realm choice matters because it determines where your character is created and which community you can join under that version’s rules. The safest order is: identify the game version, coordinate with friends or a guild, decide whether role-playing is important, and then check the live realm list in the client.
1. Ask friends before looking for a “best” realm
Ask each friend for the exact realm name and the exact game version. “World of Warcraft” is not specific enough when one person means Modern WoW and another means a Classic version. A character on the wrong version or realm may not be able to join the group you intend to play with.
Blizzard’s new-player guide explicitly recommends choosing the realm where your friends play. This is especially important in WoW Classic, where characters can group with others on the same realm. If an established guild has already given you a realm and version, that existing social connection is usually more useful than an unsupported population ranking.
2. Decide whether you want role-playing
For Modern WoW, Blizzard’s current guide describes two realm types:
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| Realm type | Blizzard’s description | Choose it when |
|---|---|---|
| Normal | Uses the Normal ruleset. Players can participate in open-world player-versus-player combat through War Mode. | You want the standard community and ruleset, with the option to enable War Mode for open-world PvP. |
| RP | Intended for players who want to role-play, while using the Normal ruleset. | You want character-driven play, in-world interaction, and a community where role-playing is a regular expectation. |
Choose RP for the social style, not because it is presumed to be more populated. Choose Normal when role-playing is not a goal or when your friends and guild already play there.
3. Check the current realm list in the client
Realm availability is live information. Open the realm-selection screen for the same version you installed and review the realms currently offered in your region. The list can reflect maintenance, transfers, launch activity, and other changes that a static article cannot capture.
No current official realm-by-realm population ranking is established here. Do not treat an old “best population” list or an unsourced third-party estimate as an official Blizzard measurement. If you need a current recruiting community, use the live client list together with relevant Blizzard community channels and guild recruitment information.
4. Account for region and latency
Use the region and realm group presented by your Battle.net account and game client. A realm selected for a friend in another region may not provide the same grouping experience, availability, or connection quality. Confirm the region before creating a character, then compare the realm names visible in that region’s selection screen.
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A practical realm decision framework
Use this checklist before pressing Create Character:
- Version: Does the realm belong to Modern WoW, WoW Classic Era, or Cataclysm Classic—the same version you installed?
- Friends: Do the people you intend to group with already play there?
- Guild: Is there an established guild or community you actually plan to join?
- Role-play: If this is Modern WoW, do you want role-playing to be a normal part of the realm’s community? If yes, consider RP; if no, consider Normal.
- Availability: Is the realm currently selectable in the live client for your region?
- Future flexibility: Are you comfortable creating a character there if your friends later change games or realms? If not, wait until you have a firm group plan.
This method avoids making a decision from a single number. A realm that appears busy in an old guide may no longer match current activity, while a smaller realm with your friends can provide more useful day-to-day play.
Why realm names and populations can be confusing
Blizzard introduced Connected Realms in a 2013 Connected Realms feature preview. That article explains the original purpose: linked realms could share activities such as guilds, the Auction House, raids, dungeons, and quests. It is historical background, not a current list of linked realms or a statement of today’s activity rules.
Because connected-realm systems can link communities, a realm name is not always a simple measure of an isolated population. Do not infer present-day population, guild availability, or grouping rules from that 2013 description. For current behavior, rely on the rules displayed by the version you are playing and the live client.
Common installation and realm problems
“I can’t find where to download WoW.”
Open the Battle.net desktop app, select World of Warcraft in the game list, and look above the main button for the version selector. Choose a version first; the Install control appears on that game page. If you are in a browser or on another Blizzard game’s page, you will not see the World of Warcraft installation controls.
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“I bought the game but I don’t see the install option.”
Confirm that you are signed into the Battle.net account that owns the game time or subscription, then select the correct World of Warcraft account if more than one appears. Next, choose the intended version in the selector. If the files already exist, choose Locate the game instead of downloading again.
“I installed WoW but want to play WoW Classic instead.”
Return to the World of Warcraft page in Battle.net and change the version selector above the button. Classic is a separate installation, so the launcher may show Install for Classic even when Modern WoW is already installed. Select the Classic version you want, confirm that your account has the required game time or subscription, and install it separately.
The realm my friend named is not visible
First verify the version, region, and spelling. A Modern WoW realm will not appear in a Classic realm list, and a Classic realm will not appear in Modern WoW. If all three match, check the live realm list again later for maintenance or temporary availability changes, and ask your friend to confirm the exact realm name from their character-selection screen.
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Stop before creating additional characters and confirm the group’s version and realm. Realm transfers, character services, and other account options can have separate rules and costs; this guide does not assume that moving a character will be available or appropriate. Creating a new character on the confirmed realm may be the simplest solution, depending on your account and the version’s current policies.
After installation: verify before creating a character
- Launch the exact version you selected in Battle.net.
- Confirm that the login screen and character-selection interface match the intended version.
- Open the realm list and check the region and available realm names.
- Compare the displayed realm name with the one supplied by your friends or guild.
- For Modern WoW, confirm whether you want Normal or RP before creating the character.
- Create the character only after the version, realm, and community choice all agree.
If the game opens to a different version than expected, quit to Battle.net and change the version selector rather than trying to solve the mismatch from inside the game.
Quick Recap
Quick reference
| Question | Action |
|---|---|
| Where is WoW installed? | Battle.net desktop app → World of Warcraft → choose version → Install. |
| What if the game is already installed? | Choose Locate the game and select the existing folder. |
| Can I try Modern WoW without paying immediately? | Blizzard says Modern WoW is playable through level 20; beyond level 20 requires game time or a subscription. |
| What does Classic require? | Blizzard says Classic versions require game time or a subscription to install and play. |
| How should I choose a realm? | Match the game version, join your friends’ realm when possible, choose Normal or RP according to your role-playing preference in Modern WoW, and check live availability. |
| Which realm is officially the most populated? | No current official realm-population ranking is established in the available guidance; do not present an old or unsourced ranking as current Blizzard data. |
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