Quick answer: To play World of Warcraft: Forever, create or recover your Battle.net account, have an active World of Warcraft subscription or Game Time, install the Battle.net desktop app on Windows or Mac, then select WoW: Forever from the Game Version menu and choose Install. Once the download finishes, select Play. The live release began November 4, 2026.

Before you install

You need a Windows PC or Mac that meets Blizzard’s current system requirements, an internet connection and a Battle.net account. Blizzard explicitly says that a standard active World of Warcraft subscription or Game Time includes access to Forever. You do not need to buy a special upgrade just to begin the base Forever experience. Optional packages provide cosmetic extras; the Skyborne race and its starting experience require the Skyborne Heroic Pack or higher.

  1. Create a Battle.net account, or sign in to your existing one. Verify the email address and consider enabling an authenticator.
  2. Confirm your World of Warcraft subscription is active or purchase Game Time for the account you plan to use.
  3. Check Blizzard’s current PC or Mac system requirements before starting the download.

Download and install World of Warcraft: Forever

  1. Download the official Battle.net desktop application and sign in.
  2. Select World of Warcraft in Battle.net and locate the Game Version dropdown above the Install/Play control.
  3. Choose World of Warcraft: Forever, not the older beta or another WoW version.
  4. If the launcher shows another dropdown for multiple WoW accounts, select the active account you intend to play on.
  5. Select Install and let the download finish. Then select Play.

Blizzard’s return-to-Azeroth directions specifically document the Game Version choice and second account dropdown. If Forever does not appear, confirm that Battle.net has finished updating, then sign out and back in to the correct region and account. Verify the subscription or Game Time on that account before assuming the installation is broken.

Choose your experience preset

On your first login, Blizzard says you choose an Experience Preset before your Ruleset. Classic starts with a more traditional interface and fewer modern helpers. Enhanced enables updated visuals, objective markers, one-bag inventory and other interface aids. This is a starting preference, not a permanent decision; Blizzard says the individual settings can be adjusted later in Game Menu → Options. If this is your first WoW experience, Enhanced is the simpler place to begin.

Pick the right ruleset before creating a character

The launch rulesets are Normal, PvP, Roleplay and Roleplay-PvP. Hardcore is planned for later, not available at the November 4 launch. Normal suits players who want to learn without constant open-world PvP pressure. PvP and Roleplay-PvP carry greater exposure to player attacks, while Roleplay applies character naming and conduct expectations.

Blizzard states that players can group, join guilds, run dungeons and raid only with characters on the same ruleset and faction. If you plan to play with friends, coordinate these choices before making your characters. A mismatched ruleset is not a launcher bug.

Create your first character

  1. Choose Alliance or Horde, ideally matching your friends’ faction.
  2. Select a race and read its starting-location and ability information.
  3. Pick a class based on the kind of role you want: close-range combat, ranged damage, magic, healing or protection. Don’t worry about choosing a theoretically perfect endgame build on day one.
  4. Create your character, enter the world and use the opening quests to learn movement, combat and the interface.

Common setup problems

Wrong WoW version installed: Recheck the Game Version dropdown before pressing Play. The older Forever Beta client is not the live Forever selection. Subscription missing: Make sure the Game Time belongs to the same WoW account chosen in the account dropdown. Friend is invisible or cannot group: Compare both faction and ruleset. Prefer a different UI: Change settings under Game Menu → Options rather than reinstalling.

Official instructions

These steps follow Blizzard’s New Player’s Starter Guide and Return to Azeroth installation instructions. Both describe the launch-era client, account requirements and first-character choices.

Start on Normal with the Enhanced interface unless you have a specific preference or friends on another ruleset. Then let your first few quests teach the world; picking the right version and ruleset is the part worth double-checking before the adventure begins.