Returning to World of Warcraft - Where to Start

Updated: 2 months ago
Article ID: 15515
Product:

Common Problems

  • I played World of Warcraft in the past and I want to come back
  • What do I need to buy to play WoW again?

What do i need to buy

Modern World of Warcraft is free to play up to level 20.

You need Game Time or a Subscription if you want to:

  • Play past level 20 in Modern WoW
  • Play WoW Classic or Wrath Classic

You can buy the latest expansion to access the most recent content in Modern WoW (currently The War Within). All previous expansions are included with your game time or subscription and don't require a separate purchase. 

How to install

All games are installed through the Battle.net desktop app.

  1. Download and install the Battle.net desktop app.
  2. Log in with your Battle.net account email and password.
  3. Click the World of Warcraft icon.
  4. Select the Game Version from the drop-down on the left.
  5. Click the blue button Install.

Modern WoW, WoW Classic, and Wrath Classic are individual games and are installed separately.

Recovering your old account and characters

If you played in the past, your characters are saved on your original WoW account. If you can't log in to your old WoW account, click here