🛠️ OctoWoW Client: Installation, Modernization, Tweaks & AddOns Guide

[Beardumonde]

Used this a few weeks ago to install and get the client running and it has gone very smoothly; if Octowow ships updates or hot fixes for the client, how would I go about getting them without using their launcher, which breaks my game and makes it run like shit? Is it possible to just grab their updates from the game itself like Blizz vanilla?

[Thalasar]

Step 3.3 didn't work for me, as there is no dlls.txt file in game folder. Am I supposed to create it myself?

[Gehrschrein]

Thanks for putting this guide together. The Modernization Tool has made the client playable for me.

Used this a few weeks ago to install and get the client running and it has gone very smoothly; if Octowow ships updates or hot fixes for the client, how would I go about getting them without using their launcher, which breaks my game and makes it run like shit? Is it possible to just grab their updates from the game itself like Blizz vanilla?

I've got the same experience as you. What I'm planning to do is update the mods not injected by the Modernization Tool (and any other client updates) via the Octo Launcher when needed, and then re-run the modernization tool to inject the things that fix performance.

I'm not sure if this is the _right_ way of doing it but it seems to work fine.

[Alexdakoolguy]

And what if Smart App Control blocks the WoW.exe in the OctoWoW folder?
I added the whole folder into the Defender exclusions.

[Defiant]

And what if Smart App Control blocks the WoW.exe in the OctoWoW folder?
I added the whole folder into the Defender exclusions.

Doesn't appear to be a way to add exclusions to Smart App Control, seems like it would need to be disabled.

[Dusk92]

WoW Modernization Tool — v1.1 → v2.3

The Modernization Tool has changed a lot since v1.1.

If you haven't updated in a while, here is a quick overview of the biggest additions and improvements introduced up to v2.3.

The original guide post has also been fully updated to reflect the current Modernization Tool features, setup steps, troubleshooting information and changes introduced up to v2.3.

v2.0 — Major Modernization Update

• Added automatic component updates and offline protection.
• Reworked renderer selection with VanillaFixes / DirectX 9 and DXVK / Vulkan.
• Added ClassicAPI, AuctionQueryThrottle, VanillaMultiMonitorFix and Interact.
• Added new Vanilla Tweaks including Unlimited AddOn Script Memory, Cross-Faction Resurrection Fix, Custom Glues and Automatic WDB Management.
• Added optional visual mods including Darker Nights, Pretty Night Sky, Epoch Water, Fog Pushback and Pink Herbs.
• Added optional audio mods including NoErrorSounds, FishPing and Warlock Muted Demons.
• Improved AutoLogin + Nampower password encryption handling.
• Settings are now remembered separately for each WoW installation.
• Manually added dlls.txt entries and comments are preserved.
• Play Modernized WoW is now automatically created in the game folder and on the Windows Desktop.

v2.1 — Discord Rich Presence

• Added optional Discord Rich Presence.
• Automatically configures the OctoWoW Discord Application ID.
• WowPresence can automatically be installed and updated by the Tool.
• Existing WowPresence settings and custom Discord Application IDs are preserved.
• Improved WowPresence zone detection.
• Improved Pink Herbs installation to prevent conflicts with custom MPQ files.
• Improved DEP compatibility and older installation cleanup.

v2.2 — Smart Updates & Discord Privacy

• Added individual Discord Rich Presence privacy controls for Name, Guild, Race, Faction, Class, Level and Zone.
• Added the "Show character details" option to quickly enable all Discord Rich Presence details.
• Added Smart Update Checks.
• Components that are already current are no longer downloaded again unnecessarily.
• Missing or modified managed files can automatically be detected and repaired.
• Improved integrity checks and update reliability.
• Improved Nampower and UnitXP update and fallback handling.

v2.3 — Compatibility, Reliability & DXVK Improvements

• Improved Vanilla Tweaks compatibility with Vanilla, Turtle WoW, OctoWoW and other compatible clients.
• Safer creation and replacement of WoW_Modernized.exe.
• Improved support for already-patched compatible clients.
• SuperWoW FoV now automatically follows the FoV selected in the Modernization Tool.
• Improved MPQ validation.
• Improved offline recovery when supported sources are unavailable.
• Improved recovery if an installation step fails.
• Improved handling of local installation and permission errors.
• Improved Tool window scaling on Windows and smaller displays.
• DXVK exclusive fullscreen is now disabled by default to reduce black screens during Alt+Tab.
• Added a configurable DXVK FPS limiter.
• The Tool automatically detects the highest refresh rate of connected displays and uses it as the default FPS limit.
• The detected FPS limit can be changed manually and is remembered per WoW installation.
• The FPS limiter only applies to DXVK / Vulkan and is automatically disabled when using DirectX 9.

Updating from v1.1 or any older installation

You do not need to reinstall WoW.

Simply download the latest Modernization Tool, select your existing WoW folder and click:

Apply Setup & Tweaks

Your existing installation will be updated with your selected components and settings.

Download WoW Modernization Tool v2.3