How to pre-download the WoW Forever beta now on Windows, Mac, Linux and Steam Deck

The WoW Forever beta opens today, but you do not have to wait for the servers to start downloading. A tip on r/classicwow (posted by u/maurimbr) shows how to make Battle.net install the beta client right now. When the servers come up, you only need a small patch instead of the whole game.

Windows: one command

1. Press Windows + R, type cmd and press Enter.
2. Paste this and press Enter:

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Battle.net\Battle.net.exe" --game=wow_classic_beta --install

3. Battle.net opens and offers to install the WoW Forever beta.

If you installed Battle.net somewhere else, change the path to your own Battle.net.exe. You can also paste the command straight into the Windows + R box, or add --game=wow_classic_beta --install to the end of the Target field of your Battle.net shortcut, start it once, then remove it again.

Mac

Quit Battle.net first, otherwise nothing happens. Then run this in Terminal:

open -a "/Applications/Battle.net.app" --args --game=wow_classic_beta --install

Linux and Steam Deck

Players on Linux report that it works too:

• Faugus Launcher: add --game=wow_classic_beta --install as a launch argument for Battle.net.
• Steam / Proton: put --game=wow_classic_beta --install in the launch options with nothing else. Extra Proton options or %command% made it crash for some players. The shortcut must point to the real Battle.net.exe inside the Proton prefix, not to the Battle.net setup file.

Steam Deck results are mixed so far, so treat that one as “try it and see”.

How big is the download?

Battle.net shares files between WoW versions, so the size depends on what you already have. Numbers reported by players:

What you have installed	Beta download
Retail (Midnight) and/or Classic	about 14-15 GB
Only TBC Classic	about 65 GB
No WoW version at all	about 65-69 GB

Can you get banned for this?

Blizzard has not said anything about it. The command only downloads client files and does not give you beta access. Players have preloaded betas and PTRs this way before without problems. You can start the client, but it stays on the login screen until the servers open, and if you do not have access you will not get in.

To play you still need beta access: a Skyborne Epic Pack or Warcraft Forever Collection pre-order, or an invite through the free opt-in. Start times and access details are in our beta start article.

One more thing

Expect Battle.net to download an update when the beta goes live. That should still be far smaller than the full client, so you skip the queue of everyone downloading at once. Once you are in, the first cap is level 20: plan it with our talent builds, the leveling guides and the dungeon list.