If World of Warcraft won’t launch, clear the Battle.net cache, run Scan and Repair, reset UI folders, and update drivers and Windows.
Stuck on the Play button, a brief “Game is Running” flash, or a black screen? This guide lays out clean, repeatable steps that solve the most common launch blocks on Windows and Mac. You’ll see quick wins first, then deeper fixes grouped by cause, so you can get back into Azeroth without guesswork.
Quick Wins You Should Try First
These fast actions resolve a big share of launch stalls. Work through them in order. If one step helps, stop there and play.
| Symptom | Try This | Where/How |
|---|---|---|
| “Game Is Running” loop | End agent, restart launcher | Task Manager → end Agent.exe and Battle.net, then relaunch |
| Play does nothing | Clear Battle.net cache | %ProgramData% → delete Blizzard Entertainment folder |
| Black screen, music plays | Reset UI | Rename Cache, Interface, WTF to *Old* |
| Crash on start | Scan and Repair | Launcher cog → Scan and Repair |
| Launches once, then fails | Update GPU driver | NVIDIA/AMD/Intel app or site |
| New patch day | Restart PC, check updates | Windows Update; then try again |
Why WoW Fails To Start
Most launch troubles trace back to four buckets: cached launcher data, damaged game files, overlay or add-on conflicts, or system items like drivers and Visual C++ packs. The steps below target each bucket with minimal fuss and no risky tweaks.
Fixing WoW Won’t Launch On Windows: Step-By-Step
1) Check For A Service Hitch
If friends can’t sign in either, hold off on local tweaks. Peek at the launcher news bar or a status feed. If regions are under maintenance, wait a bit and try again.
2) Restart The Launcher Cleanly
Close Battle.net, then press Ctrl+Shift+Esc. End Agent.exe and any Battle.net processes. Launch the app again and hit Play. This clears a hung update or stuck handle without touching files.
3) Clear The Battle.net Cache
Old launcher data can block a clean start. Press Win+R, type %ProgramData%, and delete the Blizzard Entertainment folder. Open the app and try Play again. See the official steps in cache reset instructions.
4) Run Scan And Repair
Corrupt or missing files stop WoW at launch. In the launcher, click the cog next to Play → Scan and Repair → Begin Scan. Let it finish, then test. The method is listed in Blizzard’s Scan and Repair steps.
5) Reset Your UI Folders
Add-ons and old settings can block the 3D view, leaving a blank screen. Close the game. In the WoW folder, open _retail_ (or your branch) and rename Cache, Interface, and WTF to add “Old”. Launch again. Blizzard documents this method here: reset UI folders.
6) Disable Overlays And Recorders
Overlays from Discord, GeForce Experience, AMD Adrenalin, Steam, or FPS counters can hook the game too early. Turn them off, then try a launch test. Keep them off until the first stable session after a big patch.
7) Update GPU And Windows
Driver fixes often land near game patches. Install the latest display driver and run Windows Update. Reboot, then retry. If the game starts only once after a reboot, this step usually makes the win stick.
8) Add Security Exceptions
Real-time scanners can quarantine shader compiles or the update agent. Add the Battle.net folder and the WoW folder to your antivirus allow list. Then retest.
9) Clear DirectX Shader Cache
Open Windows Settings → System → Storage → Cleanup recommendations → Temporary files → select “DirectX Shader Cache” → Remove files. This removes stale shaders that can freeze the first frame or stall the swap to full screen.
10) Repair Or Reinstall Visual C++ Packs
WoW relies on common runtime files. Open Apps → Installed apps and repair each Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable. If repair fails, download fresh installers from Microsoft and reinstall. Reboot once, then test.
11) Create A Fresh Windows User Profile (Quick Test)
A damaged profile can block app rights or file paths. Create a new local user, sign in, install the launcher, and try Play. If it works here, the main profile needs cleanup of shell addons or policy leftovers.
Mac: Fast Checks That Help
Quit the launcher, hold Option, and click the app icon to run it once without add-ons. Remove third-party overlays. In Finder, go to the World of Warcraft folder and move the Cache, Interface, and WTF folders to the desktop, then test. Update macOS and your GPU bundle through System Settings. If the first run works, add add-ons back slowly.
Troubleshooting By Error Message
Match your pop-up or behavior to a likely cause. Use the linked fix, then retest before moving on.
| Message/Behavior | Likely Cause | First Fix To Try |
|---|---|---|
| “Game Is Running” but no window | Hung agent or cache | End Agent.exe; clear cache |
| Black screen with audio | Add-on or GPU overlay | Reset UI; disable overlays |
| Silent crash on Play | Damaged files | Scan and Repair |
| Error about missing .dll | VC++ redistributable | Repair VC++ packs |
| Works on new Windows user | Profile-level conflict | Clean main profile items |
| Only fails on patch day | Pending updates | Restart PC; check updates |
Fix Order That Saves Time
To move fast with low risk, run this order: restart launcher → clear cache → Scan and Repair → reset UI → disable overlays → driver and Windows update → shader cache clear → VC++ repair → antivirus allow list → new Windows user test. Stop when the game opens reliably.
Deep Notes For Each Fix
Cache Clear
The %ProgramData% cache holds agent data and stale patch metadata. Deleting it forces a clean rebuild next launch. This step does not touch your game files.
Scan And Repair
This pass compares local files to the current build and re-downloads any mismatches. Keep the app open until the check ends. If the scan loops, exit the app, kill the agent, and try again.
UI Reset
Renaming Cache, Interface, and WTF preserves backups while removing conflicts from add-ons and saved settings. If the game opens, add add-ons back in small batches to find the culprit.
Drivers And Windows
Display drivers ship fixes for shader compilers and crash paths. Clean install if you see odd leftovers after updates. Windows updates can also refresh DirectX components and related runtimes.
Visual C++ Packs
Games link against these common libraries. A repair or reinstall refreshes them without touching other apps. Stick to official installers to stay safe.
Common Scenarios And Fast Answers
Battle.net Says “Running” Forever
End Agent.exe and Battle.net in Task Manager, clear the cache folder, and relaunch. This clears a stuck update or stale lock file. If it returns, repeat the cache step after the next patch.
Only The PTR Starts
Scan and Repair the main branch, then reset UI in that branch’s folder. Add-ons can allow a PTR build to open while blocking retail. Keep overlays off while testing.
Game Opens Once After Reboot, Then Stops
That pattern points to a driver or overlay. Update the GPU driver and disable app overlays. If it repeats, clear shader cache and run a quick Scan and Repair.
New Expansion Installed, Now A Black Screen
Large patches stress add-ons. Run a full UI reset, then add add-ons back slowly. Keep overlays off for the first session after big patches to avoid a hook race at the first frame.
Mac And Windows: What To Gather Before Posting Logs
If you still can’t launch, gather these basics: OS build, GPU model and driver version, steps tried, and whether a fresh Windows user or clean UI allows a start. Share those details with any log snippet so helpers can spot the pattern fast.
Care Tips So WoW Starts Clean Next Time
- Keep GPU drivers current and reboot after patch days.
- Use one overlay at a time; turn off ones you don’t need.
- Back up the Interface and WTF folders before big patches.
- Run Scan and Repair if the app applies a patch and the first launch fails.
- Leave enough free space for patches on the drive that holds the game.
When A Reinstall Makes Sense
If none of the steps work and the game still refuses to start, back up your Interface and WTF folders, uninstall World of Warcraft from the launcher, delete any leftover game folder, reboot, and install again. Log in, test launch without add-ons, then restore add-ons in small groups.
Sources Used For This Guide
Blizzard posts on launch stalls, cache resets, UI resets, and the Scan and Repair method were used when laying out the steps above. Links appear inline where each fix is described.