DreadWow

Download

The DreadWow launcher installer. Download it once; after that the launcher updates itself.

No installer has been released yet. Please check the notices.

Notice →

Requirements

  • A Windows 10/11 PC and an account that can run WoW Forever (Classic+)
  • The Battle.net app signed in (the launcher never handles Battle.net credentials)
  • An account on this site from the research team, and your consent
  • Nameplates turned on in game; windowed mode recommended

After downloading

Put it in a writable folder such as C:\dreadwow\ and run it: log in → content download → WoW folder check → addon install.

How-to

Download or launch blocked?

The DreadWow installer comes from a small project without a code-signing certificate, so browsers and Windows flag it as an uncommon file. Allow it with the steps below — just make sure the file matches the SHA-256 shown above.

Chrome

The download list says the file may be dangerous or is not commonly downloaded

  1. 1Click the download icon (↓) at the right of the address bar.
  2. 2Click ⋮ or the warning text next to the file.
  3. 3Choose Keep / Download anyway (on some versions Download dangerous file).
  4. 4Run the file when the download finishes.

If it is gone from the list, open chrome://downloads and allow it there.

Edge

Edge says the file isn't commonly downloaded or could harm your device

  1. 1In the downloads panel, hover the file and click ⋯.
  2. 2Choose Keep.
  3. 3In the dialog click Show more, then Keep anyway.
  4. 4Run it with Open file.

Edge's SmartScreen warns about new files that few people have downloaded yet.

Blue window — Windows protected your PC (SmartScreen)

A blue ‘Windows protected your PC’ window appears when you run it

  1. 1Click More info inside the window.
  2. 2The publisher shows as ‘Unknown publisher’ — expected, the file is not signed.
  3. 3Click the Run anyway button that appears.
  4. 4Answer Yes to User Account Control.

Red window — blocked or quarantined

A red ‘This app has been blocked for your protection’ / ‘Threat found’ appears, or the file disappears

  1. 1Right-click the file → Properties → tick Unblock at the bottom → OK, then run it again.
  2. 2If the file vanished: Windows Security → Virus & threat protection → Protection history → the entry → Actions → Allow on device or Restore.
  3. 3With another antivirus, restore it from that program's quarantine or add an exclusion.
  4. 4‘Smart App Control blocked’ (Windows 11) cannot be bypassed this way, and turning it off is hard to undo — ask in the Forum first.

Before allowing anything, check below that the SHA-256 matches this page.

Check it is the original file (SHA-256)

Open PowerShell in your Downloads folder, run the command and compare the result with the SHA-256 above.

Get-FileHash .\DreadWow.exe -Algorithm SHA256