How to Install an Addon for World of Warcraft (WoW) on a PC

Addons are macros or mini-programs that enhance many features and functions for the World of Warcraft player. However, some new players are embarrassed to admit they don't know how to, well, add addons or get them to perform as they should. This will be a simple walk-through on how to install an addon program on your PC.

First of all, make sure you are downloading the addon from a reputable site. You want to avoid random addons you see on forums or, worse, are emailed to you from someone you don't really know, since some of them contain key-loggers or other malicious programs which could result in your account being stolen or your computer security being breached.

Two extremely popular and reliable addon sites are www.curse.com and www.wowace.com. While both sites offer auto-updaters and client based downloaders, I suggest bypassing these options at first and instead going with a manual download since you want to be sure that your system can handle addons without degrading your latency or fps in-game. (If you don't know what latency or fps are, don't worry - basically, you don't want to make the game move too slowly or have the motion appear jerky.)

If you are wondering which addon to start with, I'd suggest something small and simple, such as AutoProfit, which is a very simple program that adds a gold colored button to the upper right corner of a vendor window. When you click on the button, it automatically sells all of the grey 'trash' items in all of your bags - saving you a lot of time. It is an ideal first addon since it doesn't require any complicated configurations and it's one that every single character can use.

I'll walk you through the process of downloading and installing it from curse.

1. Click on the "DOWNLOAD" button.
2. Click on the "MANUAL INSTALL" button.
3. A window should pop up, asking what you'd like to do with the file. Click on "SAVE".
4. Another window will pop up - this window wants you to select where you want to save the file (depending on whether you are using XP or Vista, they'll look a little different, but the action required is the same). I suggest saving it to your desktop to make it easier to find when you are ready to install it. You should have a toolbar on the left side of that window which has several icons, including your desktop icon. If you don't, then click on the drop-down menu (the grey box with the down-arrow in it) and select desktop from the list. Then click "SAVE".
5. Once it downloads, which should be pretty fast, if you have a "download complete" announcement window, go ahead and close it. (Depending on the settings on your computer, you might not have the notice, but don't worry about it, it isn't an important step.)
6. Now, go to your desktop, find the file you downloaded, and RIGHT CLICK ONCE on the icon. A small window with a few text commands should open, click on the one that says EXTRACT ALL....
7. One of two windows will open up - either a window that looks very much like the window in step 4, or a new window called "Extraction Wizard". If you get the Extraction Wizard, go to step a; if not, go to step b.
   1. Click on the NEXT button. A new window, "Select a Destination" will open up. Click on the BROWSE button and another window called "select a destination" will open up. In this second window, click on the PLUS SIGN next to the "My Computer" icon; then on the PLUS SIGN next to the C: drive icon; then on the PLUS SIGN next to the "Program Files" folder; then on the PLUS SIGN next to the "World of Warcraft" folder; then on the PLUS SIGN next to the "Interface" folder; finally, click on the "Addons" folder (If there is no "Addons" folder, you can click on the CREATE NEW FOLDER button to make one in the "Interface" folder), make sure it is highlighted, then click the OK button.
   2. A new window, "Select a Destination" will open up. Click on the BROWSE button. Click on the PLUS SIGN next to the "My Computer" icon; then on the PLUS SIGN next to the C: drive icon; then on the PLUS SIGN next to the "Program Files" folder; then on the PLUS SIGN next to the "World of Warcraft" folder; then on the PLUS SIGN next to the "Interface" folder; finally, click on the "Addons" folder (If there is no "Addons" folder, you can click on the CREATE NEW FOLDER button to make one in the "Interface" folder), make sure it is highlighted, then click the OK button.
8. Your files should quickly be extracted, and you'll get a window called "Extraction Complete." Uncheck the box next to "Show extracted files" since there is no reason to look at them, then click Finish. Congratulations! You've installed an addon! Now let's make sure it works.

Start World of Warcraft and log on. When you get to your character page (the page that just shows an image of your character sort of looking around), there should be a button in the lower left called "Addons". Click on this, and when the window opens, make sure the box in the upper right corner called "Load Out of Date Addons" is checked - this is just an insurance policy to keep your addons working after Blizzard makes any changes to the WoW program (such as a patch). Click on your character button to enter the game.

Once in-game, go to the closest vendor and open the vendor window. See that new little swirly gold thingy in the upper right corner? That's your addon!! Click on it, and if you have any grey items in your bags, it will automatically sell them all to the vendor. If you don't have any grey items, it will tell you that you don't have junk items to sell.

Now that you know how to install an addon, check around on the websites listed above to see what other addons you find interesting. And most importantly - have fun using your new addons in Azeroth!