Last updated: 8 October 2026

WoW: Forever Addons Guide What Works, What's Blocked and What's Built In

Yes, addons work in World of Warcraft: Forever (often called WoW Forever or Classic+), but with limits: the game uses Blizzard's modern addon API, which means the combat restrictions introduced with Midnight apply, and old Classic Era addons generally need a Forever-specific release. Blizzard has also built in a damage meter and a Cooldown Manager so you can play without addons. Everything here reflects the beta through early October 2026 and can change before the November 4 launch, so treat addon status as provisional and check each author's page before installing.

01Are Addons Allowed in WoW Forever?

Yes. The Forever client supports addons, and the beta's AddOns button appears once addons are installed correctly. At its September 17 developer Q&A, as relayed by guide sites, Blizzard confirmed you can still customize your UI with addons. Blizzard does not publish an approved addon list and its Support will not help build, install or configure addons.

Blizzard's general addon rules still apply: addons must be free with open, visible code, must not harm servers or other players, and must not show in-game ads or ask for donations. Blizzard can disable addon functionality at any time.

02The Modern API and Combat Restrictions

Forever runs on the modern (Midnight-era) addon API rather than the older Classic API. Two consequences follow:

• Addons built for Classic Era do not automatically work. Look for an explicit Forever release from the author on CurseForge rather than assuming a Classic file is compatible.
• Midnight's in-combat restrictions are active. Addons that display the game's own values keep working, while addons that read the combat log do not, so combat-log damage meters and boss-timer addons are reported as unsupported.

Guides note that Forever's simpler encounters should make those restrictions hurt less than in Retail, but that is an expectation, not a Blizzard guarantee.

03What Is Built In

• Damage meter — a built-in Damage Done window ranks party members by damage, so you do not need an addon for a basic meter.
• Cooldown Manager — added in the September 24 beta build, it ships turned off and can be enabled under Options, Gameplay Enhancement. It is still a work in progress: the October 1 build added Rogue and racial abilities, while Hunter, Paladin and Shaman were not yet supported.
• Quest tracking — built in, but switched off automatically if you choose Classic on first launch. No quest helper with map arrows has been announced.
• Swing timer — not available yet; developers reportedly said "maybe soon."

Because these tools may change, check the beta notes on Blizzard's forums for the current state before relying on any of them.

04Addon Status in the Beta

Specific statuses move quickly, so read these as snapshots from the early beta:

• Questie — a Forever-compatible release exists on CurseForge.
• TomTom — lists Forever files on CurseForge.
• WeakAuras Forever — a separate community fork on CurseForge; its combat-log triggers are reported not to fire, which fits the combat restrictions.
• Others (ElvUI, Details, Leatrix and so on) — reports conflict or are unconfirmed; check the author's page.

Community forum posts also mention developers of some UI addons announcing Forever support, but those claims are unsourced, so verify before you plan around them.

05How to Install an Addon Safely

1. Download the addon only from its official CurseForge or GitHub page, and confirm a Forever (not just Classic Era) file is listed.
2. Install it into the AddOns folder of your Forever beta install. The folder name must match the addon's .toc file name.
3. Start the game and look for the AddOns button on the character screen; it only appears when addons are in the correct folder.
4. If something breaks, temporarily uninstall your addon manager, or it may restore files you are removing, then disable addons one by one.

Sources disagree on whether a new addon folder needs a /reload or a full restart to be detected, so restart if it does not show up. Blizzard has not announced the final addon folder name for the live game.

06Should You Wait for Launch?

If you rely on combat-log tools, assume they will not work. For leveling, a Forever-compatible Questie plus TomTom covers most needs, and the built-in meter and Cooldown Manager cover the rest. Beta progress also does not carry over to launch; see the beta guide for dates and access, and what is WoW Forever for the bigger picture.