BLZBNTAGT00000AF0 – Battle.net does not detect existing 100+ GB WoW installation

Support Technical Support
1

Hello,

I have been unable to play World of Warcraft because Battle.net no longer detects my existing Retail installation.

Error:
BLZBNTAGT00000AF0

“This folder doesn’t contain the correct version of this game.”

My WoW installation is still physically present at:

C:\Program Files (x86)\World of Warcraft

The installation contains:

  • retail

  • Data\data with over 100 GB of game files

  • Data\indices

  • Data\config

  • .build.info

  • Wow.exe

Wow.exe launches successfully, but Battle.net only shows “Install”.

I have already tried:

  • Locate the Game

  • Scan for Games

  • clearing Battle.net cache/data

  • running Battle.net as Administrator

  • restarting Windows

  • completely reinstalling the Battle.net Desktop App

  • restoring/checking .build.info

  • selecting the existing WoW folder through Install

The problem remains.

When I select Install and point it to the existing WoW folder, Battle.net does not verify or reclaim the existing files. Instead, it says approximately 142 GB is required for a new installation.

My .build.info shows Retail:
Version 12.1.0.69382
Product: wow
Region: EU

Blizzard Customer Support asked me to post this here so that the issue can be reviewed by the development/technical team.

Has anyone found a solution that allows Battle.net to re-register the existing installation without downloading the entire game again?

I also have screenshots showing the BLZBNTAGT00000AF0 error, the 142 GB required installation screen, and my existing World of Warcraft folder with retail, Data and .build.info. The forum currently does not allow my account to post external links, but I can provide the screenshots if requested.

2

I just had exactly the same issue with BLZBNTAGT00000AF0.

My WoW installation was completely intact (around 129 GB), and Wow.exe launched normally. However, Battle.net suddenly showed “Install” instead of “Play”. Using “Locate the game” also failed every time with the same error, and Battle.net wanted to download around 142 GB again.

What finally worked for me:

First, I made sure I had enough free space on the drive (I had 152 GB available). Then I clicked “Install” for WoW in Battle.net and selected my existing WoW installation folder:

C:\Program Files (x86)\World of Warcraft

I started the installation and within a few seconds the button changed directly to “Play”.

It did not download the entire game again. Battle.net apparently recognized/re-registered the existing files.

After that, I could launch WoW normally through Battle.net and got straight to the realm selection and character screen.

So if anyone else is having the same issue: don’t delete your existing WoW installation right away. For me, starting the installation again and pointing it to the existing WoW folder fixed the problem without having to download the entire game again.

Hope this helps someone! :+1: