The original World of Warcraft clients version 3.3.5a and older don’t have support for 64 bit, so they are only available in 32-bit executables. There is no WoW.exe 64 bit for WOTLK 3.3.5 and older versions.
This could be an issue if you are running macOS Catalina or macOS Big Sur (or newer) since Apple removed the support for 32 bit programs since Catalina.
Luckily there is a way to run 32-bit applications on macOS that works for WoW clients version Wrath of The Lich King (3.3.5a), The Burning Crusade (2.4.3) and Classic (1.12.x).
How to run WoW 32-bit on macOS:
- You need a to have a Windows client of WoW
- Open this URL: https://github.com/Gcenx/WineskinServer/releases
- Under the latest release section, expand Assets
- Download Wineskin.Winery
- Extract the Wineskin Winery.app and place it in your Applications
- Open Wineskin Winery.app with right-click -> Open (or the system doesn’t let you open it)
- Click on the “+” sign to add an Engine
- Select the engine WS11WineCX64Bit19.0.2
- Click on “Download and install”
- In the “Wrapper Version” area click Update
- Click Create New Blank Wrapper
- Choose a name for the wrapper, e.g. “WoW335”
- Click ok, it will now take some time to load
- If it asks to download Gecko or similar, accept and continue
- Click View wrapper in Finder, pay attention to the location so you know where to find it again – you can also add it to your Dock
- The folder contains your WoW wrapper, e.g. “WoW335.app”
- Open it with right-click -> Open (or the system doesn’t let you open it)
- Click Install software
- Select Copy a Folder Inside
- Select your World of Warcraft folder within your computer
- It will ask you for the default executable, select Wow.exe and close the window
- You can now open your .app wrapper (e.g. “WoW335.app”) to run the game.
- Have fun!
-
Member
Working: How to play on Mac OS Big Sur and Catalina
-
Member
Update: If you want to play in Russian, you need to open your newly created app, run Wineskin inside, choose Advanced and insert the following Custom Commands:
export LANG=ru_RU.CP1251
After that, the cyrillic letters will show properly.
-
Member
Update: Some mac systems display fire and effects incorrectly, which makes it impossible to play.
Solution: Open your package contents, find the game folder, open WTF folder and find the Config.wtf file.
Then add the following lines to the file:
SET gxAPI "opengl"
SET ffxGlow "0"
SET ffxDeath "0"
Then save the file and reload the game, everything should display correctly!
-
Forum Veteran
It's a nice bit of content but I think it's better suited for Guides section. Here it will probably get buried under all sorts of "guys what's 2+2" threads.
-
Member
I currently use a pirated version of CrossOver. Does this work in exactly the same way?
My point is, at the moment there is no way I have found to allocate more RAM to WoW. Meaning I have to play on 'Fair' graphics or else the game crashes due to insufficient RAM when I enter somewhere like Dalaran.
Would running the game using Wineskin fix this RAM issue, or is there an easier way I can allocate more RAM by doing it this way?
I understand that CrossOver still uses Wine, so I don't want to mess around with anything if it's going to be identical.
This is a great post by the way. Much needed. A better solution than using CrossOver regardless. I just need to find a way to fix this RAM issue, and I know others do too (as discussed here: http://forum.warmane.com/showthread.php?t=385339).
-
Member
Sorry for the little off topic reply while I poke in here, I haven't updated my OS in many years so I'm playing on El Capitan still and able to use the client on the Warmane site.
My only problem is that I can't adjust my exp rates through clicking the exp bar (Frostmourne realm).
I can right click it a bunch all over the place but the menu never shows up. Tried it on several clients with and without addons, even tried it on a completely fresh client from the Warmane.com torrent that I downloaded today and it refused to let me adjust the exp rate of my character. Anyone else experience this and know what to do?
-
Member
It's working, but not the addons.
Ok, I tried it out. It works great but I can't seem to get any addons. It's not like the addons just aren't working, it's that there is no Interface folder. When I add one by copying my old Interface and WTF folder over, the addons still don't appear. There isn't even an addons button on the character screen. I've copied over the whole directory, so it's identical to the directory I use in CrossOver and still no addons.
I've tried deleting Interface, WTF and Cache folders, but they are not being created when I start the program and log back in.
Anyone know why this could be?
EDIT:
I solved it.
From here, I read that you have to use 'open package contents'. From there you have a virtual C drive, and you can find the WoW3.3.5a folder. In that folder is where the Interface folder is created.
I was looking in the original folder I downloaded from Warmane. This is how it works on CrossOver, I expected it to be the same.
I've done a test in Dalaran and got the program to use 2.17GB of RAM and it didn't crash. I'll check tomorrow at peak times, but hopefully it's fixed that issue too.Edited: August 25, 2021 Reason: Added EDIT
-
Member
Error 132
Everything was so easy and smooth up to the #132 error. https://imgur.com/a/Y8h3nue
I have been looking for solutions for about an hour or two but can't find anything concrete. I am trying to play on a brand new m1 MacBook Pro base model. Does anyone have any ideas?
-
Member
Thank so much for the solution, do you know how we can install AddOns with wineskin? I tried manually creating a folder AddOns and putting in the downloaded stuff. However, not even an AddOn in the left corner shows up when I enter WoW. It's like it doesn't even recognize the folder
Edit: Yes I read the post above me but I am using wineskin and it does not work like this.
-
Forum Veteran
after your first log-in with a character, an "Interface" folder should be created and you will find "Addons" folder right inside "Interface"
-
Member
Im also getting this error 132 have you found any fixes yet?
-
Member
Followed all directions, when i run the wrapper it just loads up a a black screen and sits there, not even any sound. Sometimes it gives an error 132 as well. Any advice? Running brand new Mac Mini M1 with big sur
-
Member
Thanks, it worked for me. Though i notice a little glitching during game which is a bit annoying. Already lowered graphics and all.
Anyone knows how to fix it?
-
Member
I have been playing for about a month with wineskin but my interface folder is inside Data>EnUs>. I have tried making addons inside of it but still doesn't work.
Would really appreciate it if someone can reply and help cause I'm starting to raid a little bit and at this point some macros are mandatory.
-
Member
I got error after login
https://imgur.com/2p6vg2b
Please help on iMac (v2021) Big Sur M1
