WoW Error Retrieving Character List (Fix)

Wondering how to solve the frustrating 'Error Retrieving Character List' in World of Warcraft (WoW)? Check out our guide.

World of Warcraft is one of the most popular role-playing games, allowing players to adventure together in the fantasy world of Azeroth. A key part of the WoW experience is creating and developing characters across different races and classes. However, many players have experienced frustration with the “Error retrieving character list” message in WoW. We’ll figure out how to fix the error retrieving character list in WoW (World of Warcraft).

Fix “Error Retrieving Character List” in WoW (World of Warcraft)

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One of the most frustrating errors you can run into in World of Warcraft is the dreaded “error retrieving character list.” This prevents you from accessing your characters and jumping back into Azeroth. However, there are some steps you can take to resolve this issue potentially.

Restart the Game and Check for Updates

  • Make sure your game is fully up to date with all patches installed.
  • Try restarting your game by closing and relaunching the Blizzard launcher.

Disable Add-Ons

  • Add-ons are a common culprit – disable all add-ons via the in-game interface to see if one is conflicting.
  • If the issue persists, re-enable add-ons individually to pinpoint the problematic add-ons.

Clear Cache Folder

  • Navigate to your World of Warcraft folder and delete all files in the “Cache” subfolder.
  • This clears cached game data that may be corrupted. When you try to start, or immediately after opening the launcher, the game will try to restore the Cache folder.

Repair Game Files

  1. Open the Blizzard launcher settings.
  2. Select “Scan and Repair” to check for corrupted or missing game files.
  3. The launcher will automatically repair any issues found.

As a last resort, you can uninstall and reinstall WoW. If you are using custom files, then back up your WTF and Interface folders first.

You should solve the Error Retrieving Character List in WoW using the above methods. For more help on this game, you should check out our World of Warcraft Classic section. Here, you can get help on topics like Dungeon & Raid Levels Requirement ListMining Guide, and more.