Console variables

The World of Warcraft game client stores all of its configurations in the so-called console variables (CVars). These variables affect many aspects of the game, such as the graphics engine, the interface, and the sound system.

There are several ways of setting the configuration variables:
 * Config.wtf - The World of Warcraft directory contains a Config.wtf file in the WTF folder, which provides settings mostly relevant to game startup, such as  for the screen resolution to use and   for the language.
 * Config-cache.wtf - This file uses the same format as Config.wtf, but for is used for character-specific settings. Please note that this file gets synchronized to the server if the CVar synchronizeConfig is enabled, so any changed to it may be lost on the next login.
 * /console command - Settings can be changed in-game using the  command, which uses the syntax.
 * WoW In-game User Interface - WoW's ingame interface - Hit Esc to get to it.
 * WoW.exe -console - Launching the game with the  argument will allow you to call the debug console ingame by pressing.
 * SetCVar API command - for changing settings using addons.

The syntax for the first two ways of changing a variable is: SET variableName "value"


 * Manually changing a CVar may permanently override the settings made on the in-game configuration menu. For example, having  set in the file Config.wtf renders the "Max Camera Distance" slider useless. You will have to quit the game and manually remove the CVar line from the file.

List of CVars
This is a categorized list of console variables, along with a short explanation for each CVar.

The list is not complete; for a complete list, see Console variables/Complete list.

Startup
These are general variables that are only relevant for starting the game (or which are only read during startup).


 * accountList - Saves multiple account names for login screen
 * accountName - Saves 1 account name for login screen
 * accounttype - Saves what expansion level the user is playing on
 * AllMPQLocal - Keeps track if the background streaming has downloaded all MPQ files
 * bgLoadThrottle - Set the maximum percentage of available bandwidth for background streaming
 * blizzcon - Enables blizzcon special client behavior
 * checkAddonVersion - Disable loading of out-of-date addons
 * CinematicJoystick - Enables cinematic joystick control
 * decorateAccountName - Seems like this in only used on korean realms
 * expansionMovie - Display Burning Crusade intro at startup (This variable is reset to 0 after the video has been shown)
 * forceEnglishNames
 * installType - Type of Installation (Retail/Beta/PTR)
 * lastCharacterIndex - Number of last character that was used for logging in (initial selection for character screen)
 * locale - Game language code (e.g. "enGB", "enUS", "deDE", "frFR" ...)
 * movie - Display intro movie at startup (doesn't work in Burning Crusade game client)
 * movieSubtitle - Display subtitles for intro movies
 * patchlist - Address of the WoW patch server
 * readContest - Whether the user has accepted the PTR contest rules
 * readEULA - Whether the user has accepted the EULA
 * readScanning - Whether the user has accepted the system scanning terms
 * readTOS - Whether the user has accepted the Terms of Use
 * realmList - Realm list server to use (e.g. "eu.logon.worldofwarcraft.com" or "us.logon.worldofwarcraft.com")
 * realmListbn - Battle.net realm list server to use (default: "") - WoW still uses realmList
 * realmName - Name of most recently used realm (displayed in the lower right corner)
 * showToolsUI - Enables the WoW Launcher
 * streamStatusMessage - Whether to display status messages while streaming content

Camera

 * cameraBobbing - Enables camera bobbing in first person mode.
 * cameraDistanceMax - Sets the maximum distance which you can zoom out to.
 * cameraDistanceMaxFactor - Sets factor by which cameraDistanceMax is multiplied
 * cameraDistanceMoveSpeed - Sets the speed that the camera zooms in and out.
 * cameraDistanceSmoothSpeed - Sets the speed that the camera zooms in and out. (possible related to camerasmooth)
 * cameraPivot - Lets you free look when the camera is on the ground.
 * camerasmooth - Enables smooth camera movement (?)
 * cameraSmoothStyle - Controls the automatic camera adjustment (following) style
 * cameraTerrainTilt - Automatically changes the camera angle based on terrain
 * cameraViewBlendStyle - Controls if the camera moves from saved positions smoothly or instantly
 * cameraWaterCollision - Enables water collision for the camera
 * cameraYawMoveSpeed - Sets the speed, at which the camera auto-adjusts
 * cameraYawSmoothSpeed - Sets the speed, at which the camera auto-adjusts (possible related to camerasmooth)

Chat and Combat Log

 * autoCompleteResortNamesOnRecency - Shows people you recently spoke with higher up on the AutoComplete list
 * autoCompleteUseContext - Only display relevant names in the AutoComplete list
 * autoCompleteWhenEditingFromCenter Changes AutoComplete behavior when editing names from within
 * chatBubbles - Enables chat bubbles
 * chatBubblesParty - Enables party chat bubbles
 * chatMouseScroll - Enables mousewheel-scrolling in chat
 * chatStyle The style of Edit Boxes for the ChatFrame
 * conversationMode Changes the mode of RealID conversations
 * CombatDamage - Enables floating damage display over enemy targets
 * CombatHealing - Enables floating healing display over friendly targets
 * combatLogOn - Whether or not the combat log is shown
 * CombatLogPeriodicSpells - Enables periodic spells in combat log (?)
 * guildMemberNotify - Display notification when guild members log in or out
 * guildRecruitmentChannel - Whether to join the Guild Recruitment channel on login
 * profanityFilter - Enables chat profanity filter
 * showLootSpam - Toggles the detailed display of loot information (loot rolls etc.)
 * showToastBroadcast - Whether to show Battle.net message for broadcasts
 * showToastConversation - Whether to show Battle.net message for conversations
 * showToastFriendRequest - Whether to show a Battle.net message for when you receive a Battle.net friend request
 * showToastOffline - Whether to show a Battle.net message for when your RealID friends go offline
 * showToastOnline - Whether to show a Battle.net message for when your RealID friends come online
 * spamFilter - Enables the chat spam filter

Controls

 * assistAttack - Start attacking automatically after using /assist
 * autoClearAFK - Automatically clear Away-status when moving or chatting
 * autoDismount - Dismount when trying to use an ability
 * autoDismountFlying - Dismount when trying to use an ability when flying
 * AutoInteract - Enables Right-click to move
 * autoLootDefault - Enables auto-looting of corpses
 * autoRangedCombat - Automatically switch between ranged and meelee attack
 * autoSelfCast - Automatic self-casting
 * autoStand - Stand up when trying to use an ability [(Introduced in Patch 2.3)
 * autoUnshift - Unshift/Unstealth/Leave shadowform when using an ability only usable "unshifted" (Introduced in Patch 2.3)
 * BlockTrades - Block trade requests
 * deselectOnClick - Sticky targetting
 * enableWowMouse - Enables the Steelseries World of Warcraft Mouse
 * Joystick - Enables Joystick control
 * lootUnderMouse - Moves the looting frame under the mouse cursor when looting
 * maxSpellStartRecoveryoffset - Sets the time in milliseconds before a global cooldown finishes in which a new spell can be queued up
 * mouseInvertPitch - Invert up-down mouse motion
 * mouseInvertYaw - Invert left-right mouse motion
 * mouseSpeed - Mouse speed
 * reducedLagTolerance - Enables the use of a user-defined value for the spell queuing system introduced in 4.0.3
 * secureAbilityToggle - Keeps players from accidentally toggling off abilities by hitting the button twice in a short (~1 sec) period of time
 * stopAutoAttackOnTargetChange - Stop attacking when switching targets

Engine

 * asyncHandlerTimeout - A test of the engine - aka you're loading into instance, click out of WoW, click back & WoW has stopped responding.
 * asyncThreadSleep - Engine option: Set based on asyncHandlerTimeout
 * coresDetected - Number of CPU cores detected
 * MemUsage Seems to be a console-only command, but displays nothing as of 4.0.3
 * heapAllocTracking - Enables/disables allocation tracking & dumping in SMemMalloc
 * heapUsage - Displays heaps in use (Only works in the Console)
 * ObjUsage - Displays the Object manager list status (Only works in the Console)
 * processAffinityMask - Which processor core to start WoW on
 * simd - Enables SIMD features (e.g. SSE)
 * timingMethod - Sets the CPU timing method used. 0 lets the game decide, 1 is normal precision(fps limited to 64), 2 is high precision
 * timingTestError - Indicates if a timing test failed. A timing test only runs once on login if CVar timingMethod is set to 0
 * WorldPoolUsage - Seems to be a console-only command, but displays nothing as of 4.0.3 (static/dynamic/stream)

Graphics

 * baseMip - Base level for mip mapping ("Texture Resolution" slider)
 * bspcache - Binary Space Partition node caching
 * componentCompress - Fixes issues with characters being fully black caused by bad/old drivers.
 * componentTextureLevel - Number of mip levels used for character component textures
 * componentThread - Multi thread character component processing
 * DesktopGamma - Matches Windows' Gamma Settings
 * emphasizeMySpellEffects - Whether other player's spell impacts are toned down or not
 * environmentDetail - Controls model draw distance for doodads (WoW 3.0)
 * farclip - Sets the view distance of the 3D environment. Anything past this distance will be covered in fog.
 * ffxDeath - Enables full screen death effect
 * ffxGlow - Enables full screen glow effect
 * ffxNetherWorld - Enables full screen "nether world" effect, e.g. for a Mage's Invisibility
 * ffxRectangle - Enables Widescreen Framebuffer
 * ffxSpecial - Enables alternative on screen effects (WoW 3.0 [[Image:Wrath-Logo-Small.PNG]])
 * ffx - Enables all pixel shaders
 * fixedFunction - Force fixed function pixel and vertex processing
 * Gamma - Gamma level (doesn't seem to work with gxApi D3D9 at least)
 * groundEffectDensity - Set the density of small ground objects.
 * groundEffectDist - Set the maximum distance from the player at which to render small ground objects.
 * gxApi - Graphics API to use
 * gxAspect - Preserve aspect ratio for windowed mode
 * gxColorBits - Color bits
 * gxCursor - Enables hardware cursors
 * gxDepthBits - Depth bits
 * gxFixLag - Smooth mouse cursor
 * gxMaximize - When using windowed mode, maximize the window
 * gxMultisample - Enables anti-aliasing (e.g. "4" for 4x multisampling)
 * gxMultisampleQuality - Quality for anti-aliasing (?)
 * gxOverride
 * gxRefresh - Refresh rate in Hz
 * gxResolution - Screen resolution (e.g. "1280x1024")
 * gxRestart - Restarts the graphics engine
 * gxTextureCacheSize - Set the cache size
 * gxTripleBuffer - Enables Triple Buffering
 * gxVSync - Enables VSync
 * gxWindow - Windowed mode
 * hwDetect - Perform hardware detection for best values
 * hwPCF - Use hardware-based Percentage Closer Filtering for shadows
 * M2BatchDoodads - Enables handling of Detail Doodads in batches (combine doodads to reduce batch count)
 * M2BatchParticles - combine particle emitters to reduce batch count
 * M2FasterDebug - Enables developer dynamic control (programmer control of scene optimization mode)
 * M2Faster - End user control of scene optimization mode
 * M2UseClipPlanes - Use clip planes for sorting transparent objects
 * M2UseThreads - Multithread model animations
 * M2UseZFill - Enables Z-Fill on transparent objects
 * mapShadows - Toggle map shadows
 * MaxFPS - Framerate Limitation
 * maxFPSBk - Framerate Limitation while WoW isn't in focus
 * MaxLights - Maximum number of hardware lights
 * nearclip - Clipping range for small detail doodads
 * ObjectFadeZFill - Fade objects using ZFill pass
 * objectFade - Enables the smooth fading of objects after a certain distance
 * particleDensity - Particle density
 * pathSmoothing - Whether NPCs will round corners on ground paths
 * reflectionMode - Controls what parts of the world will reflect in the water.
 * reflectionDownscale - Adjust the detail and sharpness of the water reflections (0-4)
 * rippleDetail - Controls display of water ripples
 * shadowcull - enable shadow frustum culling
 * shadowinstancing - Shadow optimization which prevents flickering
 * shadowMode - Controls the detail level of ingame shadows
 * shadowTextureSize - Shadow texture size
 * shadowscissor - Enables scissoring when rendering shadowmaps
 * showfootprints - Enables footprint display
 * showfootprintparticles - Enables footprint particle display
 * showplayer - Enables the rendering of the player character
 * SkyCloudLOD - Level of detail for Sky
 * SkySunGlare - Toggles Sun Glare
 * SplineOpt - Loading Screen Spline for travel
 * textureCacheSize - Caches in memory textures when they are not in use for quick loading. (Min: 8388608, Max: 536870912, Default: 33554432)
 * sunshafts - Enables sun shafts
 * textureFilteringMode - Texture filtering mode (?)
 * UIFaster - UI acceleration level
 * unitHighlights - Enables model highlighting with Interface hidden (Alt-Z)
 * UseAnimKits - Use AnimKits instead of the old unit animation system
 * useWeatherShaders - Enables weather shaders
 * violenceLevel - Changes the violence level of the game
 * waterDetail - Enables water reflection (0 = old water, 1 = screen space reflection, 2 = dynamic reflection)
 * weatherDensity - Level of weather effects
 * windowResizeLock - Locks so the game can't be resized while in windowed mode - see gxWindow

Interface

 * addFriendInfoShown - The info for Add Friend has been shown in the Pending section of the Friends list
 * advancedWatchFrame - Enables advanced Objectives tracking features
 * advancedWorldMap - Enables advanced World Map features
 * alwaysCompareItems - Always show item comparison tooltips
 * alwaysShowActionBars - Whether to always show the action bar grid
 * buffDurations - Whether to show buff durations
 * characterFrameCollapsed - Show detailed stats on the player character frame
 * colorblindMode Enable colorblind mode
 * colorChatNamesByClass Enables class-coloring in chat
 * consolidateBuffs Enables buff consolidation
 * digSites - Enables the archaeological dig site system
 * displayFreeBagSlots - Diplay how many free slots a bag has on the main menu bar
 * displaySpellActivationOverlays - Enables the PowerAuras-like spell alterts introduced in 4.0.1
 * displayWorldPVPObjectives - Display PvP objectives on the world map
 * dontShowEquipmentSetsOnItems - Hides the item set display on item tooltips
 * enableCombatText - Enables floating combat text
 * enablePVPNotifyAFK - The ability to shutdown the AFK notification system
 * flaggedTutorials - Enable/Disable tutorials for new players
 * friendsSmallView - Whether to use smaller icons in the friends list for RealID friends
 * friendsViewButtons - Whether to show the friends list view buttons
 * gameTip - Determine which Loading Screen tip will display next (increments per character Login)
 * guildNewsFilter - Stores the guild news filters
 * guildRewardsCategory - Show category of guild rewards
 * guildRewardsUsable - Show usable guild rewards only
 * guildRosterView - The current guild roster display mode
 * guildShowOffline - Whether to show offline members in the guild UI
 * lfgAutoFill - Whether to automatically add party members while looking for a group in old server-wide LFG tool
 * lfgAutoJoin - Whether to automatically join a party while looking for a group in old server-wide LFG tool
 * lfgSelectedRoles - Stores the last selected LFG rule(s)
 * lockedWorldMap - Whether the world map is locked when sized down
 * mapQuestDifficulty - Whether to color quest titles by difficulty in the World Map
 * minimapZoom - The current outdoor minimap zoom level
 * minimapInsideZoom - Minimap inside zoom level (returns the same zoom level as Minimap:GetZoom when indoors)
 * minimapShapeshiftTracking - Stores the setting for tracking humanoids
 * minimapTrackedInfo - Stores the minimap tracking that was active last session
 * ObjectSelectionCircle - Show the target selection circle underneath the current target
 * pendingInviteInfoShown - Stores if the info for pending RealID invites has been shown
 * PetMeleeDamage - Show floating pet meelee damage over enemy targets
 * PetSpellDamage - Show floating pet spell damage over enemy targets
 * predictedHealth - Whether or not to use predicted health values in the UI
 * predictedPower - Whether or not to use predicted power values in the UI
 * reloadUI - Triggers a reloading of the complete user interface data. This command uses no value.
 * rotateMinimap - Rotate minimap with the character's orientation
 * screenEdgeFlash - Whether to flash the screen on gaining aggro
 * screenshotFormat - Screenshot format (png | tga | jpeg)
 * screenshotQuality - Screenshot quality (0-10)
 * scriptErrors - Enables the display of LUA errors ingame
 * scriptProfile - Enables CPU profiling for LUA scripts, needs a UI reload to take effect
 * showGameTips - Toggles displaying of loading screen game tips
 * showNewbieTips - Toggles the display of simplified ability tooltips
 * showToastWindow - Whether to show a Battle.net window to announce your RealID friends logging on or off.
 * synchronizeBindings - Toggles the saving of key bindings to the server
 * synchronizeConfig -- Toggles the saving of CVars to the server
 * synchronizeMacros - Toggles the saving of macros to the server
 * synchronizeSettings - Toggles the saving of UI settings to the server
 * taintLog - Enables logging of UI taint messages
 * UberTooltips - Show enhanced spell tooltips
 * uiScale - User Interface scale, only works when useUiScale is enabled
 * UnitNameEnemyGuardianName - Toggle Enemy Guardian Names
 * UnitNameEnemyPetName - Toggle Enemy Pet Names
 * UnitNameEnemyPlayerName - Toggle Enemy Player Names
 * UnitNameEnemyTotemName - Toggle Enemy Totem Names
 * UnitNameFriendlyGuardianName - Toggle Friendly Guardian Names
 * UnitNameFriendlyPetName - Toggle Friendly Pet Names
 * UnitNameFriendlyPlayerName - Toggle Friendly Player Names
 * UnitNameFriendlySpecialNPCName - Toggle Friendly Special NPC Names (?)
 * UnitNameFriendlyTotemName - Toggle Friendly Totem Names
 * UnitNameGuildTitle - Toggle Guild Titles in Player Names
 * UnitNameNonCombatCreatureName - Toggle Non-Combat Creature Names
 * UnitNameNPC - Toggle NPC Name
 * UnitNameOwn - Toggle Own Name
 * UnitNamePlayerGuild - Toggle Guild Tags
 * UnitNamePlayerPVPTitle - Toggle Titles
 * useUiScale - Enables interface scaling

Nameplates

 * bloatnameplates - Increases size of nameplates based on threat percentage
 * bloattest - Seems to shrink nameplates for any value greater than zero, probably bugged as of 4.0.3
 * bloatthreat - Makes nameplates larger depending on gaining/losing threat. Only active when a mob has multiple units on its threat table
 * nameplateShowEnemies - Show enemy nameplates
 * nameplateShowEnemyGuardians - Show enemy guardian nameplates
 * nameplateShowEnemyPets - Show enemy pet nameplates
 * nameplateShowEnemyTotems - Show enemy totem nameplates
 * nameplateShowFriends - Show friendly nameplates
 * nameplateShowFriendlyGuardians - Show friendly nameplates
 * nameplateShowFriendlyPets - Show friendly pet nameplates
 * nameplateShowFriendlyTotems - Show friendly totem nameplates
 * repositionfrequency - How many frames to skip per nameplate reposition
 * ShowVKeyCastbar - Show target's cast bar under nameplates
 * ShowClassColorInNameplate - Enables class coloring in nameplates
 * spreadnameplates - Controls whether nameplates should spread out or overlap

Sound

 * ChatAmbienceVolume - Volume setting for surroundings while in voice chat
 * ChatMusicVolume - Volume setting for game music while in voice chat
 * ChatSoundVolume - Volume setting for voice chat
 * EnableMicrophone - Enables the Microphone
 * EnableVoiceChat - Enables Voice Chat
 * FootstepSounds - Enables footstep sounds
 * InboundChatVolume - The volume of all other chat you hear (0.0 - 1.0)
 * OutboundChatVolume - The software amplification factor (0.0 - 2.0)
 * Sound_DSPBufferSize - Sound buffer size
 * Sound_EnableAllSound - Enables All Sound
 * Sound_EnableArmorFoleySoundForOthers - Enables armor damage sounds for NPCs and other PCs
 * Sound_EnableArmorFoleySoundForSelf - Enables armor damage sounds for player
 * Sound_EnableEmoteSounds - Enables emote voices
 * Sound_EnableErrorSpeech - Enables error sounds ("Can't cast that yet!")
 * Sound_EnableHardware - Enables Audio Hardware Acceleration
 * Sound_EnableMixMode2 - Enables and controls PCM Audio Quality
 * Sound_EnableMode2 - Enables Alternate sound processing
 * Sound_EnableMusic - Enables Music
 * Sound_EnableSFX - Enables SoundFX
 * Sound_EnableSoftwareHRTF - Enables headphone designed sound subsystem
 * Sound_ListenerAtCharacter - Set sound center to player
 * Sound_MaxCacheableSizeInBytes - Max sound size that will be cached, larger files will be streamed instead
 * Sound_OutputDriverIndex - Audio Device Selected
 * Sound_OutputQuality - Changes the level of Sound Quality (0 - 2)
 * Sound_VoiceChatInputDriverIndex - Device for voice input (Microphone)
 * Sound_VoiceChatOutputDriverIndex - Device for voice output (Headset or secondary speakers)
 * useEnglishAudio - Override the locale and use English audio

Unit Frames

 * partyStatusText - Toggles the permanent display of health/power texts for party members
 * petStatusText - Toggles the permanent display of health/power texts for pets.
 * playerStatusText - Toggles the permanent display of health/power texts for the player
 * fullSizeFocusFrame - Increases the size of the focus frame
 * raidFramesDisplayAggroHighlight - Whether to highlight a user's raid frames if they have aggro
 * raidFramesDisplayClassColor - Colors raid frames with the class color
 * raidFramesDisplayIncomingHeals - Whether to display incoming heals on Raid Frames
 * raidFramesDisplayPowerBars - Whether to display mana, rage, energy on Raid Frames
 * raidFramesDisplayOnlyDispellableDebuffs - Whether to display only dispellable debuffs on Raid Frames
 * raidFramesHealthText - How to display health text on the raid frames
 * raidFramesHeight - Changes the height of the individual raid frames
 * raidFramesPosition - Saves where the raid frames should be placed
 * raidFramesWidth - Changes the width of the individual raid frames
 * raidOptionDisplayMainTankAndAssist - Whether to display main tank and main assist units in the raid frames
 * raidOptionDisplayPets - Whether to display pet units in the raid frames
 * raidOptionIsShown - Whether the Raid Frames are shown while in a raid
 * raidOptionKeepGroupsTogether - Keeps the groups together in the raid frames
 * raidOptionLocked - Whether the raid frames are locked
 * raidOptionShowBorders - Shows a border around all raid frames
 * raidOptionSortMode - Sets how to sort the users in the raid frames
 * showRaidRange - Darkens the raid frame of any raid member who is out of range
 * ShowTargetCastbar - Show your target's cast bar
 * statusTextPercentage - Toggles the permanent display of percentages for status texts on unit frames.
 * targetStatusText - Toggles the permanent display of health/power texts for the target
 * useCompactPartyFrames - Controls the type of party frames used
 * xpBarText - Toggles the permanent display of the text on the experience bar

Console

 * bgcolor - Sets the Console Backdrop Color
 * clear - Clears all console text
 * closeconsole - Closes console
 * consolelines - How many lines to display on screen at once
 * cvar_default - Sets all cvars to their defaults
 * cvar_reset - Resets config.wtf file to the settings you use when you log in for the first time
 * cvarlist - Lists all cvars with their current & default settings
 * default - Returns console to default settings
 * fontcolor - Sets the Console font Color
 * fontsize - Sets the Console Font Size
 * font - Sets the Font to use in console (path must include .ttf)
 * help - Displays help and information for any command. (Eg. help debug)
 * highlightcolor - Sets the Console text highlight color
 * proportionaltext - Spaces text out to cover the entire screen (E  x   a   m   p   l   e   !)
 * repeat - Repeats a command when entered
 * settings - Lists current console settings
 * spacing - Specifies inter-character spacing, in pixels
 * ver - Displays build number and build date

GM Commands

 * charmport
 * enableResearchSite
 * port
 * randomizeSurveyHint
 * spawnallresearchlocs
 * startproject - Results in a disconnect as of 4.0.3
 * whois - Ask the server to do an account/real name lookup on a character name
 * worldport - Prints "Teleporting to Stormwind" in the console, but immediately displays an error afterwards

Removed
Please see Category:Removed console variables for the deprecated/removed cvars.