Installing gw2cc

If you are a developer, instead refer to Developer: Getting started

Prerequisites #

• Minimum 15 GB of free disk space (80 GB if not linking your Gw2.dat)
• Your gw2cc account credentials
• Your GW2 installation, updated and accessible (optional)
• Admin privileges to symlink the Gw2.dat (optional)

Download the gw2cc Launcher #

Simply press the Download button at the top of the screen to download the launcher and extract it to an empty folder of your choice.

Make sure the folder you extract the launcher to is empty, not write-protected, and not stored in cloud-synced locations (i.e. OneDrive, Google Drive etc).

Selecting the GW2 Version #

Upon launch, gw2cc will ask which version of GW2 you want to use:

• Select EU/NA for international GW2 accounts
• Select China if using a Chinese GW2 account

Logging in #

You’ll now be prompted to enter your gw2cc Username and Password.

This is not your GW2 login, but your gw2cc account.

Accessing the Game Files #

gw2cc needs access to the Gw2.dat, which contains critical game data. You have two options:

Option 1: Use Your Existing Gw2.dat (Recommended) #

1. When prompted, select “y” to link your existing Gw2.dat.
2. If not running as Administrator, the launcher will restart with elevated permissions.
3. Start the official GW2 client and go to the Character Selection screen.
4. gw2cc will attempt to detect the Gw2.dat file automatically

If it fails or you want to provide the Gw2.dat manually for some reason:

1. A file browser will open.
2. Navigate to your GW2 installation folder (e.g., C:\Program Files\Guild Wars 2)
3. Select Gw2.dat

Option 2: Download or Extract Your Own Gw2.dat (Requires ~80GB) #

1. Select “n” when asked if you want to link your Gw2.dat.
2. Choose whether to:
   • Download the data
   • Extract from an existing copy

Using this method allows independent operation but requires much more disk space.

Troubleshooting Installation Issues #

If you encounter errors:

• Check your internet connection
• Confirm that http://assetcdn.101.arenanetworks.com/latest64/101 is reachable
• Ensure your Gw2.dat and Local.dat are up to date
• Confirm you selected the correct file paths

If linking or map import fails:

• Delete the game_data folder
• Restart the launcher and repeat the linking process

Still stuck? Check the FAQ or ask for help in the gw2cc support channel.

Test Your Installation #

After setup, the launcher will start gw2cc automatically.

Watch the console for errors. If none appear, you’re good to go!

The first time you run gw2cc, a short on-boarding tutorial will appear to guide you through GW2 account setup.

Make sure to read and follow all instructions carefully, as this step ensures a smooth setup and proper configuration.

Special Case: WeGame Users (China Only) #

For users playing GW2 through WeGame:

1. Run the launcher and create a WeGame account in gw2cc.
2. Choose either Attached or Standalone mode.
3. gw2cc will ask to patch your WeGame install
   1. Locate Gw2-64.exe in: rail_apps/Guild_Wars_2(2001128)/Gw2-64.exe
   2. gw2cc will rename it to Gw2-64.orig.exe and create a patched executable + gw2cc.cfg
4. You must now start GW2 through WeGame with the --gw2cc flag
5. To play normally, start without the flag.

You may need to repeat this after GW2 updates.

This process does not work with the Editor version of gw2cc.

Buy a License #

If you haven’t done so yet, head over to the Store and buy a license for gw2cc. Each license allows you to run gw2cc with one GW2 account at a time. I.e. if you want to run two accounts at the same time, you need two licenses as well.