if you do reinstall the game, and don’t turn on auto updates, it does fix it. I’ve been going for 5 days fine since I reinstalled and didn’t download any of the prepatch data. By just downloading the prepatch data, it causes this to happen in every version of wow, it was also doing it to my classic wow even, even though the prepatch hasn’t launched. So by turning off auto updates in the client, I haven’t had a problem since. Why blizzard hasn’t figured this out yet, I have no clue.
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I did the same as you today, clean reinstall of both classic and retail w/ auto updates turned off and it resolved the problem.
The honest answer is they probably have, but from a support standpoint they don’t want to recommend people turn off auto-updates.
I’ve been dealing with this for about two weeks now. I’ve been experiencing 70 -100+ ms latency rise and random drops and rises of fps. Download says 0% and green circle keeps rotating off and on at the top of my screen.
Very frustrated customer. I’ve been patient for two weeks now and would like an update on this issue.
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I can unfortunately confirm that a fresh reinstall + auto-update turnoff resolved my issue.
Make sure to backup your interface/WTF folders folks.
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It’s been almost a week since blue commented on this issue that they had all the log info that was needed and it was being investigated…is there not any update to this? Still seeing this issue constantly while playing.
I can also confirm a fresh instal+ plus turning off auto updates worked for me. However if you have backed up your WTF file after you have downloaded the pre patch that might have corrupted your WTF file. At least that what I think happened to mine. It was on my flash drive from before the pre patch, downloaded the pre patch, was having this circle issue, decided to back up my WTF file before the fresh reinstall. Once the installation was complete and auto updates turned off the circle was gone, however so was my WTF file on my flash drive. I ran some recovery software and did find the file but it was not able to be saved. So not sure what was in the pre patch but the game has been running clean for two days. I am kinda glad this happened because I am done with Elvui and my years of shaping my UI and have rediscovered the default UI which I actually really like.
Thanks Blizzard for not jumping on this 
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Just adding that I too, am having the issue. Please fix this asap
Just adding that I too, am having the issue. Please fix this asap
Hey again everyone,
Our Battle.net engineers have identified what is causing this issue and are working on pushing a fix out. We do not have a timeframe for that however.
As others mentioned, the best known workaround for this is to uninstall/reinstall WoW through the Battle.net app and then disable downloading of future patch data. You can disable this in the Battle.net app Settings under Game Install/Update -> Automatic updates -> select “Apply latest updates for recently played games”.
This of course is a temporary workaround while the core of the issue is being worked on. Once the issue is resolved you should not have to redownload the game and the fix should patch up your existing install.
If you want to be covered for future patches, we would recommend to go back in and re-enable downloading future patch data after patch 9.0 has released.
Thank you again for all the reports, the logs, and for sharing the workarounds you’ve found.
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Really glad to hear the problem has been found and that the fix is on it’s way, thank you!
To clarify, Patch 9.0 is the actual pre-patch, right? So no updates at all till then to avoid problems?
Though if it’s corrected beforehand, would it please be possible to let us know so we can download the files to be certain it’s working for us instead of waiting till pre-patch day? If the fix is completed before then I mean.
And again, thank you!
1 Like
Had this issue since last week seemed like after i tried out the ptr realm i had to completely reinstall wow and is currently doing the same again since i hop on ptr again… hopefully im not going to download ptr again due to this lol
also been having this issue for about a week. i only now just thought to look it up as i was hoping whatever was downloading would eventually just finish and stop, but so far it hasn’t. it is indeed downloading something, as task manager does show network activity from the game client when the icon appears. i also have nothing left to be downloaded via the launcher, background download has been complete for over a week.
Adding to the pile - wasent much of of a problem when it first showed last week - was hoping it would just resolve its self, but last night was horrific to play…Rubber-banding audio, game freezeing for 20 seconds at vital times in raid, even crashed once.
looking forward to a fix!!!
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I was going to participate in the PTR stress test, but apparently that data (the 2 GB outside the 20 GB prepatch) is what is problematic, I guess.
I … really do not want to re-re-download WoW, now that the data download is back on retail. Guess I’ll wait for that fix.
I ended up doing the full download again yesterday afternoon when it became totally unplayable for me, this time without accepting the pre-patch download and turning off all updates. I also backed up a copy of the clean install in case it happens again to (hopefully) save going through another download if it all goes pear-shaped.
The good news is that I can also confirm the persistent spinner and severe lag is gone. I’d also saved my WTF and Addons folders and dragged them back in post-reinstall and thankfully they seem fine as well… so that’s good news!
Really hoping the fix arrives in time for us to test it before pre-patch goes live. 
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i was having this as well but I noticed this morning on logon it no longer appears! potentially fixed? EDIT - nope just logged on to doublecheck and it still came up…
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Just throwing my hat in and saying that I do NOT have the PTR downloaded and I’m having the issue as well, but glad to see it’s being addressed.
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Has anyone noticed that data is actually being downloaded? I just got hit with a text from comcast for the first time ever saying I am at 90% of my 1.2tb monthly limit. I don’t download anything crazy, just play wow when off work, watch some twitch.
Is there actually data being transferred then deleted then retransferred constantly?
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Yep. That be what it’s doin’.
Temp work around does not fix issue on my client. Big lag spikes in audio and game freezes. Contacting support since this affects game play and progression. Thanks for helping.
1 Like