FAQ

What is GW Launcher?

A lightweight Windows launcher for Guild Wars that stores your accounts, logs them in with a double-click, lets you run several at once, and auto-loads DLL plugins and texture mods. It’s made by the team behind GWToolbox++.

Is it safe? My antivirus complains.

Yes. It’s open source and has been used since 2010. Antivirus warnings are a false positive caused by mod injection — see Troubleshooting.

If your browser blocks the download itself (Chrome, Edge, Brave, etc. flagging GW_Launcher.exe), that’s the same false positive — lower your browser’s Safe Browsing level before re-downloading. See Your browser blocked the download.

Is it free?

Free and open source (MIT licensed). Windows only.

Which download do I pick?

The self-contained GW_Launcher.exe — it runs anywhere with no extra installs. The framework-dependent build is smaller but needs the .NET 10 Desktop Runtime. See Install.

Why does it need its own folder?

It writes Settings.json, Accounts.json, and d3d9.dll next to itself. Keep it in a dedicated folder so those don’t clutter Downloads or your Desktop. See Files & Storage.

Can I run multiple accounts at the same time?

Yes — each needs its own copy of the game. See Run Multiple Accounts.

Do I still need uMod for texture mods?

No. GW Launcher loads .tpf / .zip TexMods natively via gMod. See TexMods.

How do I add GWToolbox?

Put GWToolbox.dll in a plugins folder next to GW_Launcher.exe, or add it to an account in the Mod Manager. See DLL Plugins.

I bought Guild Wars on Steam.

Tick Steam Account when adding the account and make sure Steam is running before you launch. See Steam Accounts.

Are my passwords safe?

You can encrypt Accounts.json behind a master password. See Encryption & Passwords.

Is there a Linux version?

GW Launcher is Windows only. Many players run it under Wine/Proton, but it isn’t officially supported.

How do I launch one account directly from my desktop?

Right-click the account and pick Create Desktop Shortcut. See Tray & Shortcuts.