Explainer
Classic or Enhanced mode in WoW Forever: what each changes, and why your quests aren't on the map
WoW Forever asks you to pick Classic or Enhanced mode on first login. Classic turns off quest tracking and transmog; Enhanced keeps them. Every setting can be changed later, and it's why quests may not show on your map.
Oct 26, 2026Checked against build 1.60.1.705322 min read
The first time you log in to WoW Forever, the game asks how you want to play: Classic or Enhanced. It’s a starting preset you can undo. Classic turns off the modern helpers for a more old-school game; Enhanced keeps them. Whatever you pick, every setting can be changed again later, one by one, Blizzard says.
▶ 1:07:45What each mode changes
| Classic | Enhanced | |
|---|---|---|
| Quest tracking and objectives on the map | off | on |
| Transmog | off | on |
| Can be changed later | yes, setting by setting | yes, setting by setting |
Transmog: players who pick Classic have transmog switched off when they enter the world, so they see everyone in the gear they actually wear. You keep collecting appearances anyway, in case you turn it on later, Blizzard’s deep dive recap says.
Character models: the switch between classic and HD models is separate. It sits at the bottom of character creation and in the Graphics settings, and it applies to the whole game: your character, NPCs and other players.
Why your quests aren’t on the map
If the world map shows no quest areas and the objective tracker has no map buttons, you most likely picked Classic. That preset turns quest tracking off, so finding an objective means reading the quest text, the way the original game worked.
To turn it back on, find the quest options in the game’s settings, or type this in chat:
/console questPOI 1questPOI is the setting the game’s own map and tracker check before they draw quest areas. /console questPOI 0
turns them off again.
Which one to pick
- Coming back for nostalgia, or playing Hardcore by the old rules: Classic, then turn on only what you miss.
- New to the game, or levelling a first character quickly: Enhanced. Quest areas on the map save a lot of searching.
- Either way, our free BoF Guide shows each step with its own arrow and the objective’s spot, whatever your map settings. It’s free from 1 to 30.
The rest of what to set up before launch is in the WoW Forever launch checklist, and where each start’s first quests are is in your first hour in WoW Forever.
Questions
What is the difference between Classic and Enhanced mode in WoW Forever?
It's a starting preset you pick on first login. Classic turns off quest tracking and transmog for a more old-school game; Enhanced keeps them on. Every setting it changes can be changed again later, one by one.
Why are my quests not showing on the map in WoW Forever?
Most likely you picked Classic mode on first login, which turns quest tracking off. Turn quest objectives on the map back on in the game's settings, or type /console questPOI 1 in chat. Our free BoF Guide add-on points the way with its own arrow either way.
Can I change from Classic to Enhanced mode later?
Yes. The mode only sets your starting options. Blizzard says every setting can be changed later, so you can mix them: Classic visuals with quest tracking on, for example.
How do I switch between HD and classic character models?
There's a toggle at the bottom of character creation, and the same option in the Graphics settings. It applies across the whole game: your character, NPCs and other players.