How to Fix “Error retrieving character list” in WoW

Wrath of the Lich King invites players to embark on a new adventure within the World of Warcraft universe.

After conquering Azeroth and Outland, they now face the Lich King’s forces in the icy realm of Northrend.

This expansion introduces the Lich King as the antagonist, known for wielding the cursed Frostmourne.

Players can also explore the hero class of Death Knights, mastering necromantic abilities.

Wrath of the Lich King Classic offers diverse challenges, from dungeons and raids to leveling quests.

Additionally, players can become scribes, using Inscription to craft potent glyphs, scrolls, and more.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to fix “Error retrieving character list” in WoW (WOTLK Classic US Servers/Realms).

How to Fix “Error retrieving character list” in WoW

To fix “Error retrieving character list” in WoW, you need to clear the game’s cache.

After you’ve cleared the game’s cache try relaunching it and the error should be fixed.

But before that, check if the game is down on downdetector.com/status/world-of-warcraft (if it’s down, you need to wait for a few hours for the issue to be fixed).

Here’s how to clear WoW’s cache:

Locate the WoW application (in your desktop or the File Explorer).
Right-click WoW and select “Open file location”.
Right-click the “Cache” folder and delete it.
Try to launch WoW and enter the server/realm again.

Update #1: As of 20 September 2023, most of the WOTLK Classic Realms are down and the engineers are working on a fix (source: Kershew, customer support from the WoW forums).