ElvUI Addon Guide - How to Install and Customize

Posted 2018/08/02 at 10:36 AM by perculia

comprehensive guide to ElvUI

Check out the Comprehensive Guide to ElvUI!

Installation linksSetup TipsDozens of customization optionsAction BarsNamePlatesTooltipsUnit FramesTukui Client

Addon Name

Notes

Recommendation

ElvUI

Provides the core functionality that powers all the other additional addons and plugins.

Required

AddonSkins

Allows you to skin other addons to match the ElvUI appearance.

Highly Recommended

ElvUI CustomTweaks

Plugin that provides additional user-requested tweaks and functionality to ElvUI.

Optional

ElvUI ExtraActionBars

Plugin that provides 4 additional action bars to ElvUI.

Optional

ElvUI DataText Bars 2

Plugin allows for the creation of additional data text panels for ElvUI

Optional

ElvUI_ExtraDataTexts

Plugin that provides additional Data Text Values for ElvUI.

Optional

Shadow & Light

External Edit of ElvUI that adds additional functionality and design options to ElvUI.

Optional

BenikUI

External Edit of ElvUI that adds additional functionality and design options to ElvUI, such as a different frame style.

Optional

MerathilisUI

External Edit of ElvUI that adds additional functionality and design option to ElvUI, focused on a transparent look.

Optional

ChaoticUI

External Edit of ElvUI that adds additional functionality and design option to ElvUI.

Optional - Requires Shadow & Light

SharedMedia

Allows you to add custom fonts, textures, and other media to be used in many addons including ElvUI. Please see Adding Fonts, Textures and Sounds through SharedMedia by Blazeflack and DarthPredator for additional information.

Optional

Comment by helladini never like this addon never used once i try around cata i think

i dont like change ui old school

therefor even i didnt like blizard new ui changeComment by BikonitoDid everyone forget this add-on had a backdoor built in with sinister comments on the code (like 'HAHAHA SO EVIL') and they blocked anyone on twitter who mentioned it? Stop promoting this add-on.Comment by Rathalos23i never like this addon never used once i try around cata i think

i dont like change ui old schoolComment by AcidWebGreatest addon in history of WoW.Comment by tehJoshieI think that it should also be known that you can turn on and off any aspect of the UI. For me, love the unit frames/raid frames and bags but still keep all the skins and action bars to be original. Functional with a taste of stock.Comment by tehJoshieI think that it should also be known that you can turn on and off any aspect of the UI. For me, love the unit frames/raid frames and bags but still keep all the skins and action bars to be original. Functional with a taste of stock.Comment by SanguinezorAltzUI or unsub.Comment by GyrosparkWhat I dont get is why they have to be a special snowflake and need their own client to update the addon, why cant they just add it to Twitch like every other addon? :x

Often times my elvui is like several months to a year outdated cause I just cba to visit their website to download or download their special app.Comment by jdtempleDid everyone forget this add-on had a backdoor built in with sinister comments on the code (like 'HAHAHA SO EVIL') and they blocked anyone on twitter who mentioned it? Stop promoting this add-on.Comment by nes76Did everyone forget this add-on had a backdoor built in with sinister comments on the code (like 'HAHAHA SO EVIL') and they blocked anyone on twitter who mentioned it? Stop promoting this add-on.Comment by 690358The backdoor has been removed, from what I understand.Comment by TOMRUSGreat AddOn. Been using it for years.

I only wish that it had better support for default profiles for when you roll new alts. Sure, I have it down to a science now, where I can get it all setup and done within a couple minutes, but it would be nice if more of the settings were client wide instead of character specific.Comment by shyguyyetnotIt sort of does have this kind of feature. When you log into a new character, just skip the initialization process, and go into the ElvUI settings, Profiles, and copy the settings from the profile you'd like to use.

I created a "new character template" profile that I always copy from for any new characters, and then tweak it to be optimized for that specific character/class.

Hope this helps! :)Comment by ValthanarImho you can create a much better UI by yourself and with less mods, suitable for your class and needs, if you spend a little time for it. If you reach to a point in the game that the default UI doesn't suit you, you should be able to chose your own mods and layout. For newcomers, the default UI is just fine.Comment by jdtempleThat it ever existed was a poor choice, despite the 'debugging' excuse. It was also poorly written -- it 'authenticated' the addon author by using server name and character name. Some of the characters were on realms that had same-named EU realms where they did not control the characters, for example.

Also, it's a nightmare for other addon authors. They replace almost everything (including by copy-pasting Blizzard code), but usually tuck it away deep inside their own code. So if you want to interact with almost any part of the Blizzard UI, it breaks under ElvUI and users complain to you.Comment by shirreElvUI is awesome! Been using it for years and I would never go back to blizz standard UI.Comment by x1ugp1xI use this and have all skins disabled. Its great for UI customization and to enable the same look and feel across multiple accounts since I multibox.Comment by PeredhilImho you can create a much better UI by yourself and with less mods, suitable for your class and needs, if you spend a little time for it. If you reach to a point in the game that the default UI doesn't suit you, you should be able to chose your own mods and layout. For newcomers, the default UI is just fine.Comment by DonhornI've been using ElvUI for years. WoW just doesn't look right without it for me. Everything is right where I want it.Comment by anthonyg70Been using the add-on since Pandaria. Used to be a big Titan Panel user, loved it, but when they took over 2-months to release the update for Pandaria I gave ElvUI a shot. Haven't looked back since, and ElvUI keeps versions up to date.

The ability to control almost all aspects of the interface, and turn on-off default UI features, has made this a worthwhile UI mod. Plus if you want to really tweak out the game UI, you can use TukUI which has even more granular control although is a bit more of a learning curve.

A big bonus is you can save your interface settings and apply it to other characters, or even export the interface settings through text-based code, and import on other accounts for those who multi-box. Saves lot's of time when setting things up, if installing ElvUI on another PC/laptop, or when wanting a hard copy of the UI settings for when Blizzard suggests wiping your cache, etc.