Addons Break the UI and Lua Errors: Finding the Culprit
Vanilla WoW Classic 1.12 · x5 realm · wowx5.ruIf the UI went sideways, Lua errors pop up or addon buttons stopped working, a conflict or an outdated addon is to blame. The method is the same: isolate the culprit and update or remove it.
Step 1: enable error reporting
By default Vanilla hides Lua errors. Turn them on to see which addon fails:
`` /console scriptErrors 1 ``
Relog — now a failure shows a window with the error text and the addon file name.
Step 2: disable all addons
On the character select screen click AddOns and clear all checkboxes. If the UI works fine afterwards, the problem is definitely in the addons.
Step 3: enable one by one
Enable addons in small groups and log in until the error returns. The last one enabled is the culprit. Don't forget to uncheck «Load out of date AddOns» — it lets incompatible modules through.
Step 4: check compatibility
Only 1.12.1 addons work on our server. Signs of a correct addon:
| Sign | Meaning |
|---|---|
Folder in Interface/AddOns | Separate folder with a .toc file |
## Interface: line | Starts with 11200 |
| Source | Classic 1.12 archives, not retail |
Step 5: clean the settings
If an addon broke after an update, delete its old profile in WTF/Account/<login>/SavedVariables (<Addon>.lua files). Settings will rebuild.
Step 6: clear the interface cache
Close the game and delete the Cache and WTF folders (the latter also resets realmlist — set it again). This fixes «stuck» errors after many edits.
FAQ
Why doesn't the addon show up on the character screen?
Usually it is not built for 1.12 or sits in the wrong folder. An addon must extract into Interface/AddOns as its own folder with a .toc file, and its ## Interface line must start with 11200. Retail addons do not work in Vanilla.
How do I enable Lua error display?
Type /console scriptErrors 1 in chat and relog. Now an addon error shows a window with the text and the offending file name, so it is easy to tell which addon to disable or update.
What if an addon broke after an update?
Delete its folder in SavedVariables (WTF/Account/…/SavedVariables) — it stores old settings that may conflict with the new version. The profile will rebuild from scratch.