What's a UI mod?

UI mods are simply "skins" that organize and display information that's either lurking just beneath the surface of the default user interface (such as map coordinates) or is generally available from a third-party source such as a fansite (such as griffon flight routes or instance maps). Most UI mods do such a great job that they earn lifelong fans. Many a gamer couldn't play WoW without his or her favorite UI mod. If you're at all interested, I'd encourage you to check this out!

Does a UI mod hack into a game's secured stash of data?

For whatever reason, the UI mod info and /or capabilities weren't provided by default, but there's nothing terribly secretive about it. As a wise security practice, developers never hide the recipe for the secret sauce client-side (exact ratios, number crunching, and other tasks open to exploitation in sinister hands are all done server-side) so you never have to worry about uncovering something you weren't meant to see (but if you do find something scandalous, send me a screenshot!)

Will UI modding get me banned?

Not at all! A UI Mod is very different than a "bot" - an independent program that automates experience and / or gold "farming." Bots get you banned. All UI Mods I've seen are 100% EULA-friendly; in fact, many UI Mod designers regularly consult with Blizzard's UI team. One developer told me he thinks it's cool that people get that "into" the game that they want to customize their experience and share the customization freely. I think it's cool that he thinks it's cool!

Can UI mods access my computer, spam mail my account key and credit card info to Eastern Europe, and dance on the ashes of my once happy life?

Man, I hope not! Most mods only interpret the info their given. While mods like Cosmos politely ask you if they can return the info they "see" to gamer databases like Thottbot, you'll always have the option to shut down the connection through your firewall. This is an excellent reason, however, to avoid the shadier side of gaming software, i.e. bots and other junk you might find on Ebay.

OK, Sounds cool. What's the downside?

The downside is: major patches will frequently break your favorite mod. While many mod designers update as quickly as they can, often testing their product extensively on the test server prior to the live update, occasionally a mod will go unsupported for a period of time, sometimes indefinitely. Keep in mind that most designers aren't paid to mod, they do what they do out of the goodness of their hearts. Be patient, and send them some pie!

Where can I get these add-ons?

We have an excellent, constantly updated stash of UI mods right here at WoW - Ten Ton Hammer!

I've downloaded a few UI mods to try out, now what?

Sweet! Here's four steps to a happier WoW experience:

Generic UI Installation Instructions (check the UI Mod archive's readme for additional steps)

Addons Screen

Character Select Screen & Addons Button

1. Most UI Mods are contained in .zip files. If so, using a program like WinZip, extract the files to a folder called "AddOns" in the "World of Warcraft / Interface" directory. By default, this directory is something like C:\Program Files\World of Warcraft\Interface\AddOns . Note that you might have to create the "AddOns" folder. If so, please note that the spelling of "AddOns" is very important. The archive you downloaded will likely create some subfolders of its own, and this is fine. (Note - a few mods are now distributed in .exe format. Simply run the program and follow the prompts to install these types of UI mods.)
2. If you've made it this far, you're past the hardest part! Startup World of Warcraft and proceed to the character select screen. In the bottom lefthand portion of the screen, you'll notice a button labeled "AddOns" (note the big green arrow in the screenshot). Click it.
3. Voila! You should see the ui mods you just installed. (If not, mispelling the "AddOns" folder name and incomplete downloads are the two biggest culprits.) Hit "Enable All," put a check in "Load out of date addons", and scroll down through the list. Note that some mods might be labeled "Out of Date" or "Dependencies: blah blah blah." "Out of date" means that the module didn't pass the version check, not necessarily that the module won't work. Dependencies are a little more serious, but until you know they don't work, keep them checked. Log in!
4. If you don't see an error, so far so good. I highly suggest you find a safe spot, and methodically open all the UI mod screens you just installed (UI mods frequently have a menu "dot" around your minimap display). Open up each of the features to ensure you won't be sent crashing to desktop at an inopportune moment. If you get any errors, simply note the name of the file referenced... you'll want to uncheck that one the next time you're at the addons screen.

You should be all set! Good modding to you!