How to Download Heart of the Swarm

Last Updated: December 20, 2020

Starcraft II: Heart of the Swarm is an expansion pack for Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty. Players who already own Wings of Liberty can activate Heart of the Swarm directly from the Battle.net site for no extra charge. However, players who just want Heart of the Swarm can purchase the game and download it directly from the Battle.net website, which is operated by the game’s official developer, Blizzard Entertainment.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Installing Via Wings of Liberty

1
Open the Starcraft II launcher on your computer. This is the program you normally use to access and play Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty. Upon opening the launcher, the program will optimize your existing game files and download any pending updates from the Battle.net servers.
2
Navigate to the Battle.net site. This page allows you to claim your unique game key for Heart of the Swarm. Heart of the Swarm is automatically available for all players who have purchased and installed Wings of Liberty.

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3
Click on “Claim Game Key,” then log into your existing Battle.net account.
4
Follow the on-screen instructions to activate Heart of the Swarm. The website will guide you through using the game key to activate Heart of the Swarm.
5
Select “Heart of the Swarm” from the Starcraft II launcher after activating the game. Heart of the Swarm will launch, and can be accessed from the Starcraft II launcher going forward.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Installing Via Website

1
Navigate to the Battle.net website at http://us.battle.net/en/.
2
Click on “Shop,” then select the option to purchase Starcraft II: Heart of the Swarm. The game currently retails for $19.99.
3
Log in to your Battle.net account, or click “Create Free Account” to register for an account.
4
Follow the on-screen prompts to make your purchase. When complete, Heart of the Swarm will be saved to your Battle.net account.
5
Click on “Account” at the top right corner of the Battle.net site.
6
Click on “Starcraft II: Heart of the Swarm” under the Game Accounts section. This takes you to the Game Management page.
7
Select the option to install Heart of the Swarm for your Windows or Mac computer. The site will guide you through installing the Starcraft II launcher, from which you can access Heart of the Swarm.
8
Follow the on-screen instructions to install the Starcraft II launcher on your system. When complete, Heart of the Swarm will be stored under the Games menu in the launcher.
9
Open the Starcraft II launcher, then select the option to play Heart of the Swarm. You can now access the game directly from the launcher program installed on your computer.^{[1]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Troubleshooting

1
Restart your computer if you encounter any problems or error messages during installation. This will close the process and allow the launcher app to install any required updates needed to fix problems with installation.
2
Try using a wired connection with an Ethernet cable if installation fails repeatedly when using a wireless connection. In some cases, dropped connections can prevent you from completing installation.
3
Install any available updates for your Windows or Mac computer. This can help resolve problems with outdated software and compatibility when installation fails to work.
4
Disable your computer’s security software temporarily when downloading and installing Heart of the Swarm. Some antivirus and anti-malware programs may prevent you from installing new files on your hard drive.
5
Try uninstalling and reinstalling the Starcraft II launcher if you are unable to download Heart of the Swarm. This can help refresh the program’s ability to optimize the required game patch.
6
Log in to your computer as the administrator prior to installing and using the Starcraft II launcher. Logging in as the administrator will allow you to use the client and install required updates.