Install The Witcher 3 through the PC storefront that owns your copy, then update it there. Before installing, check the requirements for the version you plan to play: CD PROJEKT RED has published upcoming minimum requirements that specify Windows 11, an SSD, and DirectX 12, but it has not announced when those requirements take effect.
Before you install: check ownership and requirements
Use the storefront tied to your copy
Sign in to the PC account that owns the game and use its library to install and update it. CD PROJEKT RED publishes support instructions for Steam, GOG, Epic Games Store, and Battle.net. First-install button labels can vary by client, so use the storefront’s current library flow rather than old disc-install directions. For platform-specific support, see CD PROJEKT RED’s PC support page.
Check whether your PC meets the upcoming minimums
CD PROJEKT RED’s 2026 notice, Updated PC requirements for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, lists these upcoming minimums:
- Operating system: Windows 11 64-bit
- Storage: 70 GB on an SSD
- Memory: 12 GB RAM
- Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 2600 or Intel Core i5-8400
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 or AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT 8 GB, with 6 GB VRAM
- Graphics API: DirectX 12 exclusively under these requirements
These are requirements, not a measured performance guarantee. The notice gives no effective date for the transition. It says the game may continue running on Windows 10, but CD PROJEKT RED will no longer develop or test on that operating system and cannot guarantee future compatibility or performance. In the notice’s words, “That doesn’t mean that the game will stop running on Windows 10 with the next game update.”
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If you need more suitable storage, the listed minimum is an SSD with 70 GB available. Check your PC’s drive compatibility before buying one; an SSD purchase is not necessary if your existing installation already has suitable space and meets the requirements for your chosen version.
How do I install The Witcher 3 on PC?
- Open the owning storefront. Sign in to Steam, GOG, Epic Games Store, or Battle.net using the account that owns the game.
- Find the game in your library. Use the client’s current install flow and select the destination drive or folder if prompted.
- Let the client download and update the game. Keep the storefront available until the installation and updates finish.
- Launch the game from the library. If it will not start or reports damaged files, verify the installation using the instructions below before trying a clean reinstall.
Should you use the current version or Classic?
The latest version is the fully supported one, according to CD PROJEKT RED. Choose Classic only if you have a specific reason to use an earlier build, such as compatibility with a particular older setup or mod. Earlier builds can differ in compatibility and content; the cited support information does not provide a complete feature-by-feature comparison.
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Access depends on the storefront. Steam and GOG document ways to select Classic; Epic Games Store provides only the latest version in the support article. Follow the platform-specific route in CD PROJEKT RED’s previous-version instructions.
- Steam: In the game’s library entry, open Properties, go to BETAS, and select CLASSIC.
- GOG: Open Manage Installation → Configure, select the Classic beta channel, disable auto-updates, then choose the version.
- Epic Games Store: The cited support article says only the latest available version is offered.
CD PROJEKT RED’s support material also says existing saves are compatible with Remastered, but skills reset; existing achievements carry over. Availability of earlier versions depends on the platform.
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Should you use DirectX 11 or DirectX 12?
Use the graphics API associated with the version you are installing. CD PROJEKT RED’s upcoming requirements notice specifies exclusive DirectX 12 operation under those requirements. An older PC manual describes DirectX 11 for the version it covers; it is historical guidance, not current launcher or requirements advice. The notice does not state when the DirectX 12 requirement takes effect.
How do you verify The Witcher 3 game files?
If the game will not launch, crashes, or appears to have corrupted files, verify or repair its files in the storefront where you own it. CD PROJEKT RED lists these client paths in its game-does-not-launch support instructions:
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- GOG Galaxy: Customize → Manage installation → Verify/Repair.
- Steam: Game Properties → Installed files → Verify integrity.
- Epic Games Launcher: Three dots beside the game → Manage → Verify.
- Battle.net: Select the cog icon → Scan and Repair.
If verification does not resolve the problem, check that your PC meets the requirements for the version you are running and check for graphics-driver updates. Avoid deleting local game or save files as a first troubleshooting step.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How do you back up saves before a clean reinstall?
A clean reinstall is a troubleshooting measure, not a routine part of setup. Back up your saves before removing local files. CD PROJEKT RED’s clean-install instructions identify the save folder as %userprofile%DocumentsThe Witcher 3gamesaves.
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- Copy the
gamesavesfolder somewhere safe outside the game’s folders. - Disable cloud saves in the storefront client for the duration of the procedure.
- Uninstall the game, then remove the client’s game folder and the local
The Witcher 3folder in Documents, as directed by the support article. - Restart the PC and reinstall from the owning storefront without mods.
- Restore the backed-up saves to the
gamesavesfolder. Re-enable cloud saves afterward if you want to use them.
If Windows permissions prevent installation in the chosen location, the support article gives installing at the drive root as an example. A clean install removes local files, so do not skip the save backup.
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