Backpack



The backpack is the initial storage container for carrying items that all Player characters get at the start of the game. It occupies the right-most bag slot on the interface bar.

The amount of money (,, or ) the character possesses is shown at the bottom right of the backpack window. Several additional currencies, such as Darkmoon Prize Tickets and Timewarped Badges, can be set to be displayed at the currency window.

The backpack has 16 slots by default, though vulpera characters have access to 8 additional slots for a total of 24 thanks to their Alpaca Saddlebags racial trait. The backpack can be expanded with 4 extra slots, for a total of 20 slots (28 for vulpera), by adding an authenticator to the account.

Technical difficulties
When asked in 2011 Ask the Devs about increasing the size of the backpack or replacing it, the answer given was that it was technically challenging due to the manner in which the slot was coded and could cause major breaks in the game (such as loss of players' gear). This is because the backpack is "hard-coded" into the game, making any modification a very risky proposition. This was later expounded upon during the BlizzCon 2015 Engineering Community Amphitheater Discussion:

This was directly contradicted the following BlizzCon 2016 during the World of Warcraft Q&A panel. According to Lead Game Designer Matt Goss, the difficulty of upgrading the backpack had been "almost a myth" that even the design team themselves had believed. The reality is that it actually isn't nearly as difficult and hopefully will be "Soon".

During BlizzCon 2017, it was announced that the number of slots could be increased by adding an authenticator to one's account. How many slots would be added was not mentioned at that time but, when the first PTR build for patch 7.3.5 became available, it would turn out to be four.

Additional notes

 * By default, you can press 'Shift-B' to open and close your backpack. While 'B' opens all your bags.
 * You can also close all open bag windows, including the backpack, by clicking its icon.
 * You cannot move, delete, replace, or store your backpack.