Are test realms always available to play on?
No, test realms are not always available.

How often are the test realms available?
The test realms become available to players a week or two before every content patch.

Who can play on the test realm?
Players who create an active World of Warcraft account before the test realms go live can play on the test realms.

How do I know if a test realm is available to play?
A news item will be posted on www.WorldofWarcraft.com letting players know when the public test realms become available.

Once the test realms are up, how do I play on them?
Please follow the instructions located here to download the files necessary to log in to the test realm. We encourage you to copy one of your existing characters to the test realms.

How many times may I copy my characters to the test realms?
Players are allowed to copy a maximum of 2 times to the test realms. PvP characters will be copied to the PvP test realm, and Role Play and Normal characters will be copied to the Normal test realm. Deleting a character from the PTRs will not allow you to perform an additional character copy.

Will the progress my character makes on the test realms show up on the public servers?
No. What happens on the test realms stays on the test realms. Any experience and levels your character gains on the test realm cannot be transferred to the public realms.

Is my character on the test realms permanent?
No. Characters and all associated items can be deleted during testing, and all characters will be wiped on completion of the testing phase.

Can I create a new character on the test realms?
Yes. But we encourage you to copy one of your existing characters to the test realm, so you can experience the new content going in next patch.

Is the version of the game on the test realms the same as the one that is currently running on the public realms?
No. The test realm is running a version of the game that contains all of the content going in next patch.

Where can I find out information on what I am testing?
To find out what is in the test realm, click here and read the test realm patch notes.

If I find a bug or have other issues can I call on a GM?
No. There is no GM or other Blizzard support on this site whatsoever. However, you can report or comment on bugs via on the forums here; http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/board.aspx?fn=wow-realm-test While on the PTR, be aware that Blizzard's QA department will be performing test and tracking down issues within the realm.

I can't login with my transferred characters, am I doing something wrong?
You will not be able to get onto the PTR if you have changed your password in the last 3 weeks. You can try to use an old password but there's no guarantee this will work. Also only those players who have had their accounts active for at least 7 weeks will be able to login to the PTR.