Glassy
If chat is where you live in World of Warcraft, you already know the stock interface can start to feel clunky. Messages stack with no polish, tabs sit in an awkward line, and the input box refuses to adapt to how you actually type. Glassy fixes all of that with a clean, immersive chat UI that brings smart customization to every corner of your chat experience. It is a maintained fork of the original Glass addon, rebuilt for modern WoW clients while keeping a minimalist look.
Why Choice a Fork That Is Actually Maintained
The original Glass addon was loved for its elegant presentation, but many addons fade as game updates roll out. Glassy picks up that torch, adding fresh compatibility with supported WoW clients, from Classic Era and Hardcore to Burning Crusade Anniversary, Mists of Pandaria Classic, and Retail. Whatever era of WoW you play, Glassy is designed to work with it, and the same core version handles the version-specific quirks of each client, whether you are leveling in TBC or raiding in MoP.
Standout Features of Glassy
The addon is not just about looks, it is about how chat feels to use every single day. Here is what stands out:
- Smooth animations: Messages slide into view and fade out gently, with adjustable timing and easing so motion always feels fluid.
- Customizable appearance: Choose your fonts, colors, backgrounds, spacing, and opacity to make chat match your UI theme.
- Flexible chat input: The message area expands while you are not typing, giving you extra room when you need it.
- Organized tabs: Drag tabs to reorder them, highlight the active tab, and configure the Combat Log filter bar to suit your playstyle.
- Copy conversations: Shift-click any chat tab to open its full contents in a dedicated copy window.
- Built-in timestamps: Control the format and appearance of timestamps with a few simple options.
- Emoji shortcodes: Display ElvUI emojis directly in your chat so reactions land with a little personality.
- Editing shortcuts: Terminal-style controls for moving the cursor, deleting text, and restoring everything you removed by accident.
Version Compatibility and Addon Support
Because Glassy supports Classic Era and Hardcore, Burning Crusade Anniversary, Mists of Pandaria Classic, and Retail, you do not need separate chat addons per character. The addon also runs a compatibility check that shows detected addons and warns you about conflicting Prat modules, so you always know what is safe to load.
How to Install and Configure Glassy Addon
Getting started is quick whether you are new to addons or a hardened veteran. You can install through CurseForge, or grab the packaged addon ZIP from GitHub Releases. For a manual setup, extract Glassy into your client's Interface/AddOns folder so that Glassy.toc sits directly inside Interface/AddOns/Glassy. If you want something even faster, the foxygame.net launcher handles the whole process for you: pick Glassy in its addon catalog and click install, since it automatically places files in the correct addon folder and even checks version compatibility before you press play. After that, restart WoW or type /reload when updating an existing installation, then enter /gl to open the settings panel.
If you are curious about the fastest route to a working chat UI, the answer is simple: download Glassy, drop it in place, and log in. Since Glassy for World of Warcraft runs entirely on its own, you can use it immediately without any dependencies.
Recommended Companion Addons
Glassy works beautifully on its own, but a few companions unlock the extra features shown in the previews.
Prat 3.0 for Icons and History
Prat 3.0 is required for player class icons, item-link icons, and restoring chat history after reload or login. Enable its LinkInfoIcons and History modules. One important step: open /prat, go to Module Control, set Editbox to Don't load, then /reload. Leaving that module active can push Glassy's typing box far below the chat window.
ElvUI for Emoji Textures
ElvUI is needed for emoji textures. Disable ElvUI's Chat module, then enable Emoji shortcodes in Glassy's Messages settings. Without ElvUI, shortcodes such as :smile: remain plain text. Custom fonts shown in previews require SharedMedia or another addon that registers them.
Commands and Shortcuts
Knowledge is power, and Glassy puts the power in typed commands and quick shortcuts.
/glopens settings/gl locklocks or unlocks the chat mover/gl debugopens a copyable layout report- Shift-click a chat tab to copy its contents
- Alt+Up / Alt+Down browse sent-message history
- Ctrl+E move to the end of the text
- Ctrl+U delete text before the cursor
- Ctrl+K delete text after the cursor
- Ctrl+Y restore text removed with Ctrl+U or Ctrl+K
Find the full shortcut reference under /glassy then Shortcuts.
Final Thoughts
For players who want chat to feel as good as it looks, Glassy delivers a refined mix of polish and utility across every supported WoW client, from Classic through Cataclysm-era play to the latest Retail patch. Whether you are hunting rare spawns, coordinating a raid, or just hanging out in trade chat, this addon keeps your messages readable, your history safe, and your typing experience smooth. Install it, tweak it, and let your chat breathe.