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Installing Blish HUD and Modules

Blish HUD Installation & Modules

At a glance

Blish HUD is a free overlay that adds tools such as route markers, timers, and item search. Install the modules you want to use.

Can something help me find my way?

Blish HUD can help with world boss times, achievement locations, and jumping puzzle routes through modules that display information over the game.

A separate application

Blish HUD displays a transparent window over GW2. It does not inject a DLL into the game process or modify game files. Unlike ArcDPS, it does not need to go in the game folder.

Choose your own modules

Blish HUD provides the framework. Install modules to add features such as pathing, timers, and search. Its built-in module manager handles installation.

How it reads position and account data

  • MumbleLink: real-time data supplied by GW2, including character position, camera direction, and map
  • GW2 Web API: an API key gives read-only access to account data such as inventory, achievements, and wallet

Some modules can also receive combat data through a separate ArcDPS integration plugin.

TacO marker packs also work

TacO is a separate overlay. Blish HUD's Pathing module can use TacO-format marker packs. Blish HUD is a useful starting point if you want pathing alongside other modules.

Not officially approved
ArenaNet does not officially approve or endorse third-party programs. The Blish HUD team works to follow its policies and reviews repository modules.

Installation

Download Blish HUD, extract the archive, and run Blish HUD.exe. There is no separate installer.

Step 1: Download

Download the latest version from the official Blish HUD site.

Step 2: Extract the archive

Extract the entire ZIP into a separate folder. Do not place Blish HUD beside a d3d11.dll used by ArcDPS or Nexus in the game folder.

Extract more than just the executable
Blish HUD needs the included libraries and content files. Extract the whole archive.

Step 3: Check the game's display mode

In GW2 options (F11), set the graphics display mode to Windowed Fullscreen or Windowed. Blish HUD cannot appear over exclusive Fullscreen mode.

Step 4: Run Blish HUD

Run Blish HUD.exe. You can start it before or after GW2.

Folders created on first launch:

Blish HUD creates these folders under Documents\Guild Wars 2\addons\blishhud\-

  • modules\: module files (.bhm)
  • logs\: diagnostic logs

If Documents is synced through OneDrive, the path may be %onedrive%\Documents\Guild Wars 2\addons\blishhud\.

Administrator privileges
If GW2 runs as administrator, Blish HUD must also run as administrator to interact with it. Otherwise, normal privileges are enough.

API keys

You can use features such as markers and timers without an API key. Adding one enables account-based features such as achievement tracking and inventory search. This step is optional.

See Creating an API Key for instructions.

Add the key to Blish HUD

  1. Open Blish HUD Settings.
  2. Click Manage API Keys.
  3. Paste your API key.

Blish HUD supplies modules with subtokens limited to requested permissions you allow. Check the API permissions when enabling a module.

Installing modules

Method 1: Install inside the application: Recommended

The built-in module manager is the recommended method.

  1. Open Settings while Blish HUD is running.
  2. Select Module Repo, also called the module package manager.
  3. Find and select the module you want.
  4. Click Install or Download.
  5. Under Module Settings, select the module and click Enable.

You can also check for and install module updates in Module Repo.

Blish HUD Module Repo showing module installation
Install modules from Module Repo

Method 2: Manual installation

Use this method for a module outside the repository or a file you downloaded separately.

  1. Close Blish HUD.
  2. Place the .bhm file in Documents\Guild Wars 2\addons\blishhud\modules\.
  3. Restart Blish HUD.
  4. Find and enable the module under Settings > Module Settings.
Check the source of external modules
Repository modules are reviewed for policy compliance. An external .bhm file contains compiled code, so obtain it from a source you trust.

Useful modules

These six modules are useful starting points. You can install them from Module Repo.

Blish HUD Module Settings showing module controls
Enable modules and configure their options in Module Settings

Pathing: Routes inside the game

Pathing module

Useful when: you are lost, looking for achievement items, or following a jumping puzzle route

Displays 3D markers and trails over the game. Marker packs provide routes for achievements, map completion, jumping puzzles, gathering, and more. Supports TacO packs (.taco files). Module details →

Start here if you want route markers
Pathing is a common reason to use Blish HUD. Install it first if you want in-game routes.

Item Search: Search across your account

Item Search module

Useful when: you cannot remember which character has an item

Open a search window with a shortcut to search the bank, material storage, and character inventories together. Save favorite searches and assign custom icons. The Merged view combines item quantities across your account. Requires an API key. Module details →

Inquest Chipset: Input conveniences

Inquest Chipset module

Useful when: you want shortcuts for repetitive input

Provides conveniences such as an auto-clicker and a combined jump-and-dodge keybind. Even attended macros must follow ArenaNet's policy. A combined jump-and-dodge key and auto-clicking to open or consume item stacks are explicitly permitted examples. Module details →

KpRefresher: Refresh KillProof

KpRefresher module

Useful when: you want to keep your KillProof profile current for raid or fractal groups

Automatically refreshes your KillProof.me profile, with map-based triggers and weekly completion tracking. It also supports copying your ID and linked accounts. Module details →

Mounts & More: Mounts, masteries, and novelties

Useful when: you have several mounts and do not want to memorize every keybind

Displays mounts, mastery skills, and novelties as a radial menu, icon row, or corner icon. Hold a shortcut and choose a direction to select a mount.

Mounts & More radial menu
Mounts & More lets you choose a mount from a radial menu

Main features:

  • Context-sensitive menus: adapt the radial menu for water, flight, WvW, or combat
  • Custom icons: use your own PNG images
  • Mount queue: request a mount during combat and mount once combat ends
  • Remount after map travel: mount again after a loading screen
  • Ground-targeted actions: place a skiff or portal at the cursor

Module details →

Configure the keybinds
After enabling the module, match its keybind settings to your in-game bindings. Mismatched bindings can prevent it from working.

Mouse Cursor: A more visible cursor

Mouse Cursor module

Useful when: you lose track of the cursor during combat

Draws a visible image beneath the pointer. Customize its image, size, opacity, and visibility in or out of combat. This can make the cursor easier to find in large fights. Module details →

Marker packs for Pathing

Marker packs contain the icons and routes displayed over the game. Install Pathing before adding packs.

Download inside the application: Recommended

  1. Install and enable Pathing.
  2. Open Settings > Module Settings > Pathing.
  3. Select Download Marker Packs.
  4. Choose a pack and click Download.
  5. Enable Keep Updated to receive pack updates automatically.
Pathing marker pack download screen
Download marker packs inside Pathing. Tekkit's All-In-One is a useful starting point.

Manual installation

  1. Download the .taco file.
  2. Put it in Documents\Guild Wars 2\addons\blishhud\markers\.
Do not extract the .taco file
.taco Leave the archive intact. Extracting it can prevent Pathing from loading its textures and trails correctly.

Show or hide markers

Click the tower icon beside the game menu in the upper-right corner. Under All Markers, select the categories you want to show or hide.

Enable only a few categories

Packs can contain thousands of markers. Enabling every category can fill the screen with overlapping markers.

Enable only the categories you need, such as your current achievement or map completion route. Turn them off when you are finished.

Tip: enable Truncate Long Category Names in Pathing settings to shorten category labels.

Recommended marker packs

Start with Tekkit's All-In-One. Add more specialized packs when you focus on particular content.

Tekkit's All-In-One: Broad coverage

A widely used general marker pack.

Includes:

  • Achievement guides
  • Map completion routes
  • Jumping puzzle routes
  • Gathering and farming routes
  • Festivals
  • Expansion content, including HoT, PoF, and EoD
  • Living World content
  • Guild missions

Toggle categories individually to show only what you need.

ReActif: Achievement routes

An achievement-focused pack. With an API key, markers for supported completed achievements can disappear automatically. Its routes include options that do not require mounts or masteries.

Hero's Marker Pack: Instanced content

A pack focused on fractals, raids, and dungeons, with markers for skips, mechanics, and encounter strategies.

Troubleshooting

Blish HUD does not appear

Check GW2 options (F11) and use Windowed Fullscreen or Windowed. The overlay does not appear over exclusive Fullscreen mode.

Icons have a black background

Graphics driver post-processing can cause this. Disable post-processing overrides for Blish HUD in the NVIDIA or AMD settings.

Text or icons look blurry

Try setting GW2's UI Size to Large. Blish HUD scales with the game's UI, which can affect sharpness.

The game crashes or shows a black screen

If the problem started after enabling frame generation, turn it off and compare. Blish HUD's AMD troubleshooting guide recommends checking features such as Fluid Motion Frames.

Settings are not saved

Check Blish HUD logs and Windows Security history for blocked file access. If access was blocked, allow the official Blish HUD executable to access the required folder.

Blish HUD closes immediately

Windows Controlled Folder Access may be blocking it. Check Windows Security > Ransomware protection and allow Blish HUD if it is being blocked.