From a fresh install
to Vana’diel.

01 · Official account

Start with Square Enix.

Already have a working official FFXI installation and PlayOnline account? Keep them and continue to step 3. New players can begin with Square Enix’s official free-trial signup.

1. Open the official FINAL FANTASY XI Free Trial page. Choose the trial for your region and follow its signup/checkout instructions. Make sure you are choosing XI, not XIV.
2. Retrieve the trial registration code from the confirmation/order details or email. Keep the code and confirmation somewhere safe.
3. Open Square Enix Account Management. Create and verify a Square Enix account if you do not already have one. The Store login and the game-service account are separate systems.
4. Choose PlayOnline / FINAL FANTASY XI under the services menu, then the option to add/register a service account. Enter your trial code and complete the registration shown on that site.
5. Save the issued PlayOnline ID and PlayOnline password, as well as your Square Enix ID and password. These are used by PlayOnline during official setup.

Ready to continue: you have an official FFXI service account and its PlayOnline login details.

Square Enix controls trial eligibility, availability, and terms. Use the official starter guide if its current screens differ. Your Crystalbound account will be created separately in step 7.

02 · Game files

Install the complete US client.

1. Visit Square Enix’s US Windows installer page. Download all five parts into the same folder: FFXIFullSetup_US.part1.exe and parts 2–5 ending in .rar.
2. Wait until every download finishes, then run FFXIFullSetup_US.part1.exe. It extracts the other parts automatically into a folder named FFXIFullSetup_US.
3. Open that extracted folder and run FFXISetup.exe. For a fresh installation, select all available applications, including the supplied DirectX runtime, PlayOnline Viewer, and FINAL FANTASY XI. Complete each installer and approve the Windows prompts for these official installers.
4. Write down the installed game location. A typical folder is C:\Program Files (x86)\PlayOnline\SquareEnix\FINAL FANTASY XI. A custom install might be D:\FFXI\SquareEnix\FINAL FANTASY XI.

The game folder contains FFXiMain.dll, FTABLE.DAT, VTABLE.DAT, and ROM folders. This is different from your Downloads folder, the extracted installer folder, and the PlayOnlineViewer folder.

03 · Official updates

Update PlayOnline and FFXI.

Completing the installer is only the beginning. Our classic-style world uses a modern client, so you still need the official game updates.

1. Start PlayOnline Viewer from the Windows Start menu. Let its own update finish and restart it if requested.
2. On first setup, choose the option for an existing PlayOnline member. Create a local member profile using your issued PlayOnline ID/password and your Square Enix ID. A member name is just the label for this local profile.
3. Sign in using that profile. If asked for the Square Enix password, use your Square Enix account password. A one-time password applies only if you enabled a security token/authenticator for that official account.
4. Inside PlayOnline, open FINAL FANTASY XI and proceed toward Play. Accept and complete the offered game version update. Let the download, verification, and installation finish fully.
5. When no further game update is required, close PlayOnline and FFXI. You do not need to create a retail character to create a separate Crystalbound character.

For official-account sign-in help, use Square Enix Support. Crystalbound cannot reset your Square Enix or PlayOnline password.

04 · Game launch settings

Create a Windower profile.

This Crystalbound release uses Windower to start FFXI and provide display settings and optional addons. Install it once; daily sign-in and launch happen in Crystalbound.

1. Download Windower from windower.net. Save it in a permanent folder, such as C:\Games\Windower, and run it. Let its initial updates finish.
2. On Profiles, select + to create a profile. Name it Crystalbound, or keep a profile you already use.
3. Edit the profile: choose US as the region, your display resolution, and a window mode. Borderless window is a good starting choice.
4. Save the profile and close Windower. Note the full location of Windower.exe.

Start with the basic profile; addons are optional. You do not need to edit Windower XML, enter our server IP, add launch arguments, or install xiloader separately. Crystalbound supplies its game bridge and the connection settings.

Reference: Windower’s profile guide. Keyboard/mouse players can disable gamepad support in FINAL FANTASY XI Config. Controller users can configure their buttons there before launching.

05 · Our launcher

Put Crystalbound beside your game.

1. Install the Microsoft Edge WebView2 Evergreen Runtime if it is missing. Choose the Windows x64 installer. Crystalbound uses this runtime for its interface.
2. Close FFXI, PlayOnline, Windower, xiloader, and any older Crystalbound window.
3. Download Crystalbound from our home page. In File Explorer, right-click the ZIP and choose Extract All.
4. Copy the contents of the extracted package into the installed FINAL FANTASY XI folder you found in step 2. Keep the whole package together, including its configuration and supporting folders. Crystalbound.exe and crystalbound.json should be beside FFXiMain.dll.
5. For the first launch, right-click Crystalbound.exe → Run as administrator and approve the Windows permission prompt. This avoids permission failures when Windower opens the game. The launcher can also request that permission through Allow game launch.

Open Crystalbound.exe from the folder where you extracted the complete package.

This is a development preview and the Windows application is not yet code-signed. Download it from this site. The home page lists the package checksum if you want to verify your download; do not disable Windows security to troubleshoot.

06 · One-time configuration

Tell the launcher where things live.

Open Options in Crystalbound and fill in:

FINAL FANTASY XI folder

The installed folder containing FFXiMain.dll. Choose the game folder itself, not the DLL or installer.

Windower.exe path

The complete executable path, for example C:\Games\Windower\Windower.exe.

Windower profile

Select the profile created in step 4. If the list is empty, check the Windower path, create/save a profile in Windower, and reopen Crystalbound.

Display mode and resolution

Choose your preferred window mode. Use Windower profile keeps its resolution; you can also select a resolution here.

Choose Save options. Crystalbound supplies our public server address automatically. Leave the supplied connection and update configuration intact; no router port forwarding is needed on a player’s computer.

07 · Your Crystalbound account

Check the client, then sign in.

1. Allow any Crystalbound self-update to finish. It may close and reopen automatically. If you see Preparing your world, select Check client.
2. Once the base-game check passes, choose Create an account. Enter a new server account name and password, then submit the form. Follow the confirmation and return to login if prompted.
3. Sign in using that Crystalbound server account. Leave Authenticator code empty unless you have enabled two-factor authentication for this server account.
4. Let the approved client files download and install. Use Install update if prompted. Keep the game closed until verification completes.

Continue when Crystalbound reports that the client is verified/ready and Play is available. Signing in alone does not mean the client update finished.

08 · Welcome to the world

Make your first character.

1. Select Play in Crystalbound. Approve an administrator prompt if requested; Windower and the game bridge start the game for you.
2. Continue through the game’s initial notices to character selection. Choose Create Character.
3. Choose an available race, appearance, size, starting job, name, and home nation. Complete the confirmation screens.
4. Select your new character and enter the world. The starting-nation introduction plays before you gain control.
5. Try moving, opening your inventory, and equipping your starting gear. Use the game’s normal logout option when finished so your character is saved cleanly.

For future sessions: open Crystalbound, let it update/check, sign in, and select Play. Keep the game closed whenever client files are being updated. Your Crystalbound characters remain on our server.

Help along the way

If something stops you.