Is there just one Public Test Realm?
There is one Public Test Realm for the two main realm types, Normal and PvP.

Are test realms always available to play on?
Generally, test realms are only available for a variable period of time prior to a patch release.

How long are the test realms available for after they open?
The amount of time the test realms are open for each round of testing vary. For large content patches they may stay open for over a month, and for smaller patches they may be open only for a week or two.

Who can play on the test realm?
Players who create an active World of Warcraft account before the test realms go live are eligible to play on the test realms. There may be other criteria as well, which will be announced with each round of testing if they exist.

How do I know if the test realm is available to play on?
A news item will be posted on the World of Warcraft website announcing each round of testing on the public test realms.

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?
For each round of testing, players are allowed to copy 2 characters 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. One character may be copied twice, or two different characters may be copied over.

Will I be able to copy two more characters in the next round?
Yes, the test realm character copy limit is reset with each round of testing.

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 changes to your character 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 are subject to wipes at any point 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, read the latest test realm patch notes.

If I find a bug or have other issues in the test realm, what should I do?
The test realm may contain additional bug-report and feedback functionality that doesn't exist in the retail version of the game. Please use those features to report bugs and feedback if available. You can also report or comment on bugs on the bug report forums.

I can't log in with my transferred characters, am I doing something wrong?
You may 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 log in to the PTR.