Setup Guide — GenesisXI

System Requirements

OS Windows 7 or later (64-bit)
Disk Space ~7 GB (FFXI client + addons)
RAM 2 GB minimum, 4 GB recommended
Internet Broadband for initial ~6 GB download

Installation Walkthrough

1
Download the launcher from the download page.
2
Run the installer. Windows may show a SmartScreen warning because the installer is not yet code-signed. Click "More info" then "Run anyway" to proceed. This is normal for private server tools.
3
Choose your install location. The default (AppData\Local\GenesisXI) is recommended. Avoid installing in Program Files as it can cause permission issues.
4
First launch. The launcher automatically downloads the FFXI game files (~6 GB). Depending on your connection speed, this can take 10 to 60 minutes. You can close and reopen the launcher at any time — downloads resume where they left off.
5
Create an account at genesisxi.com/register if you haven't already.
6
Log in to the launcher with your account credentials.
7
Select your loader (Ashita or Windower) in the Settings tab. See the Loader Setup section below for details on each option.
8
Click Play — the character selection screen should appear. You're ready to start your adventure in GenesisXI!

Loader Setup

GenesisXI supports two loaders for connecting to the game server. Both work equally well — choose based on preference.

Ashita v4

Default and recommended loader
Addon management built into the launcher Extensions tab
Toggle addons on and off from the launcher before launching the game

Windower 4

Alternative loader with its own addon ecosystem
Requires a one-time registry setup on first use (the launcher handles this automatically, but may prompt for Administrator permission)
Addon management is handled through Windower's own interface, not the launcher

Switching Loaders

To switch between Ashita and Windower, open the Settings tab in the launcher, change the loader dropdown, and click Play. No reinstallation is required.

Troubleshooting & FAQ

SmartScreen blocks the installer

When you run the installer, Windows SmartScreen may display a warning dialog. This occurs because the installer has not yet been code-signed with an Extended Validation certificate. To proceed, click "More info" at the bottom of the dialog, then click "Run anyway". The installer is safe to use.

Antivirus quarantines launcher or game files

Private server tools redirect FFXI's network connection to the GenesisXI server instead of the official PlayOnline servers. This involves modifying game memory at runtime, which can trigger heuristic-based antivirus detections. These are false positives.

To prevent your antivirus from interfering, add your GenesisXI install folder as an exclusion:

Open Windows Security from the Start menu (search "Windows Security").
Navigate to Virus & threat protection, then click Manage settings.
Scroll to Exclusions and click Add or remove exclusions.
Click Add an exclusion, then select Folder.
Browse to your GenesisXI folder (default: %LocalAppData%\GenesisXI) and click Select Folder.

Download fails or stalls

Verify your internet connection is stable. The launcher automatically resumes interrupted downloads, so closing and reopening it will pick up where it left off. If the problem persists, open the Settings tab and use the Verify Files option to check for corrupted or incomplete files.

Game won't launch

First, confirm the game files finished downloading by checking the Settings tab for your install path and verifying the folder contains the expected files. If you are using Windower as your loader, try running the launcher as Administrator once to complete the initial registry setup. After the first successful launch, administrator privileges are no longer needed.

Windower registry error

Windower requires a one-time registry entry to locate the FFXI installation. Run the GenesisXI launcher as Administrator once — it will write the necessary registry keys automatically. After this initial setup, you can run the launcher normally without elevated permissions.