PC players can start preloading Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 on October 15, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. PT — eight days before the game's worldwide launch on October 23. If you digitally pre-purchased on Steam, Battle.net, or Xbox on PC, the download unlocks that morning, and you'll want 115 GB of SSD space free before it does. This guide gives you the exact preload time in every major region, the full confirmed PC system requirements (minimum, recommended, and ray-tracing ultra), the upscaling tech MW4 supports, and the two PC gotchas — TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot — that locked thousands of players out during the beta.
Everything below is sourced from Activision's official PC reveal and cross-checked against the confirmed launch schedule. Where something is officially confirmed vs. still unannounced (console preload windows), it's flagged clearly — no leaks stated as fact.
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Quick answer: when can you preload MW4 on PC?
| TL;DR — MW4 PC preload opens October 15, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. PT for anyone who digitally pre-purchased on Steam, Battle.net, or Xbox on PC. The install needs 115 GB of SSD storage. Campaign Early Access begins October 16 for digital pre-orders; the full game unlocks October 23 at midnight local time. To play on PC you must have TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot enabled in your BIOS — this is mandatory, not optional. Console (PS5 / Xbox Series X | S) preload windows have not been officially dated yet as of October 9. |
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MW4 PC preload time by region
Activision set a single global preload unlock keyed to 9:00 a.m. Pacific on October 15. Here's that moment converted across the regions that search for it most:
| Region | Preload unlocks |
|---|---|
| US Pacific (PT) | Oct 15, 9:00 a.m. |
| US Eastern (ET) | Oct 15, 12:00 p.m. |
| UK (BST) | Oct 15, 5:00 p.m. |
| Central Europe (CEST) | Oct 15, 6:00 p.m. |
| India (IST) | Oct 15, 9:30 p.m. |
| Philippines / SG (PHT) | Oct 16, 12:00 a.m. |
| Sydney (AEDT) | Oct 16, 3:00 a.m. |
Preload simply stages the files — it does not let you play early. The campaign still unlocks on October 16 (digital pre-orders only — see how to play the MW4 campaign a week early), and multiplayer, Warzone integration, and the rest of the package unlock at midnight local time on October 23 (full unlock times by region here). Preloading just means you're installing instead of downloading while everyone else hammers the servers on launch night.
How much space does MW4 need on PC?
115 GB of SSD storage, and the SSD part is a hard requirement — Activision lists an SSD in the minimum spec, not just the recommended one. That 115 GB covers the launch install; as Activision notes, "download compression and later updates are separate measurements," so the number on your store page before download can look smaller, and the game will grow with Season 1 content after October 23.
Two practical notes:
- Free up more than 115 GB. Installs need temporary headroom to unpack. Aim for ~130–140 GB free so the install doesn't stall at 99%.
- It must be an SSD. A mechanical hard drive won't meet the requirement and will cause texture-streaming stutter even if it technically installs.
If you're tight on space, this is the single biggest launch-week chore — clear it before the 15th so preload runs unattended overnight. (For the console file sizes and the general unlock schedule, see our MW4 preload, file size and unlock times guide.)
MW4 PC system requirements (confirmed)
Activision published a three-tier spec sheet for MW4 on PC. Here's the full confirmed breakdown:
Minimum (1080p, low)
- OS: Windows 10 64-bit
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 1400 or Intel Core i5-6600
- GPU: Radeon RX 470, GeForce GTX 970–1060, or Intel Arc A580
- RAM: 8 GB
- VRAM: 3 GB
- Storage: 115 GB SSD
Recommended (90 FPS, high settings)
- OS: Windows 11 64-bit
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3600 or Intel Core i7-8700K
- GPU: Radeon RX 6600 XT, GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, or Intel Arc B580
- RAM: 16 GB
- VRAM: 8 GB
- Storage: 115 GB SSD
Ray-Tracing Ultra
- OS: Windows 11 64-bit
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 3700X or Intel Core i7-10700K
- GPU: Radeon RX 9070 XT or GeForce RTX 5070 Ti
- RAM: 32 GB
- VRAM: 16 GB
- Storage: 115 GB SSD
MW4 runs real-time ray tracing across all modes on PC, which is why the ultra tier jumps to 16 GB of VRAM. The recommended tier is tuned for 90 FPS at high settings — a realistic target for a mid-range 2021-era build. For the deeper breakdown and in-game tuning, see our full MW4 PC system requirements and best PC settings for FPS guides.
What upscaling and PC features does MW4 support?
MW4's PC build supports the current generation of upscalers, so almost any GPU from the last few years can lean on frame reconstruction for more FPS:
- NVIDIA DLSS 4.5
- AMD FSR Redstone
- Intel XeSS 3
- Filmic SMAA T2X (anti-aliasing)
It also adds sub-frame mouse polling (for high-Hz mice) and ultrawide display support. Combined with DLSS/FSR, that means even a GTX-class card can hit playable framerates at 1080p — pick the upscaler that matches your GPU brand.
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The PC catch: TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot are mandatory
This is the requirement that quietly broke the most PCs during the MW4 beta, and it carries into launch: MW4 requires TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot enabled to launch on PC. This is part of the Ricochet anti-cheat kernel-level driver. If either is off in your BIOS, the game throws a Secure Boot / attestation error and refuses to start — the install and preload will work fine, but you won't get into a match.
Check this before preload night, not after. Both settings live in your motherboard BIOS/UEFI, and enabling Secure Boot on a system that was installed in Legacy/CSM mode can require a Windows reinstall in the worst case — so you want to know now, with eight days of runway, not at midnight on the 23rd. The full walkthrough is in our MW4 Secure Boot / TPM error fix guide, and if you're already seeing frame hitches, the MW4 stutter and FPS-drop fixes cover the rest.
Console preload: what's confirmed
| As of October 9, Activision has not published official preload dates for PlayStation 5 or **Xbox Series X | S. CoD console preloads historically open two to three days before launch, which would put a likely console preload window around October 20–21**, but treat that as a pattern-based estimate — not a confirmed date. The campaign (Oct 16) and full launch (Oct 23) dates are identical across all platforms; only the preload opening differs. We'll update this page the moment Activision confirms the console window. |
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Preload now, hit the ground running on day one
The whole point of preloading is that your grind starts the second servers go live — not two hours later while 130 GB finishes downloading. If you want to come out of launch week already leveled instead of stuck in the lobby loading screen, this is where we come in:
Want to skip the launch-week grind entirely? Preload the client, then let us do the leveling while the servers settle:
- MW4 Bot Lobbies — private, low-SBMM lobbies from $5.90; the fastest, safest way to level guns and grind camos from day one
- MW4 Weapon Leveling — max any gun and unlock every attachment without the XP slog
- MW4 Account Leveling — skip straight past the early ranks, done by pro players
- MW4 Mastery Camo Bundle — all mastery camos, fast and secure
- All MW4 services — the full MW4 hub
FAQ
What time does MW4 PC preload start? PC preload unlocks on October 15, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. PT (12:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. BST / 6:00 p.m. CEST). It's available to anyone who digitally pre-purchased on Steam, Battle.net, or Xbox on PC. Preload stages the files but does not let you play early.
How big is the MW4 download on PC? The launch install needs 115 GB of SSD storage. Free up ~130–140 GB to give the installer unpacking headroom, and note the game grows as post-launch seasons add content. A mechanical hard drive does not meet the SSD requirement.
Do I need an SSD for MW4 on PC? Yes. Activision lists an SSD in the minimum spec, not just recommended. Installing to a mechanical HDD will cause texture-streaming stutter and won't meet the stated requirement.
Can I play MW4 when preload finishes? No. Preload only installs the files. The campaign unlocks October 16 for digital pre-orders, and the full game — multiplayer and Warzone integration — unlocks October 23 at midnight local time.
Why won't MW4 launch on my PC even though it installed? Almost always TPM 2.0 or Secure Boot being disabled in BIOS — both are mandatory for MW4's Ricochet anti-cheat. The install and preload work without them, but you'll hit a Secure Boot / attestation error when you try to play. Enable both in your motherboard BIOS before launch day.
When can PS5 and Xbox players preload MW4? Not officially dated as of October 9, 2026. CoD console preloads typically open two to three days before launch (so likely around October 20–21), but Activision hasn't confirmed a console window yet.
What upscaling does MW4 support on PC? NVIDIA DLSS 4.5, AMD FSR Redstone, Intel XeSS 3, and Filmic SMAA T2X, plus sub-frame mouse polling and ultrawide support. Real-time ray tracing runs across all modes.
