How to run multiple instances of Diablo 2: Resurrected

This method of running multiple instances of Diablo 2: Resurrected is the safest way to do it. There are PowerShell scripts out there that frankly do a bit better job, but the problem is you are launching D2R from something other than the Battle.Net client or a shortcut which means Blizzard might think you're running mods of some kind and could ban your accounts.

Here are the steps to take in order to run multiple instances of Diablo 2: Resurrected:

1. Download Process Explorer

The Process Explorer utility from Microsoft is used to kill the handle in the running D2R.exe that checks for multiple instances of Diablo 2: Resurrected and prevents them from running. Once the handle is removed, you are able to run another instance of D2R.

The Process Explorer utility can be found here. Download the .EXE and then place on your Desktop for easy access.

2. Make a copy of the game files

In order to run multiple copies of Diablo 2: Resurrected, we need two copies of the game files. The original copy is the one the Battle.Net client runs off of while with the second copy you can run as many instances of D2R as your PC can handle.

The first thing to do is find out where Diablo 2: Resurrected is installed. The best way to do this is to open the Battle.Net client, select D2R, then click the Gear next to the Play button and select Show in Explorer:

Figure 1: Find D2R install location

This will open a File Explorer window set to the location where Diablo 2: Resurrected is installed. In the File Explorer window, right-click on the subdirectory Diablo II Resurrected and select Copy. Then right-click in the File Explorer window and select Paste. This should make a second copy of the game files in the Diablo II Resurrected - Copy subdirectory.

Please note that every time Blizzard releases a new version of Diablo 2: Resurrected you will need to manually update this copy of the game to stay in sync. Usually this happens once or twice every few months so it's not something that happens all the time but needs to be done when required. To update the copy of D2R, just delete the Diablo II Resurrected - Copy subdirectory and then recopy the updated game files again to create a new Diablo II Resurrected - Copy subdirectory.

3. Create a D2R shortcut

The way you will run multiple instances of D2R is with a Windows shortcut to the D2R.exe in the Diablo II Resurrected - Copy subdirectory:

1. Go into the Diablo II Resurrected - Copy subdirectory and find the D2R.exe file
2. Right-click D2R.exe, select Show more options, then select Create shortcut
3. A Windows shortcut called D2R - Shortcut will be created in the Diablo II Resurrected - Copy subdirectory

You can rename and move this shortcut to anywhere on your PC, including the Desktop. Be aware, however, that this shortcut will have your Battle.Net email address and password in clear text when configured properly and that Microsoft backs up everything on your Desktop to OneDrive by default so this information will be stored in the cloud which you may or may not want.

Also, if you have purchased many D2R copies each on their own Battle.Net account, you will need to have a configured shortcut for each one that you want to run concurrently.

4. Configure D2R shortcut

Once you have copied the game files and created a shortcut to D2R.exe in the Diablo II Resurrected - Copy subdirectory, you now will need to configure this shortcut with your second Battle.Net account information.

1. Right-click the D2R shortcut and select Properties
2. In the Shortcut tab, append the following to the Target attribute:
   
   
   
   Figure 2: D2R Shortcut Target
   
   -username youremail@gmail.com -password yourPassword -address us.actual.battle.net
   
   Where -address is one of the several regions:
   • us.actual.battle.net - Americas
   • kr.actual.battle.net - Asia
   • eu.actual.battle.net - Europe
   
   
3. Click Apply, then click Ok

Please note that currently you can only connect to your home region using the shortcut method. It used to be that you could modify the -address portion and connect to any region but Blizzard made a change on their end a while ago where if you do that they lock your account and you have to unlock it with a security check. So if you need one of your extra accounts to connect to another region, use the Battle.Net client instead.

5. Run multiple instances

Now you are able to run multiple instances of Diablo 2: Resurrected.

1. Start the first instance of D2R either using the Battle.Net client or a shortcut if you configured one for your first account
2. From your Desktop, right-click on Process Explorer and select Run as administrator. Select Yes on the confirmation popup
3. In the <Filter by name> box, type D2R. This will show the first instance of D2R.exe running
4. Select D2R.exe in Process Explorer, then in the Handles window at the bottom find the handle called DiabloII Check For Other Instances. Right-click this handle and select Close Handle. Select Yes on the confirmation popup
5. Now find the D2R shortcut for your second account and double-click this shortcut to launch the second copy of D2R
6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 for each D2R instance you want to run concurrently, up to as many as your PC can handle

Figure 3: Using Process Explorer

There you go! Now you can run multiple instances of Diablo 2: Resurrected on your PC!