Download the game

Install steps

  1. Create the folder C:\MapleKaki first.
  2. Add the Defender exclusion below BEFORE downloading (private-server clients are modified game files, so antivirus flags them — the files are safe).
  3. Download the client above and move the zip into C:\MapleKaki, then right-click → Extract All.
  4. Double-click MapleStory.exe. If a blue box appears → More info → Run anyway.
  5. Log in with an account made on this site (or register in-client at the login screen).

🛡️ Windows Defender — stop it eating the client

Do this before downloading. It tells Defender to trust your MapleKaki folder only.

  1. Start menu → type Windows Security → open it.
  2. Virus & threat protection → under "Virus & threat protection settings" click Manage settings.
  3. Scroll to Exclusions → Add or remove exclusions → Add an exclusion → Folder → pick C:\MapleKaki.
  4. If Defender already deleted a file: Protection history → find the item → Actions → Restore, then re-extract.
  5. Browser blocking the download? Chrome: Ctrl+J → Keep → Keep anyway. Edge: ... on the download → Keep → Show more → Keep anyway.

🛡️ Norton / Norton 360 — extra steps

Norton is more aggressive and has its own quarantine, separate from Windows.

  1. Open Norton → Settings → Antivirus.
  2. Scans and Risks tab → Exclusions / Low Risks → Items to Exclude from Scans (and Items to Exclude from Auto-Protect, SONAR & Download Intelligence) → Configure → Add Folders → choose C:\MapleKaki.
  3. Norton has a feature called Download Insight that blocks "unproven" files — the exclusion above covers it. If it still nags, right-click the download → Norton → Restore from Quarantine / Trust this file.
  4. Already quarantined? Norton → Security History → find MapleStory.exe → Restore & exclude from future scans.
  5. Turning Norton fully off is not needed — the folder exclusion is enough and keeps you protected everywhere else.

Still stuck? Ask in the Discord and someone will walk you through it.