The Sims 4 is one of the most popular life simulation games worldwide, but many reported that Sims 4 won’t open.

Try modifying the name of the game’s folder if Sims 4 won’t launch

  • If The Sims 4 won’t start on your PC, you’re likely dealing with a damaged installation.

  • Faulty cache issues can also prevent the game from running, so be sure to clear them.

  • Another solution is to remove any recently installed third-party applications that can interfere with the game.

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This is a very stable game, but players report that various technical issues may occur from time to time, limiting their gaming experience. If Sims 4 won’t open, you’ve come to the right place.

Why won’t my Sims 4 open?

There are multiple reasons for the Sim 4 won’t open problem. Below are some of the prevalent causes:

  • Activities of MOD file: MOD files help modify your game’s behavior. However, it is essential to know that the game developers did not create these files. So, they can sometimes affect your game. The quick way around this is to force the game to create a new MOD file without deleting the original one.
  • Interference from antivirus/firewall: In some cases, it might be your antivirus software or firewall preventing the game from opening. The solution is to disable the software and probably switch to one of the best antivirus apps.
  • Faulty game cache: While caches help improve your gaming experience, they can cause problems when they become faulty or outdated. You need to delete the cache files using a specialized PC cleaning tool to fix this.

How do I fix Sims 4 when it won’t open?

Before exploring the fixes in this section, below are some troubleshooting steps you should try:

  • Why won’t my Sims 4 open?

  • How do I fix Sims 4 when it won’t open?

    1. Force the game to create a new Mods folder
    1. Repair the game
    1. Clean boot your computer
    1. Delete the Origin cache files
    1. Deactivate Origin in-game
    1. Reset your user files
  • Remove any recently installed app.

  • Temporarily disable your antivirus software.

If these troubleshooting steps do not work, you can now explore the fixes below.

1. Force the game to create a new Mods folder

  • Open File Explorer and go to Documents > Electronic Arts > Sims 4.
  • Select the Mods folder and press the Ctrl key + C to copy it.
  • Now, go to the Desktop folder in the left pane and press Ctrl + P to paste the folder.
  • From here, delete the Mods folder in the Sims 4 folder and start the game. This should force Sim 4 to create a new Mods folder.
  • Now, open the new and empty Mods folder in the Sim4 folder and the original one on your Desktop on two separate File Explorer windows.
  • Open one of the folders in the original Mods folder and copy its content.
  • Then, go to the new and empty Mods folder window and click the New folder icop. Give the folder any name you like.
  • Paste the files you copied in Steps in this new folder.
  • Now, repeat Steps 6 to 8 for the other folders in the original Mods folder. Note that you don’t need to worry if you don’t have any folder to copy in the original Mods folder.
  • After copying these folders, you can now copy the other contents of the original Mods folder to the new one at once.

After following the steps above, you can open the Sims 4 game periodically or in batches to test certain Mods.

2. Repair the game

  • Open Origin.
  • Now, go to My Game Library
  • Right-click The Sims 4 and choose the Repair option.

According to users, sometimes The Sims 4 won’t open if your installation is damaged. You just need to repair your The Sims 4 installation to fix the problem.

Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the repair process. Keep in mind that the repair can take a while, so you’ll need to be patient.

Once the game is repaired, try to start it again and check if the Sims 4 not loading problem is still there.

3. Clean boot your computer

  • Press Windows Key + R and enter msconfig. Now press Enter or click OK.
  • On the Services tab, click to select the Hide all Microsoft services check box and select Disable all.
  • On the Startup tab, click Open Task Manager.
  • Select each startup item and click Disable.
  • Close Task Manager, then click OK and restart the computer.

Sometimes third-party applications and services can interfere with your game and cause this and other similar issues.

If The Sims 4 won’t open after an update, you might want to try performing a Clean boot. This will disable all third-party applications and services that can interfere with your game. 

If the Clean boot solves your problem, you need to enable disabled applications and services one by one or in groups until you find the cause of the problem.

4. Delete the Origin cache files

  • Open File Explorer and follow the path below: C:\Users<username>\AppData\Local C:\Users<username>\AppData\Roaming
  • If you can’t find the AppData folder there, click the View tab at the top and check the box for Hidden items.
  • Now, delete the Origin folder there.

If Sims 4 won’t launch Origin, you may be able to fix the issue by cleaning up the cache files.

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Over time, these files accumulate out-of-date or corrupted data causing various issues. Here’s where you can find the Origin cache files:

C:\Users<username>\AppData\Local

C:\Users<username>\AppData\Roaming

If you can’t see any files at these locations, unhide them. Go to the search menu, type folder, and then select Show hidden files and folders from the search results.

You can also access these directories by using the Run dialog. To do that, just press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog. Now enter one of the following lines:

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  • To enter Roaming directory, enter %appdata% and press Enter or click OK.
  • To enter Local directory, enter %localappdata% and press Enter or click OK.

Don’t waste time and choose a tool from our list to remove cache files automatically. One of the best automatic tools on the market that will certainly help you overcome this issue is CCleaner.

It scans your PC and detects all unnecessary junk files that slow down your PC and cause additional errors like this Sims 4 won’t open one.

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5. Deactivate Origin in-game

  • Open Origin.
  • Now go to Application Settings > Origin In Game.
  • Uncheck Origin In Game.

Several users reported that disabling Origin In Game fixed the problem for them. According to users, this feature can sometimes prevent The Sims 4 from starting but also from downloading on Origin.

If Sims 4 won’t launch Origin, one way to fix the problem is to deactivate Origin In Game.

6. Reset your user files

  1. Launch the This PC app on your device.

  2. Go to My Documents.

  3. Locate and open the Electronic Arts folder.

  4. Find The Sims 4 folder, right-click on it and select Copy.

  5. Go to your desktop, right-click on a free space, and select Paste.

  6. Right-click on the copied folder and select Rename.

  7. Change the name of the folder and launch a new game.

If you’re unable to start Sims 4, another handy method to fix it is to reset your user files. You can do this by following the steps above.

There you go, we hope these quick workarounds helped you and that you managed to start the game without any issues.

This isn’t the only issue, and many reported that The Sims 4 won’t update, but we covered this issue in a separate guide.

If you’ve come across other solutions to fix start issues in The Sims 4, list the troubleshooting steps in the comment section below.

If the advices above haven’t solved your issue, your PC may experience deeper Windows problems. We recommend downloading this PC Repair tool (rated Great on TrustPilot.com) to easily address them. After installation, simply click the Start Scan button and then press on Repair All.

Still having issues? Fix them with this tool:

  • EA OriginThe Sims 4

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