Re: [CURRENT ISSUE] Sims 4 already running

@ikcuts  So if you create a new local admin Windows account and try to play in that, you still get the "already running" error?  And I have to stress this because it's critical and some players overlook this detail, but the account absolutely needs to be local, as in, not linked to your the email address that's attached to your Microsoft account.  You'd have been asked to answer a series of security questions instead.

If you did all this and still saw the error, what antivirus do you use?  It's possible the software is blocking Sims 4, even in the new account.  It's also possible, although less likely, that you have a virus or other system issue, so please run the Malwarebytes scan described in the first post and attach the results.

Alright, I'll run the program. Nothing else has been working so far :/ thanks for your help so far!

No threats detected.

Malwarebytes
www.malwarebytes.com

-Log Details-
Scan Date: 4/17/2024
Scan Time: 4:59 PM
Log File: 2b188388-fd0e-11ee-b5f5-a44cc8439b26.json

-Software Information-
Version: 5.1.2.109
Components Version: 1.0.1214
Update Package Version: 1.0.83563
License: Trial

-System Information-
OS: Windows 10 (Build 19045.4291)
CPU: x64
File System: NTFS
User: LAPTOP-Q3S7TTJ0\birdie

-Scan Summary-
Scan Type: Threat Scan
Scan Initiated By: Manual
Result: Completed
Objects Scanned: 256683
Threats Detected: 0
Threats Quarantined: 0
Time Elapsed: 2 min, 58 sec

-Scan Options-
Memory: Enabled
Startup: Enabled
File system: Enabled
Archives: Enabled
Rootkits: Disabled
Heuristics: Enabled
PUP: Detect
PUM: Detect

-Scan Details-
Process: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Module: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Key: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Value: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Data: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Data Stream: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Folder: 0
(No malicious items detected)

File: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Physical Sector: 0
(No malicious items detected)

WMI: 0
(No malicious items detected)

(end)

Another thing I've run into: it looks like I don't have TS4.exe or TS4_x64.exe on my computer. I was going to put those in my exclusions.

@ikcuts  The Malwarebytes scan was very short considering how much data is on your C drive.  Are you totally sure you chose a custom scan and that you checked the box for the C drive?  Malwarebytes has changed its setup since I wrote my instructions; now you need to click the three dots to the right of the Scan button, choose Advanced Scan, choose Custom Scan, check the boxes on the left, and check the box for C on the right.

Solved. Local disk > Program files > Electronic Arts > EA Desktop > EA Desktop > scroll down to EA Desktop application and run as administrator