[Existing Game Files] How to use?
Product: The EA app Platform:PC Error Report ID (learn how to create an Error Report ID in the sticky post) 012 Which client functionality are you experiencing this bug with? Application Navigatio...
Forum Discussion
As already mentioned, I do own the game. It was downloaded from my account via the EA app, before I reinstalled windows. So nothing that I do not own is downloaded.
I'm aware that if I redownload the entire game that is already downloaded it will then work. The question is how do I avoid doing that because this isn't the only game that is affected.
I have little over 1tb of games that would have to be redownloaded if the EA app does not have this basic QOL feature. Even origin was capable of navigating to pre-existing game files, can the EA app not do that? I see nowhere in the settings for this even being a function.
@aFatLilGoat No, the EA App doesn't have Origin's Locate Game feature, at least not now. What you can try though is setting the App to download to the same location where a given game is already installed. When I've tried this, the App has usually just verified the existing files and finalized the install, although I did see it redownload a couple of Sims 4 packs in their entirety.
The other cause of the "you don't have access" error is a temporary hiccup with the App, which can usually be cleared up with an App Recovery:
https://help.ea.com/en-us/help/faq/clear-cache-to-fix-problems-with-your-games/
I'm not saying this will help here—reinstalling Windows means you wiped the registry entries that the App needs to verify your ownership, which is the cause of your current issue. I'm just mentioning it in case you run into the problem again down the line.
