My download is endlessly stuck on "preparing".

I have the same problem. I also tried everything and nothing worked.

Hey there, have you tried reinstalling the game by any chance to see if that helps?

That's the thing, I can't even install the game, it's just stuck on "preparing download" all the time. Also, when I cancel the download, it gets stuck on cancelling instead, and then I have to re-open the EA app so it will go back to normal

Do ya'll even read the posts?

Thanks for the info! Are you trying to install add-ons or just the base game? Some players reported that they managed to cancel the download by clearing the cache, and by re-downloading the game without the add-ons. Once the base game was installed, they downloaded their packs separately.

Tried with and without the add-ons. Nothing changed. As I said, I cleared the cache, I still couldn't download the game. 

mine is doing the same thing! I can't play at all....stuck on Preparing Game

Alright, here's another workaround that has fixed the issue for other players: Open EA app (not through the game - just the app), log out, then manually log back in and uncheck the "Keep me signed in" box, then try again to download the game. Fingers crossed this one does the trick for you.

I am having this exact same problem and my game is not on an external hard drive. When I clear the cache, I click for The Sims 4 to update again and the same infinite updating problem just happens all over again, and eventually the EA app crashes. I've also tried things like restarting the EA app and restarting my computer and none of this has helped. I'm literally unable to play my game.

Hi everyone, I was able to find a fix for this (or at least it worked for me). I cleared the cache and reopened EA app, and if it still said "preparing, calculating time" in the bottom left, I cleared the cache again and reopened EA app again. I kept doing this over and over until eventually I opened EA app and there was nothing on the bottom left (the game said it needed to be updated, but it wasn't currently updating). Once this happens, DON'T click to update again.  Instead, click "The Sims 4", then "Manage" and then click "Repair" (the option to Repair will not show up if your game is currently updating). Once my game finished repairing, I didn't even have to update it anymore, I just clicked to play and the game opened normally. I hope this helps!