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Re: Sims 4 packs aren't loading in game

Overview

This problem appears to be mainly, if not entirely, related to the Sims 4 packs in question being installed to a different location than the base game.  The EA App sees the packs as installed, because they are, but the game can't find them to load their content.  In order for the packs to load, the "The Sims 4 Packs" folder must be in the same location as the Sims 4.app:

Solution

If you're running into this issue, the first step is to identify the affected packs and find their codes, as listed here:

https://sims4.crinrict.com/eng/extras-2/available-packs-dlc/

For example, Get to Work is EP01; For Rent is EP15.

If you've installed Sims 4 onto an external drive, make sure it's plugged in and recognized.  Open Terminal, which is inside Applications > Utilities, copy and paste the following search command, and enter:

find / -name "EP01" 2>/dev/null

Except instead of EP01 , you'll use the code for one of your missing packs.  Don't change anything else about the command.  Terminal may take a few minutes to complete the process, so please be patient; you'll know the search is finished when the command prompt reappears.  If Sims 4 is installed anywhere on your computer, you will see at least one result.

You can ignore the entries that start with System/Volumes, as these are redundant.  For the rest, you may see something like this:

/Users/username/Applications/The Sims 4 Packs/__Installer/DLC/EP01
/Users/username/Applications/The Sims 4 Packs/EP01
/Users/username/Applications/The Sims 4.app/Contents/Delta/EP01

The first part of the file path must be the same for all three entries, as above.  If The Sims 4.app is in a different location, like this:

/Users/username/Applications/The Sims 4 Packs/__Installer/DLC/EP01
/Users/username/Applications/The Sims 4 Packs/EP01
/Applications/EA Games/The Sims 4.app/Contents/Delta/EP01

That's the problem.  You'll need to move the "The Sims 4 Packs" folder to the same location as the Sims 4.app.  In the above example, that would mean moving the Packs folder out of Users > your username > Applications and into Applications > EA Games.

If this doesn't work, delete the Packs folder, run the EA App Recovery tool (under the Help menu at the top of the screen, with the EA App in focus), and restart your computer, then redownload the missing packs.


If this doesn't help either, please reply to this thread, and post the results of the Terminal search for at least two of your missing packs.  Feel free to remove or black out your username where you see it, if you want, but leave everything else intact.

You can copy and paste the results from the Terminal window, or you can use cmd-shift-4 to take a screenshot of the relevant portion of the screen.

7 Replies

  • edakucuk's avatar
    edakucuk
    2 years ago

    I recently reinstalled The Sims 4 and the EA app because my game wasn't starting anymore. Now the game has been downloaded again, but I'm missing the 'Sims 4 Packs' folder in my EA folder next to the 'Sims 4' folder. I've already repaired the game, and the folder still hasn't appeared even though I have Game Packs in my game. How can I get this folder back?

  • phoeebees's avatar
    phoeebees
    2 years ago

    Hey hey!

    I've got the issue but my packs are in the same location.

    I've tried the recommended solution of deleting the packs folder, repairing the EA app, restarting the laptop and reinstalling the packs to no luck.

    I've attached screenshots of the terminal searches, my install location through the EA app, my DLCs being installed and the location within Finder.

    Any help would be appreciated.

  • puzzlezaddict's avatar
    puzzlezaddict
    Hero+
    2 years ago

    @phoeebees  Just checking, but is the entire file path the same for each entry in your first screenshot?  I can't tell whether the path start with /Applications or you've cut off part of the location, and if the latter, whether the first part matches.  And let me know if there are any other results aside from what's in System/Volumes.

    Aside from that, please do a clean uninstall of the EA App, as described here:

    https://bluebellflora.com/2024/04/04/ea-app-recovery-for-mac-reset-ea-app-by-clearing-cache-and-other-files-manually/

    Restart your computer, reinstall the App, repair the game (again), and see whether your packs load.

    If that doesn't help, uninstall Sims 4, clean-uninstall the App again, and create a new admin account on your Mac.  Install the App and game using that account, and use the default Macintosh HD/Applications/EA Games install location for Sims 4.  Launch the game in the new account first to see whether your packs show up.  If you want to save time, you can install only the base game and one or two packs to test wtih.

  • phoeebees's avatar
    phoeebees
    2 years ago

    Here's a full screen shot of the Terminal response...

    I did the clean uninstall of the EA App, restarted my laptop, reinstalled the App, repaired the game (again) and that didn't fix.

    I'll wait to see if you notice anything in the image before I try your admin solution.

  • puzzlezaddict's avatar
    puzzlezaddict
    Hero+
    2 years ago

    @phoeebees  The game looks to be installed correctly, but what is that extra stuff inside the saves folder?  There shouldn't be anything inside except for actual saves.  Please remove everything else.

    Aside from that, your packs should be loading, so I'd fall back on my previous suggestion.

    @a11057dabc9135d4 and @TaraHorton  I've merged your posts with the master thread for packs listed as installed but not loading.  Please see the accepted solution on page one.  If that doesn't help, please run the Terminal search described in that post and provide the results.

  • phoeebees's avatar
    phoeebees
    2 years ago

    You are literally a god!

    Thank you so much, that worked.

    No idea why I had to create the new admin account, but it's all working on my regular account now so I've been able to delete it.

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