I can't Download Sims 3 DLCs on EA APP

Hello! Had the same issue and found the fix from a comment someone left under a youtube video I just saw. It's easy and worked right away for me. If you already have the base game installed just skip step 1.



Step 1: Install EA Games App and install The Sims 3. You may have to wait a short time while the application preallocates space wherever you decide to install the game at. Wait for the download to finish.

Step 2: Completely close the EA App in Task Manager (ctrl+alt+del->Task Manager)(you may have to Expand Task Manager in Windows 10 to see all running tasks), killing both "EA" and "EA Background Service" by clicking them and pressing the Delete key.

Step 3: Re-open the EA app and click on The Sims 3 under "Installed games", don't click the Play icon.

Step 4: Click on Manage->Manage add-ons. Click on any of the DLCs "Download" button. This will prompt you to 'install Sims 3' again, but just choose the folder you originally installed into. This sets up the base game and all the DLC to queue up.

Step 5: Click on the Sims 3 "preparing" box in the lower left-hand corner to open up the Download Manager. It will show that The Sims 3 is preparing to download.

Step 6: Click the X icon next to The Sims 3 to start the download of DLC. Essentially you're stopping The Sims 3 from downloading AGAIN.

@Hauk150 - I had to make a "pointed stink" about it...before they managed to fix my Origin account so I could download my Sims 3 DLC (EPs and my sole SP). I said I was going to download EA App "WHEN HELL FREEZES OVER" if they don't fix the problem and let me have access to my downloads on Origin. I'm waiting to download EA App until they fix the problems for Sims 3 users.

THAT may be NEVER.

"Nikkei_Simmer;c-18204810" wrote:
@Hauk150 - I had to make a "pointed stink" about it...before they managed to fix my Origin account so I could download my Sims 3 DLC (EPs and my sole SP). I said I was going to download EA App "WHEN HELL FREEZES OVER" if they don't fix the problem and let me have access to my downloads on Origin. I'm waiting to download EA App until they fix the problems for Sims 3 users.

THAT may be NEVER.

This is gravely concerning.

Surely they will not leave that many users who have spent that much money including recent converts to sims3, in a lurch for long.

No good could come of it, whereas they have plentyto gain still, continuing to sell and support something that people are still willing to pay top dollar for in 2022 and beyond, that was made entirely like 10 years+, prior, so everything made from it now is basically profit for nothing additional on their part past maintaining access.

If access isn't made available, the ferociously dedicated fanbase might keep it available by any means necessary. I myself would far rather just have it the easy way, if EA gives me one, and happily buy the rest of the store plus remaining packs as I planned to before all this came about.

It has become a hobby the way miniature trains get to be: something a person eventually admits is their money-sink that they are past being embarrassed about collecting. Except, train sets can be resold and often appreciate in value.

Ok so now I do feel like the greater fool. ?

Hey all,

This issue should actually be resolved with a server side fix we made on Monday, if you're still seeing this behavior now with the EA app please let me know so I can alert the right teams on our side.

I'm just glad I have the original boxed sets, I just have to dig them out of storage. And since Origin is retired, they can no longer create new base game links to Origin. However, the DLC all shows up, but my base game itself doesn't work. I even tried installing it through Steam: still no dice. Probably I will have to uninstall and reinstall everything once I get all my DVDs for the game ready. I will have to go through the Sims 3 store for the extra worlds and Sims 3 content though. Or just play it on my older computer, which I unplugged from the internet before the kill switch was activated. And NO, that is not going back online for these very reasons. Plus everything I needed including all the DLC and worlds are already installed on there. Likewise with Sims 2 (and all packs) on my Windows XP computer. I got the Ultimate collection for Sims 2 just because the CDs and DVDs did not run on Windows 10, nor Windows 11, even with compatibility boxes checked. But the whole thing runs great on Win XP. Now if we could just find a decent Windows XP emulator....

And no, although it will run the Sims 3 launcher, that Launcher will not run Sims 3. The old Sims 3 launcher needs to either be patched or bypassed. Also, if it does get patched, please add an option to remember user choice when making pack selections.

Not everything i had when played sims 3 is showing as owned i played showtime but it shows as unowned and none the worlds brought with points show as owned. Still can't install sims 2 ultimate Edition either. I contacted support thanks,

"bandit5;c-18205113" wrote:
Not everything i had when played sims 3 is showing as owned i played showtime but it shows as unowned and none the worlds brought with points show as owned. Still can't install sims 2 ultimate Edition either. I contacted support thanks,

I had to download and install sims2 UC via Origin again first. Now it runs on the ea app quite well actually. I did have 3 running smoothly with all my store content but it has a hiccup or two and sometimes i have to restart the game to get everything to show. Mind the launcher was glitchy before the new app so that may be the hiccup. I am only using the EA app now.