Re: Sims 3 64-bit: problems installing store/custom content

@nlferrari  Please move your entire Sims 3 folder out of Documents > Electronic Arts and onto your desktop.  Open the launcher to create a new folder, and download one item from the store, using Firefox.  If it doesn't work, clear the caches for both Firefox and Safari, quit Origin and restart it, and try again.

If that doesn't help, please open a Finder window, hold down the optn(alt) key, click Go at the top of your screen, then select Library.  From there, open Application Support > Origin, and see whether you have a folder inside labeled Installer Data.  If you do, please open it, take a screenshot of its contents, and attach it to a post.

If you don't have the folder, create one; be sure to get the name and case exactly right.  If you have one, trash it and make a new one.  Then try to install a new download of one item, and let me know whether it works.  It may help to install a Store item first, although I'm not sure.

@nlferrari  Just to be clear, you're still getting exactly the same error as before, and despite the suggestions?  Are you downloading store content from the same account (username and password) as you use to sign into Origin?  Store content is encrypted and won't work when the product key for the installed game doesn't match what's on file in the account.

Do you have an antivirus that might be blocking store stuff, or a cleaner app that might be getting in the way?  If so, try disabling the app.

Hey! I'm getting the same issue. I literally cannot download any of my store content from TheSims3.com, and I also get "There was an error downloading content {0}" when trying to download my store content. I don't use any anti-virus software outside of what Apple provides by default on all Macs. I tried what you said to do, but to no avail.

@acwesty  It's best to install only a few items at a time; the launcher can break with too much data.  If that's not the issue, please try the suggestions here:

https://answers.ea.com/t5/Technical-Issues-Mac/Problems-installing-Sims3Packs-TS3-64-bit/m-p/9665254#error0

If none of them help, please let me know whether your expansion and stuff packs are showing as installed along the bottom of the launcher.  If they're missing try the additional steps in this post:

https://answers.ea.com/t5/Technical-Issues-Mac/Problems-installing-Sims3Packs-TS3-64-bit/m-p/9682935#M13505

And if that doesn't help either, you can try the more drastic approach described a couple posts earlier in the same thread:

https://answers.ea.com/t5/Technical-Issues-Mac/Problems-installing-Sims3Packs-TS3-64-bit/m-p/9681403#M13481

Also too you should use either Chrome or Firefox to download your Store content. Safari doesn't work well with the Sims 3 Store. I found that out yesterday.

i just downloaded sims 3 for mac metal, and I when i try to download custom CC it doesnt work and says "error occured" and brings forward the origin screen and doesnt let me download. I repaired the game and it didnt work. Here is a picture of the inside of the "installer data' file for origin attached. Im not sure how to fix this issue

@Summerxena  Please empty out the Downloads folder inside Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 3.  You can put these files wherever you want, but they need to be moved.  Download one cc item, and if it's from a third-party source, manually place the Sims3Pack in this Downloads folder.  If you're downloading from the Exchange, open the launcher first, then click Download.

When the item appears in the launcher, try to install it, just that one item, nothing else yet.  If it doesn't work, remove the underlying .Sims3Pack from the Downloads folder, close and reopen the launcher, and try again with a different cc item.

Hello, I am French and I have an IMac. Excuse me for my language mistakes. I believe I understood that American players (and other countries) can play with a 64 bits version of Sims3 by downloading "64 bits and metal" on Origin.... but me, I never had this option offered in Origin !!! Is this normal? France don't have the update?

Thank you in advance

@laliblablard73  The 64-bit version of Sims 3 should be available in all regions.  It's a separate entry in Origin and says "64-bit" on it:

If you don't see that version, you'll need to contact EA customer support and ask for it.  The important part is to ask for the "entitlement," as it's called, for the 64-bit version: you don't need a new copy of the game, just the rights to the 64-bit base game.

https://help.ea.com/en/contact-us/

Hello. I have the 64 Bit Sims 3 downloaded as well as expansion packs but it is saying they are unable to work with the current game installed. Am i able to get entitlement with the expansion packs as well or am i going to have to repurchase them ? 

@bakerniyah  Your issue is different and has an easy fix.  Please open Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 3, and delete the file labled Version.tag.

Hello, 

I am still having issues with downloading my items that I have purchased from the Sims 3 store. I have switched from Safari to Chrome to see if my browser was the problem but I am still getting the error message. I have a 13 in MacBook Pro retina early 2015. My macOS is Monterey version 12.4 and my processor is 2.9 GHz Dual-core Intel Core i5. I have refreshed both internet browsers, cleaned the history, deleted the sims 3 folder from the EA folder and have it create a new one.  

@nessatay2223  Have you tried Firefox yet?  That's the browser I always use, and it's never given me any problems.

If that doesn't help, as a test, please move the entire Sims 3 folder out of Documents > Electronic Arts and onto your desktop.  Open the launcher to spawn a clean folder, then try downloading and installing a store item, again with Firefox.  If this works, you can add the content from your old Sims 3 folder later.

If you still get the same error, please move the InstallerData folder in your first screenshot to the desktop, then repair the game in Origin: open your Origin game library, right-click on the Sims 3 icon, and select Repair.  Then try again to download a store item into a(nother) clean Sims 3 folder.

Hello again,

I really appreciate your help. I tried the options you gave me and unfortunately it is still popping up with that error. ☹️ 

hi i’ve been playing sims 3 for a week or two but i’ve never been able to make a sims account, i have an ea account but whenever i try to make a sims account it says my serial code is wrong. i’ve used the serial code in game properties and i’ve contacted ea help. ea help gave me multiple codes to use and none would work, he recommended me using this to find an answer, could anyone help?

@mikaylakd  Have you tried just signing into the sims site with your EA/Origin username and password?  The old site and Origin share information, so your existing codes would all read as used, but you should also get credit for having bought or registered the game in Origin.

I have a really weird issue with Sina 3 metal and bit. I could install all my expansions properly, even custom made worlds but I’m unable to install anything from the store. I mean it installs and appears as installed in the console but when I click play it’s never there. Then when I’m in the launcher with all the available saves, it does not recognise my password m which is weird because I click I forgot my password (a new page with the Sims 3 stores open and asks for my password which is fine), then I download something from the sims 3 store again and I get a pop-up “x has been correctly installed”, then I go to the launcher and it’s not there anymore ☹️ 

@leyredi  Does your password have a special character in it?  That's always been a problem with Sims 3.  Try changing it to something with only letters and numbers, then clear the saved login data.  Open Applications > Utilities > Keychain Access, search for sims, and delete anything with sims3 in the name.

For the store content, please try downloading one item into a clean user folder.  Move the entire Sims 3 folder out of Documents > Electronic Arts and onto your desktop, open the launcher to spawn a clean folder, download one item and install it, and see whether it shows up in-game.  Please use Firefox, which works better with the store than Safari or Chrome.

If this works, you can install the rest of your store content, a few items at a time, make sure everything shows up, then copy your saves and other content from the old Sims 3 folder to the new one.

@puzzlezaddict it worked like a charm, took me a bit but now all my store content is installed 🙂 nevertheless the password change did not work, I did not have special characters to begin with but I changed to another password and it works in the store and origin, I also can log in the launcher, but once I am again in the screen to choose a save or start a new one, it automatically says my password is not correct... anyway I will give up on that ever working.

on the other hand, I understand that now I have to install my custom cc (thank god I just have 2 worlds), and once that is added I understand I can copy past my mods and saves, is that right? thank you so much

@leyredi  I'm glad to hear the store content works now.  For signing in at the Main Menu, it does seem to work for most people, so I'm not sure what's different for you, but you may want to check back in a couple weeks in case this is one of EA's temporary server hiccups.

And yes, now that you've installed your store stuff, you can copy over your saves, mods, and anything else you want to keep as well as install your custom worlds.