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macross5599's avatar
macross5599
6 years ago
Solved

Sims 3 won't install! (MAC)

My sims 3 will not install from the origin app on my Mac! it is installed into the origin app but it says i need to install it from an external app when i press this it shows the sims 3 installer for...
mac
technical issues
puzzlezaddict's avatar
puzzlezaddict
Hero+
6 years ago

@macross5599  I take if your Mac runs Catalina?  If so, that's the issue:  Sims 3 is a 32-bit app, and Catalina is 64-bit only.  There's no way around this issue.  But EA has announced a 64-bit-compatible version of TS3 for macOS, to be released some time this year.  Here's the full announcement:

https://answers.ea.com/t5/Technical-Issues-Mac/An-announcement-for-The-Sims-3-players-on-Mac/td-p/8271641

In the interim, your only options are to play on another computer, or to install a second OS on your Mac.  If you only recently bought TS3 and don't want to wait for the new version, you can request a refund from EA.

https://help.ea.com/en-us/help/account/returns-and-cancellations/

WCWife's avatar
WCWife
6 years ago

Hi, this is super confusing as I have had the sims3 on my mac since 2016 and I never ever had an issue. I have just re downloaded it and now it won't install even though this is the exact same computer i played it on for 2 whole years. Could this be the same issue?

  • puzzlezaddict's avatar
    puzzlezaddict
    Hero+
    6 years ago

    @WCWife  If your Mac runs macOS 10.15 (Catalina), then yes, it's the same issue.  Otherwise, let me know your version of macOS and what happens when you try to install Sims 3.

    • 1504chelsea's avatar
      1504chelsea
      6 years ago

      Hi 

      My Mac is running OS Mojave and its not letting me access its saying there's an error occurred I've wiped the RAM and uninstalled everything and reinstalled but I don't know what to do to make it work

    • Greenthumb373's avatar
      Greenthumb373
      6 years ago

      I am having the same issue too. Mine is Mac OS 10.13.6 (High Sierra). I have downloaded the game twice and tried to install it and then the code won't work that I entered into The Sims 3 installer...

      • puzzlezaddict's avatar
        puzzlezaddict
        Hero+
        6 years ago

        @Greenthumb373  Your issue is a bit different in that Sims 3 does run in your OS.  Are you sure you're using the base game code to try to install the base game?  Each pack should have its own code.  Try downloading just the base game, no packs, and manually copy the code when offered.  You can paste it into the installer window rather than having to type it out.

        You can also look up your base game code within Origin.  Open your game library, right-click on the Sims 4 icon, select Game Properties, and you should see a CD key, which is the same thing.  You can copy and paste that one too.

    • Demsasha's avatar
      Demsasha
      6 years ago
      @puzzlezaddict Hello! Excuse me, please, I'm quite desperate and I've decided to ask for your help, too. I'm reinstalling TS3 on my iMac (High Sierra) after numerous game crushes. And, similarly to the others, my download in Origin is frozen at the status "Frozen" , the button being inactive. I tried using the EA instruction about running the .dmg file, but there's not basic game .dmg on my computer. So, do you think there's a way for me to finalize the finalizing and play the game? I haven't experienced such big problems with TS3 for all my years playing it since 2013, and now it is such a disaster - a month ago I reinstalled TS3 from Origin, everything worked except for custom content
      • puzzlezaddict's avatar
        puzzlezaddict
        Hero+
        6 years ago

        @Demsasha  Please run the Origin reset tool for macOS:

        https://help.ea.com/en-us/help/origin/origin/how-to-reset-origin-on-mac/

        Restart your computer, and download just the base game, no packs.  If the download works, great, go ahead and install.  If it gets stuck again, then yes, you can install by launching the .dmg.  But that only works if the installer is in fact fully downloaded.

        Open a Finder window, and click Macintosh HD (or whatever you've renamed your hard disk) in the left panel.  If you don't see it, click Finder in the upper left corner of your screen, then Preferences > Sidebar, and check the box next to Hard disks, in the Devices category.  Open Macintosh HD, then Library > Application Support > Origin > DownloadCache, and you should see a folder labeled with a string of numbers.  Inside should be a ~6 GB .dmg file.  Drag that to your desktop and double-click to open it.

        To actually install the game, you'll need your CD key.  In Origin, open your game library, right-click (or hold down the crtl key and click) on the Sims 3 icon, and select Game Properties.  The CD key is the same 20-character product code you'll need to provide the installer when it asks.

        Once the base game is installed, please run the Super Patch (digital download version) to manually patch it to 1.67.

        https://bluebellflora.com/sims-3-manual-super-patch-for-mac-1-67/

        Test the game, and let me know whether you get the unknown error.  If you get the server error, that's fine for now—you can fix it by installing almost any pack.  But some of the packs need their own workarounds, so please list the ones you'd like to install.

        By the way, you can run the Origin reset tool any time it's stuck finalizing or downloading, or doesn't load properly.

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