[INFORMATION] How does this forum work ?
Introduction
This forum is for bug reports on the Sims 4. It's main purpose is to report bugs which the devs need to fix, not to troubleshoot your game.
Bugs by nature don't really have a sol...
Forum Discussion
The Bug Template/ Info to Provide
Before posting in the bug forum, please try the following things first
- Check the compiled list: [READ FIRST] Compiled list of Bugs. If the issue you're about to report already has a thread, please use that one. Make sure to click me too on the first post and if you have new information, also post. Also post if the thread didn't have an answer in > 3 month.
- Search the forum. There's a lot of open issues reported that aren't on the compiled list. A quick search and checking the first page will avoid multiple threads on the same issue.
- It's important that you remove all custom content and mods before reporting something. A lot of stuff is broken the bug forum isn't the place to get support for mod issues. This is so EA can't dismiss a bug as mod/cc related.
- It's always helpful for narrowing down the bug, if you could also test it on a new save as well as other Sims and households/houses. This isn't always possible though.
- In the bug forum, bumping a thread is only considered necro posting if the thread is either has been tagged as FIXED or if it's from before 2017 (when the template was introduced)
Good Practice on your bug report
- Use an accurate title and add Pack tags if you know which pack is involved (List for tags below). Titles are limited in length so don't make them too long. It's not necessary to include Patch numbers unless the same bug occurred before.
- Fill out the template completely and provide all information asked. Information on how to find version number and common known issues with the bug template can be found below.
- Depending on your issues, please also provide, Specs, pictures, LastException/LastCrash files, houses/Sims or when asked Saves. Details on how to find and provide those can be found below.
- If you post a picture it's very helpful if you encircle the actual issue.
- Create one thread per issue. This may sound tedious especially for little things but it allows EA to track issues better. There are exceptions to this when something is very similar or unclear if the same or not. Sometimes one issue also has multiple threads as the symptoms can differ. Sometimes it's hard to distinguish if something is a different issue or the same so your thread might get accidentally merged or you will be asked to make a separate thread even if it's not necessary.
Processing of threads
There are two aspects when it comes to processing stuff in the bug forum.
- EA Bug Team: Bugs reported will be collected by EA and handled internally. They rarely post any acknowledgments and wont' give out ETA's on when stuff will be fixed. The bug team will ask for info when needed.
- Me (and other helpers): I mostly provide a compiled list of reported bugs and try to keep the bug forum free of duplicates (as much as possible). I will also troubleshoot where I see necessary. I do not work for EA or have any other association but I try my best to keep the bug forum organized. How I handle the forum changes from time to time so please check this thread for current info on that: [PLEASE READ] Information/Questions about the bug forum.
Both of these aspects help to ensure that your bug report will be seen even if you do not get an answer. As said before, if you need troubleshooting help, it's better to use the tech forums of your platform. The bug forum is mainly for reporting.
Status of a Bug
EA doesn't give out ETAs or information on status of bugs nor do they acknowledge every issue you see reported. This does not mean that they aren't legit bugs or that they won't get fixed somewhere down the line.
The tag on a thread can give you an indication on what the status is and if it's worth bumping a thread or not. If an issue didn't have an answer in > 3 month and you're still affected, it's always good to bump it.
Threads that are marked as By Design, Fixed, Archived or Mod/CC issue are closed issues. Make new threads (Fixed, Archived) or bump them (Mods/CC, By Design) if you still have issues or don't agree. Archived threads often already have a new thread so check the last post of the thread for links. By Design and Mods/CC are also often moved to feedback/mods.
Threads that are marked as solved (check mark) are still open issues unless they have one of the tag mentioned above. The solved mark is used to increase the visibility of a post within the thread. That post will show as second post in the thread so you don't have to read the whole thread for more information. Threads marked this way are mostly threads that either have a Workaround you can use until EA fixes the issue or to highlight a post of a Guru/CM that contains information. These threads are NOT considered fixed. They are open bugs.
Spoiler
Since there seems to be a lot of misunderstanding of what I do and what I'm capable to do, I want to stress again, that I DO NOT WORK FOR EA. I do have the ability to forward stuff to the AHQ Staff. I compile lists for everyone here to see what's already reported. It's not in my hands what Maxis chooses to handle what way. I do not have any information when what is going to be fixed. I'm basically merely a collector/messenger should I get some info I can pass on (which is really rare). Do not think it's for naught if you report here. It's not. This forum is being monitored by Maxis. There's a lot of stuff I don't know and I depend on each and everyone of you to help me out and clarify things. There's a lot of sites with info and I can't read them all.
Important Links
- Bugs and the Sims 101 - Everything you need to know (by EA_Arcadia)
- Graphics Card List (by Phantomlover1717)
- Where did my thread go
- [READ FIRST] Compiled list of reported Issues
Origin
Make sure your Origin is up-to-date. It usually gets auto-updated if you have the setting on and I recommend to do that. The download link is here
Crashing Issues
Crashing issues are mainly technical and don't belong in this forum. Please make your own thread there, posting your DxDiag and info about custom content, when it crashes and other useful stuff.
Abbreviations used
CC = Custom Content: cloth, objects, hair, etc from third-parties you add to your game.
Mods = Modifications you put in your game. Changes game play
LE = LastException .. Errors occuring in the game that are written to a file called LastException.txt in your doc folder
LE = Legacy Edition = Version of Sims for for older computers
MTS = ModTheSims: CC Site
TSR = TheSimsResource: A CC Site
QA = Quality Assurance, Maxis Team responsible for fixing bugs
I encourage everyone to PM links instead of putting them at AHQ, especially if you're using a personal account that shows your real name. I will never give your information to anyone else without your permission. I will forward your save links to EA Staff/QA though unless you tell me not to.
This has two purposes: I want to try out on my game if I can reproduce the error and also to forward the save game to EA/Maxis so they can fix this. Be aware that I usually get no feedback from them so forwarding is a one way street. All you can do is hope that they fix it in an upcoming patch.
QA will sometimes ask for saves directly. Please follow their instructions to upload. Please do not PM saves to me if it was QA who asked.
There are no guarantees though that already affected save games can be recovered. Sometimes bugs are fixed but they only prevent the problem from happening again, not fixing old ones.
Instructions for Saves Folder
- Navigate to this folder: documents\electronicarts\thesims4\
- Right click on the folder saves you find inside it and choose Send to --> Compressed (zipped) folder
- A file will be created in your sims4 folder with the extension zip (if you have known extensions turned off, you will not see the .zip but you can tell by the icon). Rename that file with your user name (right click on the file and choose rename)
- Upload the save to a file sharing site like Dropbox, GoogleDrive, OneDrive and PM me the link. Make sure the save is not set to needing permission to read
Instructions for a specific File
If you have a lot of saves, it's advisable that you only send the one that has the bug. To find out, which save you need to send, open the game and click on load.
Next to the save that has the issue, you will see a little folder. If you hover over this, you can find the path and name of the save file. Follow instructions above but only zip that one file,
Game Version
The game Version is vital information for QA to know on which build an issue first occurred and also to know if your game is up-to-date or if you might need to update first. Please do not report bugs on outdated game versions.
Since EA/Maxis introduced the Legacy Edition, it also provides information if you have the issue on the standard version or the legacy one.
Please don't put latest or current or something along these lines because:
- For current posts they may seem enough info but if someone checks an older thread and just sees that, it can be anything.
- If you put latest, one needs to check the date of your post and then find out which patch number was current then. If you put the actual number, it makes so much easier.
- If you are still really unsure what you have, post at least: latest as per <current date> .. still extra work but at least it's easier to find when latest was
The game version usually looks like this
PC/Mac
1.xx.yyy.zzzz
- xx = Changes on big patches
- yyy = Changes on big and smaller patches
- zzzz= Indicates if you are on Mac/PC and if you’re running the Standard or the Legacy Edition.
- 1030 = PC Standard
- 1230 = Mac Standard
- 1530 = PC Legacy
- 1630 = Mac Legacy
Console
2.xx
- xx = Changes on patches
Please always provide the full number.
How can you find your Game Version For PC/Mac ?
There's several ways, the easiest is to either check in your files if you have troubles starting the game or on the main menuAs an alternative, navigate to the following file: Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 4\GameVersion.txt and open the file with a text editor. You will find the Version Number inside.
How can you find your Game Version For Console ?
You can also see the information on the Options Screen of the game
- Select the game and press Options (PS4) or Menu (XB1)
- For PS4: Either click on Update History or Information.
- For XB1: Go to Manage Games and you should find the same info.
If you absolutely can't fill out a bug report in the bug forum because the button does not appear, please copy/paste the form below the line to a new thread in PC Tech
Fill out the info for every question (one line, one question).
State that you wanted to post this in the bug forum but couldn't and make sure to tag me. I will then move your post to the bug forum and fill out the form for you but in order to do that, I need all the info.
Product: The Sims 4
Platform:
Which language are you playing the game in?
How often does the bug occur?
What is your current game version number?
What expansions, game packs, and stuff packs do you have installed?
Steps: How can we find the bug ourselves?
What happens when the bug occurs?
What do you expect to see?
Have you installed any customization with the game, e.g. Custom Content or Mods?
Did this issue appear after a specific patch or change you made to your system?
