Can't add any pets from the gallery

I just purchased Pets last night for the sole purpose of being able to download all the amazing pets I see posted in the gallery. This morning I found that I can't add any pets from the gallery no matter what I do.The game allows me to add the pet to my family, but it never actually appears. The face icons of my person sims in the family become grey-ed out (in the bottom left corner in CAS) but the animal never loads in. I've tried using manage households to add the pet to an existing family, I've tried starting from the gallery and moving in with a family as the pet, I've tried removing all of my mods and clearing all my cache files before attempting. Nothing works. Plus, once I've tried merge the pet into my family, if I continue trying to mess around in CAS afterward, all of the game icons disappear from the screen and I become unable to click on anything at all and I have to use task manager to close the game and restart.

I'm getting REALLY frustrated since I literally just spent $50 for one reason and now I can't do it. Can anyone help me with solving this issue?

Sorry if this has been posted before. I looked around but I couldn't find the exact same issue anywhere.

the gallery

kreatora
6 years ago
@xXxCleverNamexXx

Cleaning mods folder is not enough sometimes. There are mods which create files in your saves folder also.
But in this case, I suspect some of your CC caused it.
after adding Dogs and cats, many of your CC's were no longer compatible with the game. If you enabled the mods option in the game and enabled the game, the game files could be damaged. Although you removed the CC afterward, that damage has not been repaired
How to fix it:
First, check if there are new versions of mods and CC that you use
Step 1. Rename The Sims4 folder to "The Sims4 old"
Step 2. Fix the game in Origin
Origin/Library - right click on TS4 - option "Repair game"
You have to wait until Origin will fix all packs, not only the base game.
Step 3. Turn on the game - a new game folder will be created and you will have two - one old, one new
Step 4. Check if you still have this problem in the newly created game folder
If the problem disappeared
Step 5. Delete in the new game folder following folders:
"saves" and Tray.
Step 6. Go to "The Sims 4 old" folder and copy - your "saves " folder.
Step. 7, Paste this folder in a newly created game folder.
Step 8. Do the same with Tray folder and TrayDeleteItems file
Step 9. Copy and paste your mods and CC from old mods folder to a new one. First copy the scripts mods every time checking if the game is working properly. If you have a lot of CC try 50/50 method
Step. 10. If all is OK - delete The Sims4 old folder. Now you will have only one game folder working properly.

I don't work for EA.

22 Replies

xXxCleverNamexX
6 years ago
Thank you so much! I've seen the concept mentioned multiple times but never explained as clearly. I really appreciate the help.
HollyBleu
6 years ago
@xXxCleverNamexXx Hello, i have the same problem with my sims 4, did you resolve this ?
PugLove888
Hero
6 years ago
@HollyBleu, yes, this issue for them was solved becasue a solution has been marked as Accepted Solution. 🙂 You can find it on the first page where Kreatora gives instructions how to fix if you problem is caused by Mods/CC like the Original Poster's was. Do you use Mods or Custom Content (CC). 🤔 If so, you can do what Kreatora suggests in the Accepted Answser. Or here is another version of what worked.

Please do all of the following:
1) Move the Mods Folder to your desktop
2) Delete localthumbcache.package file in the game folder.
3) Fix you game in Origin by logging in and go to Library, then right-click on The Sims 4 and choose the "Repair Game" option from the list. Wait until Origin finishes repairing all your packs and not just the base game.
4) Now, when you turn on your game again, it will create a new mods folder that will be empty. Check to see if your game is now working without mods/CC.
5) Now you can try adding back items from your Mods folder one at a time checking your game each time to see which item is causing your game to not work properly. If you have a lot of items, you can try the 50/50 Method.
The CC creators will usually update the CC items and Mods after these updates, so when you find out which one is the culprit, you can get the updated version from whoever made that item of CC in the first place. 🙂
If you use Mods/CC then it is best if you do these steps whenever you have a problem in your game , especially after EA updates/patches the game.
If these steps don't work or if you don't use Mods/CC then please update us!
2244Mily
6 years ago
Hello, it seems I have the exact same problem but I dont have any cc or mods at all. Help please
SheriGR
Hero
6 years ago
@2244Mily You could try a game repair [ Open Origin, click 'Game Library' then right-click Sims 4 > Repair Game ]. Make sure to let it run until it has completed all repairs (it will do the base-game first, then run through each of your expansions/packs). If this does not help you could tag @jpkarlsen with an attached a DxDiag file per his suggestion for him to have a look at.
Directions on gathering a DxDiag report: https://help.ea.com/en-us/help/pc/how-to-gather-dxdiag-information/
Um_Sith_Qualque
5 years ago
@PugLove888 I removed all my Mods, restored my game, but I still having this problem...
SheriGR
Hero
5 years ago
@Um_Sith_Qualquer Did you also remove CC and the localthumbcache.package file, per @PugLove888 directions (Step #2)?
Edit: Do you have Cats & Dogs? No pets could be downloaded if you don't own the pack. Any items in a gallery download the you don't own the pack for will be stripped when placed. (Thanks, @jpkarlsen !)
beccaescfan
4 years ago
Hopefully someone will see this and it will fix it for them too - I was having the exact problem you describe and it absolutely was nothing to do with mods or files in my own game - It was a GALLERY ISSUE.
1. Anything that isn't properly downloading in CAS (for me it was All pets and some sims) DELETE your download of that family. That download is essentially broken.
2. Manually go to the creators profile of the family you want (hint: follow them before deleting from previous step to find them easily again) and download the family from there.
3. For me that was the issue solved.
I was absolutely tearing my hair out convinced it was my game, the fact I have 500+ active sim households, a few mods etc. All the galleries fault. It's been buggy from day one. Really hope this fixes it for someone else too.
AbsentmindEric
3 years ago
@beccaescfanoh my！This method really worked！！！！！！！ It is very kind of you to share this tip here. You are my lifesaver！
monsterpartynes
3 years ago
omg i've been looking for a solution for years. Thank you so much!!!! The only solution that worked!