Re: Mailbox not working and can’t use certain dialogue

Just the mailbox not working it says the mail was delivered but I don’t have any options to pay them at the mailbox or on my phone either. Yes it happens to all the families that are saved I created them on the lot

@BadGalMsJo hi there, I think perhaps you could try a couple of things to hopefully try and get your game working properly.

If your problem is with residential rental bills let us know but if not and for everything else mentioned try these steps.

First of all on your Xbox go to Sims 4 Manage Game and Add-ons using the button with the circle with 3 lines. Then on the right hand side of the screen click Sims 4. You'll see 2 sets of data. Select the smallest set of data next to your gamertag and select delete from console only. Then immediately load up your game. It will tell you it's syncing data, let it do that and then your game will load. See if your issue is fixed in your game. I'm attaching images of what you're looking for.

If not, I'd try reinstalling your content. So if you haven't done this before go back to the Sims 4 Manage Game and Add-ons and go to your list of installed content. Uncheck all of the boxes and select Save Changes. Then install them again.

One or both of these things will usually restore any missing game functions but if not then pop a reply back here and we'll see if it's a bug.

Edit: for the career change you mentioned, it's not an option on the phone. You have to quit their job first then join a new career.

Changing careers is indeed an option on the phone and also on the computer. There is no need to quit your current job first. 

Phone: Find a Job from the Business menu.  If you already have a job, you'll get a popup dialogue after you choose a new career that says something like, "Should Beverly switch activities to Mailroom Technician? She will quit her current position of Orderly upon accepting to do a new activity." 

Computer: Find a Job from the Career... menu. You'll get the same popup. 

NOTE: I'm using the PC version. It's possible that the console version is different.

I had to stop going to work to change my job because I don’t have any options on my phone for it and paying bills. The only options is travel and browse web

I think it’s a bigger bug because I can’t interact with anything on the computer it’s just games and browse web. I’m also a writer and programmer and can’t level up the skill because I can’t interact with the mailbox or computer. I’ve also reinstalled the game/content several times. Almost forgot the repo man haven’t came either to take anything so my bills get paid.

@BadGalMsJoHave you cleared the data I suggested earlier? Usually that restores lost options/functions for me. So if you haven't done that I'd definitely try it.

Can you also check your game is up to date as well. It should be version 1.89.2.2310 and check that your console is also up to date in your system settings.
If it's still happening for you could you possibly take photos of what you are seeing in your game and show us what it looks like for you please?
I just use my tablet or mobile to share an image from my console. The file size can be limited on here, I find it easier to do it from a tablet. Sometimes you need to crop it to add the image. Then you just use the Choose File option to add the images. It would help to compare it to how it should look in the game.

Edit: could you also switch to a pre made household in the game to see if they are affected too? Like the Goths for example.

Sorry for the late reply but yes I just cleared the data and nothing has changed. I also did check the version and it’s the newest version as well as my console being up to date as well. The other household had the same thing happen to them but I moved them to live with an NPC who already was paying the bills and they are fine. It’s only when I make a new household on a lot.

@BadGalMsJoThanks that's useful to know the reason I wanted to check that is that I've seen functions lost in a game that needed updating and also there was a mailbox fix in a recent patch. The difference here is the loss of phone/computer functions too for you.
What happens if you start a new game? You could try that to test if it's your current save that is somehow affected. Also is the affected lot from the Gallery or one you created yourself? If any cheat codes are in use I'd clear those too, although on console the few that I use clear automatically anyway when I exit the game but I'm trying to think of any possible factor.

Edit: this may be redundant as you've reinstalled the game and cleared locally saved data already but you could also try a power cycle of your console.

Switch off your Xbox off your console by pressing the power button on the front and hold for about 10 seconds. Then unplug the Xbox at the power cord and wait for at least another 10 seconds. (I usually do a bit longer to be sure). Then after that you can plug it back in. Then use the power button on the front of the Xbox to switch it back on.

It also just occurred to me that you could go to Manage Worlds>Manage Households to show your Sims and open the panel for the affected household, click the Plumbob (attached) in the bottom right hand corner of the screen that says Mark as Unplayed when you hover the pointer over it. Then click the little heart that says Move into Other Households when you hover over it. So effectively that will make your Sims Townies. Then on the map return to that household to play them. See if that works.

I have done those things as well and nothing has changed I do unfortunately believe it’s a bigger problem to why it still doesn’t work after all the try’s. I just tried to give my sim the kelp to make it a mermaid and it didn’t even give me the option to eat it . 😂😂

@BadGalMsJo each issue needs reporting separately but did you select the kelp from your inventory and ask them to eat it the same as with fruit or veg and did you then send them into the water to transform? You need to do that within a time limit to turn them into a mermaid in the sea. They should get new moodlets when they eat the kelp too. Then send them for a swim.

If they don't transform in the sea do they have the gardening dislike in their Likes/Dislikes in CAS (because that would match a recent bug report) and are they already an occult Sim? So a Vampire/Werewolf/Spellcaster?

For the other issues did you start a New Game from the Main Menu and create a test Sim for the other issues to see if a new game is affected with the mailbox/phone/PC because if a new game isn't affected you could save your Sim to your library and retrieve them to place them in a fresh game.

The current save game seems compromised somehow, have you seen any error codes or downloaded a lot from the Gallery and seen any issues? It wouldn't be just one bug causing several issues. It would be multiple bugs but some are more likely technical issues.

Edit: found a bug report you've just filed but it will possibly be closed and you'll probably be asked to file separate ones for each problem as we keep each issue separate. On each bug report too, could you add what we've already tried so you're not asked to do them all again as someone else will probably ask you to go over the troubleshooting steps we've already gone over.

So if you just add a note to each report saying you've power cycled the console, checked everything is up to date, uninstalled and reinstalled content, cleared locally saved data, found that NPCs are not affected, marked as unplayed, moved them to Other Households, cleared any cheat codes, tested a new game if you've done that last one. You can just cut and paste this onto each report if it will save time. Otherwise you'll probably be asked to do some of the things you've already done. I think that's everything we've tried.

Also your game version number should be 1.89.2.2310. It's incorrect on the bug report but it's really important that it's correct as if it isn't that would explain some of these issues. If you go to Manage Game and Add-ons by using the circle with 3 lines on it you will see it on the Sims 4 info panel on the right hand side of the screen. I'll add images again to show you where to find it.

Ok and I have it in the inventory and it just says out into world nothing about eating it. It didn’t say anything about enter the water also the sim is a non occulant sim that was already made. Yes the  sims 4 has the newest update the version 1.89.2.2310. I’ll try the new game update next just wanna figure out why nothing is working.

Making a new game had worked I check the mailbox and the options are there. So are the options for the phone. But is there a way to get my old sims into the new game or I would have to start over? Cause I’m fine with starting over because i didn’t get far but if I could get the old ones back that would be ever better. 

@BadGalMsJo that's great news! It sounds like somehow your game was corrupted. I never like to suggest a new game but it seemed the only option. I'd delete the corrupted game once you've moved Sims over but that's your decision. So to move your Sims you can save them to your Library. I'll take some Library images from my game and add them here for you a little later today as it's easier to add them from my tablet. If you get a chance could you add to the bug report you made and say that a new game has resolved the issue for you and we can get that closed down, if it's still open.

For the mermaid kelp, open the personal inventory in the bottom right hand corner of the screen then just point and click on the kelp to eat it, then send them into the sea. I'm attaching a guide here for you

https://simscommunity.info/2019/06/21/the-sims-4-island-living-all-about-mermaids/

I'm attaching an image too to make sure your account is linked incase you also want to access the gallery and to make sure it's all as it should be. In Game Options>Other this is how it should look for you. Also to check you get Sims Delivery updates (SDX) there's a Sims Delivery section too in your Game Options if you haven't seen that before it's best to check that's enabled too for mini updates.

You can always ask us questions about anything just start a new topic for each issue in Game Issues or Game Questions and we'll always be here to assist.

@BadGalMsJo okay I've taken some images now, to get your Sims saved to your Library go to Manage Households and click on the household you want to save so that you get a recent version of them, so if you've transformed one into a mermaid for example. The first version you made of them when you started a game may already be in your library, but that will be their brand new unplayed version and you'll probably want the most recent. In their household panel click the pencil icon to "Edit, add or remove Sims from the household in Create a Sim". Once in CAS click the Save Household button in the top right corner (pictured). You should get a box pop up like the second attached image. Click the button in the bottom right hand corner as the image shows and Save Household to my Library. Then in live mode/build mode or manage worlds in the top right hand corner of the screen click the Gallery lightbulb button "Open the Gallery". The first tab is the Gallery with other creations from other players, press the RB bumper on your controller to switch categories and check your Library. Your household should be there as you've just saved it (pictured).

Then go to your New Game and return to the Gallery button and back to your Library. Locate your saved household and click on them. This time in the bottom right hand corner of the screen you'll see a Place Household button, if you click that it will take you to Manage Worlds and you can place them wherever you want them to live. You can also do this with their house in build mode by selecting the Folder button on the tool bar for Save to My Library>Save Lot then again in the bottom right hand corner of the screen click the arrow button that says Save Lot to my Library. Then in build mode you'd open the Gallery again and go to your Library and place the house.

There's a tutorial for the Gallery itself if you haven't used that before just go to open the menu as if you were going to Save and click Lessons>Gallery.

Hope this helps!

Thank you very much for your help

everyrhing is working perfectly now