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vonshadowsong's avatar
6 years ago

I accidentally deleted a save!

So, in my sleep-induced haze, I thought I was deleting a family I never played. Didn't realize until after I'd hit the x that I had deleted that entire save file instead.

Some pages seem to say there's a way to get a deleted save back, though it's all written in tech jargon, rather than plain English, so I don't understand what any of it means.

I don't play 4 that often and have never done this before. I am also one of those rare millennials who can't computer good, so I need someone to explain it to me like they're talking to a toddler (plain English, puppets, and words that are one syllable or less).

Many thanks in advance to anyone who can help :)

10 Replies

  • Have a look at the "Saves" folder in your Sims4 folder which is in your Documents folder. There will be files called something like "Slot_00000001.save.ver1" or something. In my folder I have saves called "Slot_00000002.save" and five more that have "ver0" all the way to "ver4". One of those should load.
  • "badhair1963;c-17053972" wrote:
    Have a look at the "Saves" folder in your Sims4 folder which is in your Documents folder. There will be files called something like "Slot_00000001.save.ver1" or something. In my folder I have saves called "Slot_00000002.save" and five more that have "ver0" all the way to "ver4". One of those should load.


    I have so many of those that I don't know which is the one I'm looking for. Is there a way to tell?
  • "badhair1963;c-17053972" wrote:
    Have a look at the "Saves" folder in your Sims4 folder which is in your Documents folder. There will be files called something like "Slot_00000001.save.ver1" or something. In my folder I have saves called "Slot_00000002.save" and five more that have "ver0" all the way to "ver4". One of those should load.


    Dont forget to rename the file and delete the .ver1 part so it would be just Slot_00000001.save etc for example. That's how you restore your deleted saves.
  • @lauravonawesome When you're in your game at the load screen, look at the date and time underneath the name of the save you want to recover, make a note of it. Get out of the game and open up your saves folder. Find the Slot files with that date/time. For example, it'll look something like this, but probably with a different number or letter at the end:

    Slot_00000008.save 5/3/2019 3:52 AM
    Slot_00000008.save.ver0 5/3/2019 3:30 AM
    Slot_00000008.save.ver1 5/3/2019 2:24 AM

    Etc. Etc.

    The file ending in .save is your most current with each version below it the next most current, so .ver4 would be the oldest file version of that save. After you find the correct save, remove the one ending in .save and put it in a folder somewhere for safe keeping in case after trying the older saves you decide to go back to the most current.

    Next, remove the .ver0 or .ver1 or .ver2 etc. from one of the Slots until it just reads .save at the end. For example from the above after removing .ver0 the Slot will read like this:

    Slot_00000008.save 5/3/2019 3:30 AM

    This file will now be your most current save file that loads when you click on it in game. I have no idea if you'll be able to do any of this though if you deleted the save from in game because you won't be able to check the date and time to find the correct Slot files. Plus, if I'm not mistaken, when you delete a save game in game, I think it also deletes all the save file versions along with it.

    I could be wrong though, it might save those. If that's the case, just look for Slot files that don't have a .save file, that would be the one you deleted. Then all you would need to do is rename one of the versions by deleting the .ver0 or .ver1, etc.

    So in the above example you'd see only these two:

    Slot_00000008.save.ver0 5/3/2019 3:30 AM
    Slot_00000008.save.ver1 5/3/2019 2:24 AM

    If you have multiple Slot files without a corresponding .save file, try to find the one closest to the date you last saved/played the deleted save. If I were you, I'd make a copy of ALL the Slot files in the Saves folder and put them in another folder for safe keeping in case you accidentally mess something up while trying to recover (if it's possible) the save you deleted. That way you can just go back to the way your game is currently by putting them back in the Saves folder if nothing works and you have to just call the save game you deleted a loss and move on.

    I hope all of this makes sense? Good luck, I hope you're able to get your save back! *Hugs* <3
  • Did you check your computers recycling bin to see if you can restore the deleted file?
  • @Karababy52 @floridameerkat There's nothing in my recycle bin or on the load game screen. It's all gone. Like, I clicked the x thinking I was deleting the family, but instead deleted the entire save and there seems to be no record of it anywhere, nor anything I can look at to get the numbers you guys mentioned.

    I wonder if I check the ones before/after it, would it at least give me something to work with?

    I wish the saves had names like they did in 2 and 3. It made all of this so much easier. Might have to just cut my losses this time. Oh well. Thanks anyway.
  • @lauravonawesome You do have several Slot saves though in your Saves folder? I'm guessing yes since you mention about the lack of names for files. I agree, by the way, I wish they were named instead of numbered too. As mentioned in my post:

    If you have multiple Slot files without a corresponding .save file, try to find the one closest to the date you last saved/played the deleted save. If I were you, I'd make a copy of ALL the Slot files in the Saves folder and put them in another folder for safe keeping in case you accidentally mess something up while trying to recover (if it's possible) the save you deleted. That way you can just go back to the way your game is currently by putting them back in the Saves folder if nothing works and you have to just call the save game you deleted a loss and move on.


    Do you have any files in the Saves folder without a corresponding .save file close to the date of the save you deleted? If so, you could try to rename one of them and see if it's a past version of your missing save game using the method outlined in my above post too.

    Anyway, you're welcome, always try to help if I can in some way. Good luck! <3
  • "Karababy52;c-17054432" wrote:
    @lauravonawesome You do have several Slot saves though in your Saves folder? I'm guessing yes since you mention about the lack of names for files. I agree, by the way, I wish they were named instead of numbered too. As mentioned in my post:

    If you have multiple Slot files without a corresponding .save file, try to find the one closest to the date you last saved/played the deleted save. If I were you, I'd make a copy of ALL the Slot files in the Saves folder and put them in another folder for safe keeping in case you accidentally mess something up while trying to recover (if it's possible) the save you deleted. That way you can just go back to the way your game is currently by putting them back in the Saves folder if nothing works and you have to just call the save game you deleted a loss and move on.


    Do you have any files in the Saves folder without a corresponding .save file close to the date of the save you deleted? If so, you could try to rename one of them and see if it's a past version of your missing save game using the method outlined in my above post too.

    Anyway, you're welcome, always try to help if I can in some way. Good luck! <3


    I have at least 10 saves, all of them seemingly with corresponding save files. If I post this here, can you guys double-check and see if I missed anything?

    Grrr, images won't post for some reason. Not sure you can see this or not, but the usual way of uploading images doesn't seem to work anymore, so.

    https://imgur.com/a/2TW6xDz
  • @lauravonawesome I checked out your save files and yeah, unfortunately it looks as if your save has been completed deleted. :'( I guess it's time to just move on now and call it a loss and a lesson learned. Don't delete files when you're in a sleep-induced haze eh? ;)

    Anyway, Happy Simming from here on out and hope you have a great weekend despite everything! <3
  • "Karababy52;c-17054573" wrote:
    @lauravonawesome I checked out your save files and yeah, unfortunately it looks as if your save has been completed deleted. :'( I guess it's time to just move on now and call it a loss and a lesson learned. Don't delete files when you're in a sleep-induced haze eh? ;)

    Anyway, Happy Simming from here on out and hope you have a great weekend despite everything! <3


    I figured as much. Oh well, thanks for trying to help. <3

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