🛠️ Creating a symlink in macOS to store the Sims 4 folder on an external drive

➡️ This is not to be confused with installing the actual Sims 4 game on an external drive. The game installation location is determined in EA App and there is no need to use a symlink for this. As ...

external drive

file structure

icloud

mac

KingFlashGrant

3 years ago

I did this but a alias folder still isn't being created

Bluebellflora

Hero+

3 years ago

@KingFlashGrant

Can you:

Copy and Paste the exact command you are attempting to use and the resulting output in Terminal.

Post a screenshot of the external drive in Disk Utility clearly showing the name, storage space and format.

KingFlashGrant
3 years ago
as I was putting in the command my computer made a alias folder called exist but my electronic arts folder is still in documents put I have one on a usb to
KingFlashGrant
3 years ago
what should I do
Bluebellflora
Hero+
3 years ago
@KingFlashGrant

I’m waiting for you to provide the information I asked for in my previous post…
KingFlashGrant
3 years ago
Input
1n -s /Volumes/USB/Electronic\ Arts -/Documents/
output
/Users/markgrant/Documents//Electronic Arts: File exists
KingFlashGrant
3 years ago
It will not let me send a screenshot
Bluebellflora
Hero+
3 years ago
@KingFlashGrant

There’s a folder in your Documents folder called Electronic Arts. After you moved the original folder did you launch the game or another EA game? It will have created a new Electronic Arts folder. You can see in the output the problem - “File exists”.
KingFlashGrant
3 years ago
When I put in the first command I didn’t move my original folder it just made a copy of the stuff inside. And no I didn’t start ea game
Bluebellflora
Hero+
3 years ago
@KingFlashGrant

Then you didn’t properly do the first command. Make sure step 1 works before trying to do step 2.
KingFlashGrant
3 years ago
So when I do step 1 my oh electronic arts folder from documents should move
Bluebellflora
Hero+
3 years ago
@KingFlashGrant

Yes. That’s what step 1 is.
KingFlashGrant
3 years ago
what do I do because terminal will not move an electronic arts to my usb
Bluebellflora
Hero+
3 years ago
@KingFlashGrant

As before, copy and paste the command you are entering into Terminal and the output here.

But…… I have to be honest, creating a symlink is not something the average user does. If you’re struggling now with creating, and understanding it, you will run into serious problems if something goes wrong and you need to undo any erroneous commands you have mistakenly entered, which is easy to do.
KingFlashGrant
3 years ago
mv ~/Documents/Electronic\ Arts /Volumes/USB/
no output comes out when I put in the command
Bluebellflora
Hero+
3 years ago
@KingFlashGrant

Good. That means it has worked, the Electronic Arts folder is now on the external drive and no Electronic Arts folder in the Documents folder.
KingFlashGrant
3 years ago
But there is still one in documents
Bluebellflora
Hero+
3 years ago
@KingFlashGrant

Have you opened your game since moving the folder? It is recreated every time you launch the game if there isn't a folder already there.

If it's empty then trash it and do Step 2.

If it's not empty then save any data you want to keep and move it to another location then do step 2 IF the folder containing the data you want your game to load is on the external drive.

I'm not sure there is any further help I can give you now. Follow the steps properly and you'll be fine.
KingFlashGrant
3 years ago
the data that I wanted on my sims 4 moves to my external drives but it also stays in my documents folder
KingFlashGrant
3 years ago
Should I keep trying or give up
Bluebellflora
Hero+
3 years ago
@KingFlashGrant

It’s up to you. You have all the instructions you need, I’ve explained in my previous post what you need to do if there is an Electronic Arts folder in the Documents folder.
KingFlashGrant
3 years ago
Last question and I will leave you alone when I put in my first command there should be no EA folder in documents