Hi everyone. I submitted this question back in June with no success, although a great many people were kind enough to lend me their time trying to help. I bought and installed the Digital Deluxe edition of Sims 4 through Origin on my Mac. I had zero issues throughout the entire process, including up until I started playing the game. Everything runs perfectly, I have no errors at all, and gameplay is smooth. However, when I try to go to the Electronic Arts folder in Documents, I can't find it anywhere. I had it when I played Sims 3 and had no issues. However I deleted it when I did a clean uninstall of Sims 3 to move to Sims 4. When I installed Sims 4, it was never remade. I've tried the "iCloud" thing, but I don't use it so it's always turned off for me anyway. I've tried uninstalling and reinstalling Sims 4, I've tried uninstalling and reinstalling Origin, ... nothing works. I've played the game for over 15 hours now and it still won't jumpstart the Electronic Arts folder. Can anyone help me? I've run out of ideas I can try. I don't know what to do.

I'm so sorry for the late response! I forgot there was a second page to the topic 😞 I have tried searching for it in Finder and nothing shows up. I've searched for the folder, for save files, and even for a sims folder (not even specifying sims 4) but it's not showing up anything except for the origin app and the sims 4 app. 🤔@Bluebellflora

I use Norton for an antivirus, and I've never had any issues with it. It hasn't given me any errors or issues with the game. iCloud is definitely turned off. (I attached a pic to show.) I also do not use an external drive. And I don't use any 3rd party "cleaners" or anything like that - Norton does just find and I regularly manually clean out unused/unwanted files. I also opened up the game as you suggested with the Documents folder open and there is still no Electronic Arts folder. ☹️ I'm thinking I should try contacting EA support again but I'm uncomfortable with telephone calls and their chatline isn't working for some reason so I've kind of been refreshing the page every few hours to see if the online chat will finally work...

I had the windows (Sims 4 game window and Documents folder window) open side by side while launching the game, playing it, and while quitting it and no Electronic Arts folder ever appeared. For Norton, it scans every download to my computer and when the download and scan are complete, it either ignores the new file (meaning it's clean/safe) or it lets me know there are unknown or dangerous elements in the file and gives me suggested actions. I don't recall any specific events where it suddenly updated (which it does often) and then starts attacking a safe/known file/app/folder/etc. But I know that if it does, it doesn't automatically block out or delete the item in question, it just alerts me of possible dangers and then I make the decision. So I don't think it's the antivirus. I'll try the different user, tho, and see if that maybe works. I *MIGHT* have already tried that but I honestly can't remember at this point. xD@Bluebellflora

Since you are on a Mac with ICloud. You may get better help in the Sims 4 Mac forum.@crinrictcould you please move this?

@chaimxxn Are you absolutely sure you don't have iCloud Drive enabled? Can you please check by using this guide?

‎Sims 4 not showing up in Documents/Electronic Arts folder?

16 Replies

jpkarlsen
Hero (Retired)
8 years ago
Since you are on a Mac with ICloud. You may get better help in the Sims 4 Mac forum.
@crinrictcould you please move this?
Bluebellflora
Hero+
8 years ago
@chaimxxn

Are you absolutely sure you don't have iCloud Drive enabled? Can you please check by using this guide?
Anonymous
8 years ago
I am sure. I never use iCloud and always have it off, and I have used that guide before. iCloud is completely turned off, and I even turned it on temporarily to look in the files and nothing was there. ☹️
Bluebellflora
Hero+
8 years ago
@chaimxxn

Can you please try repairing the game by right clicking on it in your Games Library in Origin and select Repair Game?

If you don't have an Electronic Arts folder in your Documents folder can you create one?
Anonymous
8 years ago
I have tried repairing the game and it never found any errors or abnormalities. I'm currently reinstalling Sims 4, hoping maybe a 3rd-times-the-charm thing?
I was actually wondering about that, because sometimes in CC in the mods folder, the resources document is missing and you can create a new one. But there's more in the EA folder, isn't there? Because doesn't it also contain like game save files and such? And I'm not sure if you can re/create those easily...
Bluebellflora
Hero+
8 years ago
@chaimxxn

The Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 4 folder contains all your saves/CC/saved lots(Tray)/game settings etc. Without it the game will recreate a new one every time you load up the game (which is the first troubleshooting step a user should try if their game will not load).

When you repair the game you will not know if there are any issues fixed as the game is just repaired.

Let us know how the new install goes 🙂
Anonymous
8 years ago
Finished the new install and played the game for a few minutes, saved a new game file and exited. Checked to see if the Electronic Arts folder was there and it wasn't. I then repaired the game, still no EA folder, then played the game for about 15-20 minutes, saved a new game file, and it still didn't create the folder. AHHHHHH. ☹️ I don't know what to do.
Bluebellflora
Hero+
8 years ago
@chaimxxn

Something on your Mac is causing this issue, it's not the game. Do you have Antivirus running? Do you use a 3rd party 'cleaning' App. which claims to get rid of unwanted files? Is your Home folder running from an external drive?

And you are 100% sure that iCloud Drive is NOT enabled? In system Preferences > iCloud it should not be checked:

Can you open your Documents folder and keep looking at it whilst loading the game. Is an Electronic Arts folder generated?
Anonymous
8 years ago
I use Norton for an antivirus, and I've never had any issues with it. It hasn't given me any errors or issues with the game. iCloud is definitely turned off. (I attached a pic to show.) I also do not use an external drive. And I don't use any 3rd party "cleaners" or anything like that - Norton does just find and I regularly manually clean out unused/unwanted files.
I also opened up the game as you suggested with the Documents folder open and there is still no Electronic Arts folder. ☹️ I'm thinking I should try contacting EA support again but I'm uncomfortable with telephone calls and their chatline isn't working for some reason so I've kind of been refreshing the page every few hours to see if the online chat will finally work...
Bluebellflora
Hero+
8 years ago
@chaimxxn

Great, thanks for the info. Did the folder create itself as the game was loading? I'm interested to see if the folder is created at all or if it is created then mysteriously vanishes.

I don't use antivirus so don't have much experience of them but don't they update themselves in real time if they are to be effective? Could it be possible that Norton has updated and for whatever reason is quarantining your Electronic Arts folder? Can you completely disable it then launch your game and see if it helps? If you're still having the issue after disabling Norton can you set up a new user account on your Mac, with no antivirus running, and see if you can play properly in that account?