Forum Discussion

puzzlezaddict's avatar
puzzlezaddict
Hero+
6 years ago

[CURRENT ISSUE] Sims 4 Mac missing/blank text or wrong language in-game

Symptoms:

  • blank/missing text
  • code/gibberish instead of text
  • wrong language in-game despite Origin settings

This may be caused by Origin not downloading the proper language string files for the base game and/or one or more packs.

If you’re affected by this, please list both the language of Origin and the language of Sims 4, as well as whether any of these steps helped you.

There are several workarounds that may potentially help.  Please run the Origin reset tool for macOS each time you change a setting in Origin.  In order of least to most intrusive:

Change the language for Sims 4 to something else: open your Origin game library, right-click on the Sims 4 icon, select Game Properties > Advanced Launch Options, and choose a different language from the dropdown menu.  Then repair the game: right-click on the Sims 4 icon and select Repair.  Run the Origin reset tool, then change the language back and repair.

Try a Super Repair, described here:
https://answers.ea.com/t5/Technical-Issues-Mac/READ-FIRST-Sims-4-Mac-Help-Guides-and-Troubleshooting/m-p/5080860#M815

Change the language of Origin itself to match the language in which you want to play:
https://answers.ea.com/t5/Technical-Issues-Mac/135dec40-90f690cf-00000075-495f32a0-Updated-patch-now-can-t-open/m-p/8932033#M29930

If none of these steps work, you can try uninstalling, setting Origin to match the language in which you want to play, and reinstalling.  Please keep in mind that the localization must match exactly: for example, if you want to play in Spanish, Origin must be set to español (España), not español (México).

If your saves and other content are missing:
If you are playing now or have been playing in Spanish, French, Dutch, or German, the Sims 4 user data folder (in Documents\Electronic Arts) will have a slightly different name, e.g. "Los Sims 4."  All other languages name this folder “The Sims 4.”  You can manually copy the contents of the saves and tray folders to the new Sims 4 folder, and they will show up in-game again.

mac

47 Replies

Show More
  • puzzlezaddict's avatar
    puzzlezaddict
    Hero+
    6 years ago

    @sannalaver  I've merged your posts with the master thread on this issue.  Please try the steps in the first post on page one, and let us know whether any of them help.

  • wendy99818's avatar
    wendy99818
    6 years ago

    Hello! I encountered the same problem. My game was in Chinese version and I used MacBook to play the game. Starting from the end of last month, my game was full of codes and numbers instead of words.

    I tried to change the language to English in the game properties in Origin. The game did function well and I could see the words in English in the game.

    Then, I tried to change the language back to Chinese by changing the game properties in Origin, I found out that the game was still in English but not Chinese.

    I tried to remove Strings_ENG_US.package in The Sims 4> Contents>Data>Client and kept Chinese as the language chosen in the game properties but the game showed codes and no text again.

    I also tried to change to other languages such as Japanese and French but the game also showed no word but codes. If there is Strings_ENG_US.package in the folder, the game was in English instead of the language I chose.

    Besides, I tried to remove all my mods and reinstall Origin and the Sims 4 but the problem still exists. My Origin is in Chinese and it functions well.

    Would you please help?

    Thanks a lot!

  • christmcp's avatar
    christmcp
    6 years ago

    Hi.

    So, suddenly the text bubbles in my game was empty or replaced by weird numbered codes.

    I found this link:
    https://answers.ea.com/t5/Technical-Issues-PC/CURRENT-ISSUE-Codes-instead-of-text-Blank-text-and-bubbles/m-p/3903165#M19102

    I play on MAC not, PC, so I followed the instructions for Mac:

    1. In your Applications folder right click on the Sims 4 app and select Show Package Contents.
    2. Navigate to Contents > Mac OS.
    3. Right click on The Sims 4 and select Move to Trash. Don't drag the file as it will only move an alias and leave the original in place.
    4. Now open Origin, right click on The Sims 4 in your Games Library and click Repair Game

    Now, I did this, whilst lice chatting with EA, who told me that this was the correct way to fix my specific problem. However, this made my game unplayable. When I clicked on "Repair Game", and tried to open the game, I got a note that said:
    Unable to start:
    Initialization error at start up.

    Has this happened to anyone else? Now it´s impossible to even open my game, after following the instructions EA confirmed?? 
    (And yes, I removed all the mods prior to this, hoping that alone would make my text bubbles appear normal again. Did not do it)
    Really, really appreciate answers!!

  • Bluebellflora's avatar
    Bluebellflora
    Hero+
    6 years ago
    @christmcp

    I've merged your post into this ongoing Mac one on the issue. There are a couple of other suggestions in the OP, please give them a go.
  • Mooneonature's avatar
    Mooneonature
    5 years ago

    So, I have updated my game to the newest patch 01/21/21 and of course, when you open the game for the first time, mods are disabled. So when I come into the game, all the text in the game has been replaced with these square characters. This is absolutely weird and unlikely. Please help, this is so unusual.

About The Sims 4 Technical Issues - Mac

Do you have technical issues with The Sims 4 on Mac? Get help from the community here!8,203 PostsLatest Activity: 10 hours ago

Community Highlights