Help: Sims 4 Won’t Start on Mac – Game Installed Externally

ChrissyV2704​ 

Is your hard drive fast enough? If it isn't of sufficient good quality and speed you may continuously get corrupted messages - https://bluebellflora.com/2023/11/26/choosing-an-external-hard-drive-for-your-game/ 

Why do you have a folder called “The Sims 4.app”? What is the purpose of the folder and the contents?

Does the Electronic Arts folder contain the Sims 4 folder? Have you created a symlink in Documents to the Electronic Arts folder on the external?

Hi, thanks for your message!

The hard drive is brand new. It's a Kingston XS2000 Portable SSD 2TB.
It's connected directly to the Macbook via USB-C (the SSD itself also has a USB-C connection).

I'm not entirely sure why that folder is there, but i did check de package contents. I'm adding a printscreen.

The "electornic Arts" folder does indeed look like you described - it contains the "The Sims 4" folder.

I also read the info in the link you sent me, and my SSD meets the requirements.
Would it be best to erase everything and try again?

Bluebellflora​ 

ChrissyV2704​ 

That isn't the Electronic Arts > The Sims 4 folder I was referring to. I was referring to the one that stores your user data such as saves etc (stored in your Documents folder) and I think this is the problem. The Sims 4.app is the actual name of the base game and the Electronic Arts folder is the contents of the base game. Basically that Sims 4.app folder you have is a duplication of the base game and the Electronic Arts folder a duplication of the contents of the actual base game package. I would trash these two folders then repair the game then try to launch it again.

Hard drive looks great :)

Bluebellflora​ 

Hi, I tried to delete these folders and then repair the game, but they just seem to return there after the repair which then of course still leaves me with the same error message. If I try launching the game after deleting those folders without repairing the game, it still gives me the same error message.

ChrissyV2704​ 

Ok.

1. Uninstall the game in EA App and trash any Sims 4/Electronic Arts files or folders left over in that games folder on the external drive.
2. Then uninstall EA App, manually trash all the leftover EA App files, instructions - https://bluebellflora.com/2024/04/04/ea-app-recovery-for-mac-reset-ea-app-by-clearing-cache-and-other-files-manually/ 
3. Your games folder should now be completely empty. 
4. Empty the Bin on your Mac
5. Safely eject the drive
6. Restart your Mac
7. Download and reinstall EA App but this time install it on your Mac in the Applications folder, not on the external drive
8. Change the Download location for games in EA App to the external drive
9. Download Sims 4 and all your Packs

Bluebellflora​ 

I followed all the steps and I'm still getting the same error 😢

ChrissyV2704​ 

and did those two erroneous folders reappear? Could you post another screenshot of your external drive so I can see the installation please.

Try a clean Sims 4 folder by renaming the current one in Documents > Electronic Arts. Does it now launch?

Bluebellflora​ 

I renamed the folder in Documents, but I still got the same error message. I then repaired the game again, but I'm still getting that same error message. Thank you very much for your help already!

ChrissyV2704​ I honestly have no idea and I don't understand why a folder is being generated called The Sims 4.app. Does this happen when you install it on your internal drive in Applications?