I'm running low on storage in my macbook air and I have already moved all my music and pictures off of it and onto a hard drive. It still says start up disk is full. Is there a way that I can transfer my Sims 4 on to an external hard drive, play it, and save it to the external hard drive?

@SamaraAmjad You can install the game on an external drive but not your user data in the Sims 4 folder as the game will always look in Documents > Electronic Arts for the data.

how can I transfer sims 4 from my macbook to an external hard drive?

34 Replies

fons_garmo
Hero (Retired)
9 years ago
Hi @Sofartsie,

Yes, you can do it but you have to uninstall and reinstall the game.

Go to Origin advanced settings, on Installation Path select the new path you want The Sims 4 to be installed.

Uninstall The Sims 4 (right click on The Sims 4 cover in Origin > Uninstall)

Reinstall the game again, it'll reinstall on the new path.

Please note that external hard drives are slower, so you can face some performance issues with the game installed there.
SamaraAmjad
8 years ago
I realise this is an old post, just hoping someone replies...

Is it possible to transfer it over with custom content that’s been saved? I mainly play with a bit of custom content on the households, was just wondering if it’s possible to transfer the entire EA folder (mods inc) to the external hard drive without loosing anything? Or is it possible to save the households with the CC to the library before changing paths.
Bluebellflora
Hero+
8 years ago
@SamaraAmjad

You can install the game on an external drive but not your user data in the Sims 4 folder as the game will always look in Documents > Electronic Arts for the data.
JimFraser7
5 years ago
Sorry, two years later.
Doesn't that mean you can't run the game if it always looks for User Data somewhere else?
deecharrl
5 years ago
@Bluebellflora Does this mean that you can run the game on the external hard-drive, but keep your saves and CC on your main (internal) drive?
Bluebellflora
Hero+
5 years ago
@deecharrl @JimFraser7

Yes. We've also found a way to store your data on an external drive too, or in the cloud, successfully but the instructions really have to be followed exactly. There is a lot of room for error - https://bluebellflora.com/2020/03/01/if-youre-running-out-of-space-to-play-the-sims-here-are-your-options-for-storing-your-data-externally/
naye2shy
5 years ago
New to gaming with mods and CC. I never had the storage on my Mac so I went and purchased an external drive. I managed to reinstall everything onto it but for the life of me could not figure out how to get the dam EA folder to stay on the drive instead of documents. I was able to do Symlink. This just saved me from so much frustration thank you!!!
elizabeth211995
5 years ago
@naye2shy when you did symlink does it still show a alias folder in documents for electronic arts
elizabeth211995
5 years ago
@naye2shy I hope the symlink works. I hate of how small storage is on Macs. But I will never move to PC. I love Macs all the way
Bluebellflora
Hero+
5 years ago
@elizabeth211995

Yes, it has to as that is the only place the game will look for your user data.