I have tried installing origin and sims 4 onto an external hard drive to save space on my mac. I have followed the forums and advice on how to install this however it does not seem to work. Initially I installed both origin and the sims 4 game onto the hard drive but it would not reload my saved games, it was just creating a new game each time. I even tried creating a symlink for the EA folder and cache but this did not work and would not let me open the game. I've installed origin back into my applications folder and downloaded the game onto the hard drive but the EA folder has stayed in my documents on my Mac. Every time I know open origin it has to re-install the Sims 4 and all the packs I own and now it wont open at all. I am not sure what i am doing wrong, I am not extremely tech savvy so anyone who could explain this simply, would be much appreciated.

Origin will now let me play, I thought there may possibly be a delay between origin recognising the drive as it was initially coming up with download. Do I have to go through origin to play? When the game was previously installed on my mac I just used to click on the application for it to run however it does not open if I try this when it is in the external drive. I am aware that the load up can be longer through the drive, however my general gameplay seems to be lagging and my fan sounds very loud on my mac. I thought this may have resolved when using the external drive? Sorry for asking so many questions, i really appreciate all the help you have given.

@devgriff98 The guide on installing the game on an external drive and the guide on creating the symlink are as simplified as they can be. If I were you I would: Uninstall the game via Origin Manually uninstall Origin https://bluebellflora.com/how-to-uninstall-origin-on-a-mac/ Re-download Origin https://www.ea.com/origin-for-mac Install Origin and do not enable automatic downloads/updates after you login Once Origin is downloaded and installed make sure your external drive is plugged in and change the Game Library location to the external drive. You will need this guide for the drive to show up - https://answers.ea.com/t5/Technical-Issues-Mac/-Can-t-find-External-Hard-Drive-in-Origin-MAC/m-p/8686088#M26700 Once you have successfully changed the installation location download the game. Once you've successfully completed the above we can move onto the Sims 4 folder that contains saves etc.

@Bluebellflora Thank you.I have reinstalled origin. I am trying to install the game however, the folders for library/applications etc do not appear on my external drive so I am unsure where to install the game.

@devgriff98 Yes, that is step 5 above, you need to follow the link I provided for the fix.

@BluebellfloraI have followed the link. I am able to access the hard drive through origin. The hard drive is empty and there are none of the folders mentioned.Origin can locate the hard drive and has access, so I am able to download the game onto it. I was unsure whether there needs to be these folders before I install the game?

Issues with installing Sims 4 onto external hardrive

15 Replies

Bluebellflora
Hero+
3 years ago
@devgriff98

I've now moved your post above out of the symlink thread as you have successfully created the symlink and your new problem is nothing to do with the symlink process.

To be clear, having the game installed on an external drive and having the Sims 4 folder on an external drive via the symlink process are two completely separate processes. The game installed on an external drive is controlled by Origin.

Please post a screenshot of your Origin games library location from Origin > Installs & Saves.

Please post a screenshot of the contents of your external drive in Finder.

Please post a screenshot of System Settings > Security & Privacy > Full Disk Access showing Origin having Full Disk Access.
devgriff98
3 years ago
Origin will now let me play, I thought there may possibly be a delay between origin recognising the drive as it was initially coming up with download.
Do I have to go through origin to play? When the game was previously installed on my mac I just used to click on the application for it to run however it does not open if I try this when it is in the external drive.
I am aware that the load up can be longer through the drive, however my general gameplay seems to be lagging and my fan sounds very loud on my mac. I thought this may have resolved when using the external drive?
Sorry for asking so many questions, i really appreciate all the help you have given.
Bluebellflora
Hero+
3 years ago
@devgriff98 wrote:

Origin will now let me play, I thought there may possibly be a delay between origin recognising the drive as it was initially coming up with download.

Yep, that is exactly right. It's always better to open a Finder window and let the OS load the files and folders on the drive before opening Origin, even if the drive is never unplugged.

Yes, you always need Origin to run the game. It will have opened before when you double clicked on the game app and then automatically minimised.

The only benefit of having the game on an external drive is storage space on your Mac. It's still using the same CPU and GPU to run the game. What are the connections on the external drive and your Mac? Are you using an adapter on either connection? Are you using an SSD/Flash drive or old style spinning HDD?
devgriff98
3 years ago
@Bluebellflora Thank you, that’s good to know.

I’m using a Seagate 1TB HDD and I am using a connector to plug the drive into the mac. I had laptop made off on my sims settings, will this impact the game play?
Bluebellflora
Hero+
3 years ago
@devgriff98

Ok. An HDD will definitely be contributing to the lag. SSD/Flash is much faster. Also you want the direct connection between the drive and the Mac to be USB C or Thunderbolt. If you go through an adapter to USB A it will only be as fast as the USB A speed which is too slow really.

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Issues with installing Sims 4 onto external hardrive

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