Forum Discussion

Re: New install, stuck on loading screen

I am having the same issue (have been for the last week).

M2

16GB memory

macOS Sequoia Version 15.0.1

I have also followed the steps in this link https://answers.ea.com/t5/Mac/READ-FIRST-Sims-4-Mac-Help-Guides-and-Troubleshooting/m-p/4612394#M163.

The only time I can get past the first loading screen is by uninstalling and reinstalling the game. This gives me maybe 15 minutes of gameplay, before I get stuck on a loading screen again and need to Force Quit the game. Often I can then reload the game, start playing but then get caught in a loading screen within the game. This continues until I can't get past the first loading screen of the game.

21 Replies

  • Bluebellflora's avatar
    Bluebellflora
    Hero+
    10 months ago

    @6e12f681d0b5b6cb @SimsNotWork 

    Which files and folders from your previous Sims 4 folder did you move back into the newly created Sims 4 folder?

    Are you running any antivirus?

    Any apps that monitor network traffic, either on the local machine or at router level?

    What access does the game have in System Settings > Security & Privacy > Files & Folders and Security & Privacy > Full Disk Access? Screenshots would help here.

  • SimsNotWork's avatar
    SimsNotWork
    10 months ago

    Which files and folders from your previous Sims 4 folder did you move back into the newly created Sims 4 folder?

    None. This is a clean install from scratch.

    Are you running any antivirus?

    No.

    Any apps that monitor network traffic, either on the local machine or at router level?

    No.

    What access does the game have in System Settings > Security & Privacy > Files & Folders and Security & Privacy > Full Disk Access? Screenshots would help here.

    With the default install, neither The Sims or EA App had any Security & Privacy permissions enabled. I have now given both The Sims & EA App Full Disk Access permissions, and the issue still occurs.

  • Which files and folders from your previous Sims 4 folder did you move back into the newly created Sims 4 folder?

    • None

    Are you running any antivirus?

    • No

    Any apps that monitor network traffic, either on the local machine or at router level?

    • None

    What access does the game have in System Settings > Security & Privacy > Files & Folders and Security & Privacy > Full Disk Access? Screenshots would help here.

    • Screenshots attached
  • SimsNotWork's avatar
    SimsNotWork
    10 months ago

    I set up a new user account and launched the app from that account. Same problem.

    Attaching screenshots of my Files & Folders and Full Disk Access settings.

  • Bluebellflora's avatar
    Bluebellflora
    Hero+
    10 months ago
    @SimsNotWork

    Thanks. Very strange. When you say you did a clean install of TS4 and EA App previously to try and fix it, please can you explain briefly how you removed both apps before reinstalling?
  • I was able to get past the first loading screen. But th game again got stuck on a loading screen about 15 minutes into playing.

  • SimsNotWork's avatar
    SimsNotWork
    10 months ago

    I opened Applications and moved both the EA App and the Sims 4 App to the trash, and then deleted the ~/Documents/Electronic Arts/ folder which includes the sims folder. Then reinstalled.

  • Is there any location where I can view the log of what it's doing while it's just sitting on the loading screen? 

    When this is happening, I see the app using 216% CPU in activity monitor. In the Network tab of activity monitor, I see the app sending and receiving bytes & packets, it's using the most network of any app open aside from Chrome. Not sure what it's doing there.

    I also just figured out how to get it out of full screen mode when it's loading, and if I select "Quit" from The Sims 4 menu in the menubar, nothing happens. I have to force quit the app.

  • I have also tried creating a new EA account and signing in with that. Still hangs on loading. 

  • I've had a breakthrough: I just enabled "Offline mode" in the EA App, and the game launches and gets past the loading screen immediately! So it appears this loading screen hang is related to my network somehow. It's possible that my ISP is blocking something in my router settings.

  • Hey, unfortunately turning off my wifi hasn't fixed the issue. I'm still getting stuck on the loading screen, requiring me to Force Quit to close the game.

    Is there anything else I can try?

  • 6e12f681d0b5b6c's avatar
    6e12f681d0b5b6c
    10 months ago

    So I've done some testing and it seems that I can load a brand new save, and play for about 10 minutes until it then inevitably gets stuck on a loading screen.

    I can't load a saved game. 

  • Bluebellflora's avatar
    Bluebellflora
    Hero+
    10 months ago
    @6e12f681d0b5b6cb

    Rename the Sims 4 folder again, launch the game so a new one is created then quit without saving. Move the save from the old TS4 saves folder into the new one then launch the game. Can you play that save? Do not move any other files or folders into the new TS4 folder, just that one save.
  • Bluebellflora's avatar
    Bluebellflora
    Hero+
    10 months ago
    @6e12f681d0b5b6cb

    If a clean folder didn't work, and a repair didn't work, and trying in offline mode as suggested by the OP didn't work, I have no idea what your issue is. Maybe you have a problem with your Mac?