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Re: Unable to start: The Sims 4 is already running - Mac only

Thanks for your help, but I had already tried that from previous posts.

Good news though. After a full day of various work-arounds I tried making a new user account and opening it from there. Worked first time! A crazy-easy solution. I'm not sure why it works, but it does. Yeah!!!

Thanks again.

10 Replies

  • nikchick98's avatar
    nikchick98
    6 years ago

    How did you get it working? I have been having this issue for a while now, I even bought my own Sims 4 and stopped using my friends to see if that helped. It didn't ☹️

  • Red13Flash's avatar
    Red13Flash
    6 years ago

    I just made a new user account and it worked.

    Click on Apple icon at top right of screen

    Go to System Preferences

    Choose Users and Groups

    then make a new user (i made mine an Administrator account)

    Then I did a restart of my Mac and logged in under the new user name. I launched Origin and choose Sims4 and PLAY. 

    Like I said, I don't know why it worked, but it did. Hope this helps.

  • @Red13Flash 

    i used your method as the same thing was happening to me.

    i then went back onto my regular user which i have used since i got my macbook two weeks ago and every single one of my files was deleted. no documents, no desktop files, no downloads, it is all gone. over 2,700 files of cc and all my schoolwork has disappeared. do you know how i can fix this?

  • Skidz_LFC's avatar
    Skidz_LFC
    6 years ago

    I have an error message for my Sims 4 game. I've tried the common troubleshooting, but haven't been able to sort it out. Please help.

    Game already running- ed35e0ea:29f00e76:00000000:18a1dd51

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

    Please move the Sims 4 folder from Documents > Electronic Arts to the desktop then try and launch the game.
  • norskies's avatar
    norskies
    4 years ago

    For anyone still looking for a solution. I had this same problem on my Mac. When I first tried to relaunch the game after not playing in over a year there was a pop up to allow Sims access to my documents folder. I accidentally clicked deny but it never popped up again. This turned out to be the issue.

    To fix it:

    Go to System Preferences -> Security & Privacy -> Files & Folders -> Find “The Sims 4” in list and tick the “Documents Folder” check box to grant access.

    https://www.ea.com/games/the-sims/the-sims-4/news/patch-15655

  • saryg98's avatar
    saryg98
    3 years ago

    Honestly, you saved me! Same thing happened to me, I denied the pop up and my game would sometimes show me that error, so I had to create numerous folders and always copy-paste all my saves and mods, UNTIL I came across your comment! I did what you said and IT WORKED! After weeks and weeks of trying to solve this! Thank you soooo much!!!!