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Bluebellflora's avatar
Bluebellflora
Hero+
10 years ago

[READ FIRST] Sims 4 - Mac Help, Guides and Troubleshooting

Whether your game isn't playing properly or you just want some info on how The Sims 4 should perform on your Mac, please take some time to read through this thread and try out some of the suggestions...
mac
Bluebellflora's avatar
Bluebellflora
Hero+
10 years ago

Finding your Mac's specifications

Click on the Apple icon in the top left corner of your desktop and select About This Mac. You should see a window like one of the ones above, depending on model. Please provide the following information, of available (you may need to click on More Info depending on what operating system you're running). Do NOT include your serial number:

  • Operating System (Version/macOS)
  • Mac model
  • Processor/Chip
  • Memory (RAM)
  • Graphics (if shown)
  • 15" and 16" Intel only MacBook Pro users - click on System Report then Graphics/Displays in the left side list. If your Mac has dedicated graphics this will show up as either NVIDIA or AMD in the right side window, please list the specification here as well.

  1. Are you running any antivirus or "cleaning" apps?
  2. Have you tried to repair the game in Origin/EA App? Origin - right click on the game in your game library and select Repair. EA App - Click on the game in your EA App Library then Manage > Repair
  3. Do you use CC/Mods? If so, have you tried removing them and trashing the localthumbcache.package file to see if that fixes your problem?
  4. How much storage is available on your internal drive (or external if you are using one for your game)? About This Mac > More Info > Storage
Bluebellflora's avatar
Bluebellflora
Hero+
10 years ago

Symptoms:

  • Game not loading such as:
    • game app bouncing in Dock then disappearing
    • stuck on game loading screen before or after main menu
    • black game screen
  • Frequent crashing such as:
    • during the intro screen before the main menu
    • during gameplay
    • after updating the game
  • In-game performance and graphics issues

 

Read these instructions - [INSTRUCTIONS] How to troubleshoot and test a broken game | EA Forums - 11864548 

    • Bluebellflora's avatar
      Bluebellflora
      Hero+
      10 years ago

      CC, Mods and Patching:

      • For clear instructions on how to install CC and Mods on a Mac, read itsaprilXD's excellent guide. Remember that installing Mods and CC into your game is done entirely at your own risk. They must be moved out of your Mods folder before patching. Once patched check with the creator that the Mods/CC are compatible with the latest patch before putting them back into your game.
      • Troubleshooting steps for custom content not showing up in-game can be found here.
      • Turn off automatic updates in EA App - EA App > Settings > Download. This is especially important if you are using Mods in your game. Make sure you don't have EA App set to launch when starting up your Mac
      • Bluebellflora's avatar
        Bluebellflora
        Hero+
        10 years ago

        Using the cheat console:

        Using the cheat console is exactly the same on a Mac as it is in Windows. Hold down CTRL, Shift and C. Whereas we normally substitute the CMD key for the CTRL key, this is not the case in The Sims 4 (or The Sims 3).  If this is not working for you check your keyboard configuration in System Preferences > Keyboard > Modifier Keys and Input Sources. The cheat console is coded into the game, there is no reason why it shouldn't work unless the user has changed some settings or has software installed which may be conflicting with the keyboard settings. Check whether your CTRL key is faulty or broken. If all else fails:

        • Try plugging in or bluetoothing another keyboard to your Mac. You may have a broken CTRL key(s).
        • Check for 3rd party software that has changed the keyboard mapping, e.g. - screenshot software or video capture software.
        • 3rd party software that is conflicting with the game. Close down any other apps that are running.
        • User changes to the modifer keys in System Preferences. Has someone used your Mac under your user account and changed something without you knowing? Go into System Preferences > Keyboard > Modifier Keys and set another key as the CTRL key
        • The Input Source in System Preferences > Keyboard has been changed to a different language. You could also try adding another language to see if this resolves the issue.

        Further information here https://answers.ea.com/t5/Technical-Issues-Mac/-Opening-the-Sims-4-cheat-console-on-Mac/m-p/12043321#M53238

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