Hello,I updated my game tonight and now despite having over 70 hours of gameplay, all my saves are totally gone.I've already spent hours reading the threads - I am on a mac, I am not synced to any type of cloud, and I have searched my computer for the files in pretty much every way possible, from locating the new and old Sims 4 folders to searching the file extensions and general file names (i.e, Slot_00000002.save). I checked my trash and tried moving forward with a new sim so I could access the load game function, but nothing. Unless they got renamed somewhere, they are totally gone. I understand that EA is trying to comply with new apple standards about the location of certain files (https://simscommunity.info/2020/04/06/the-sims-4-new-update-coming-soon-changes-planned-for-mac-game-files/) but the saves are supposed to remain in the same location, so I don't understand why my saves were wiped. The cache folders were empty as well. I'm at a loss. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to recover the files? I've been playing the Sims for 20 years and literally have never had this issue or even had it suggested to me that I should back up my save files. I will moving forward but I really hate to lose all the effort I put into the game till now.

You totally just helped me out here! I had the same issue so I did what you said and realised the file directory had changed, s I copied from the old saved file and pasted in the new and its all back to how it was. 😃 🙌

@Bluebellflora Ah gotcha, it is installed in my Macintosh HD Applications folder, not the user folder.I took a look at the user folder just to see and it looks like there is also a Sims 4 folder in the user Documents folder, but the Applications folder is empty along with the save folder.

@Bluebellflora Yeah it's just in the applications folder, no external or cloud.Sure, I've attached a screenshot of my saves folder.I had mentioned in my original post that I created a new sim just to see if it would load any previous households but I have since deleted that save file since none of my old files were pulled up. I have also attached a screenshot of that new save file in my trash folder in case it is somehow helpful.I don't know if this matters but while the game was updating, I was cleaning up my desktop and probably emptied my trash at some point. I'm happy to provide any additional screenshots if needed!

@Bluebellflora I ran the new terminal search attached a screenshot below. Looks like it pulls up files with "save" other than Sims files but if you see anything I don't, definitely let me know. Unfortunately, I have no backups to pull from. It's silly because I keep all my files on externals so I never worry about losing data, but The Sims is the only game I play on my laptop so I just didn't think about it since I've never had this issue. Lesson learned haha. I have used third party software to clear out temporary files in the past (CleanMyMac free version), but I think that was over a year ago and it didn't delete my saves then. I don't think I have run a cleaning it since the last time I played Sims 4 because I dislike the cleaning software and never upgraded to a paid version. It's possible it could have been run inadvertently, but unlikely. The Sims 4 update was the only thing I know for sure that could impact the files, so I don't know.

@Bluebellflora Yeah, so I figured. Thanks for sticking with me to make absolute sure!

Saves Totally Deleted - Any Recovery Suggestions?

15 Replies

Bluebellflora
Hero+
6 years ago
@salamoore

The notarisation update you linked to has absolutely no bearing at all on your save files.

Please open Terminal, copy and paste the following command and hit Enter/Return:

find ~ -type d -name "*The Sims 4*" 2>/dev/null

After a little while it will return the results of the search. Please copy and paste them here.
Aymee32
6 years ago
You totally just helped me out here! I had the same issue so I did what you said and realised the file directory had changed, s I copied from the old saved file and pasted in the new and its all back to how it was. 😃 🙌
salamoore
6 years ago
Hi @Bluebellflora,
Thanks for taking the time to respond.
The location looks like it's the same as where I was originally searching - /Users/salamoore/Documents/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4
Thoughts?
Glad this helped @Aymee32 so far!
Bluebellflora
Hero+
6 years ago
@salamoore

That's the only location? Nothing else showed up in the results?
salamoore
6 years ago
@Bluebellflora
Correct :/ I've attached a screenshot in case it's helpful
Bluebellflora
Hero+
6 years ago
@salamoore

Thanks. Where is the game installed to? Presumably the system Applications folder or an external drive?

Can you also screenshot the contents of your saves folder?
salamoore
6 years ago
@Bluebellflora
Yeah it's just in the applications folder, no external or cloud.
Sure, I've attached a screenshot of my saves folder.
I had mentioned in my original post that I created a new sim just to see if it would load any previous households but I have since deleted that save file since none of my old files were pulled up. I have also attached a screenshot of that new save file in my trash folder in case it is somehow helpful.
I don't know if this matters but while the game was updating, I was cleaning up my desktop and probably emptied my trash at some point.
I'm happy to provide any additional screenshots if needed!
Bluebellflora
Hero+
6 years ago
@salamoore

To clarify, is your game installed in your User Applications folder or the Macintosh HD Applications folder? If it was in your User Applications folder it should have shown up in the Terminal search. I'm asking because if for some reason it missed that then it may be missing another Sims 4 folder that is in another location on your Mac, although a Spotlight search should have picked that up (the Electronic Arts folder is hidden from a Spotlight search IF it is in the Documents folder. A search in Terminal looks everywhere in the User account including hidden folders).
salamoore
6 years ago
@Bluebellflora
Ah gotcha, it is installed in my Macintosh HD Applications folder, not the user folder.
I took a look at the user folder just to see and it looks like there is also a Sims 4 folder in the user Documents folder, but the Applications folder is empty along with the save folder.
Bluebellflora
Hero+
6 years ago
@salamoore

Ok, let's do one more search in Terminal for specific saves:

find / -type f -name "*.save*" 2>/dev/null

If that doesn't yield any good results then maybe look in any backups you have? Have you used any 3rd party apps to clear out files on your Mac?