Hi,Today I updated my Origin and Sims 4, having not played it in a month or two. I also installed a couple of new packs. When I booted it up it behaved as though the game was newly installed. All of the saved games were gone. The saves folder is new and completely empty.I have run a search on the Mac for Sims 4 and another saves folder.. nothing.I have never had an issue like this before.. any ideas where my saves could've gone?Here are my computer specs: Model Name: MacBook Pro Model Identifier: MacBookPro9,2 Processor Name: Dual-Core Intel Core i5 Processor Speed: 2.5 GHz Number of Processors: 1 Total Number of Cores: 2 L2 Cache (per Core): 256 KB L3 Cache: 3 MB Hyper-Threading Technology: Enabled Memory: 16 GB Boot ROM Version: 233.0.0.0.0 SMC Version (system): 2.2f44 Serial Number (system): C02JKVV4DTY3 Hardware UUID: 0A0436AF-BCB3-523D-B4FF-F8FFD41BA4C1 Sudden Motion Sensor: State: Enabled

@Rosieekate I don't mind at all! It's great to keep identical issue posts in the same place 🙂Your issue is the Electronic Arts folder is within another folder called Personal in the Documents folder. It needs to be directly in the Documents folder.

Sims 4 saved games disappeared | EA Forums

14 Replies

Bluebellflora
Hero+
5 years ago
@kirstym91

Can you please provide full specs as detailed here - http://answers.ea.com/t5/The-Sims-Mac/READ-FIRST-Sims-4-Mac-Help-Guides-and-Troubleshooting/m-p/4612396/highlight/true#M162

Check your iCloud Drive settings - https://bluebellflora.com/2017/02/06/sims-3-and-sims-4-not-loading-save-games/

If you're still having issues let me know and we can try a proper system search using Terminal.
kirstym91
5 years ago
Hi Bluebeliflora
Thanks for your reply. I've attached the operating system info.
I checked the iCloud settings and the Documents folder had migrated over to the iCloud Drive, so I have subsequently rectified this so the folder is now saved locally. However, the saves folder, tray folder and screenshots folder were all empty. The folders are listed as having been created and modified yesterday (when I updated the game).
I have tried searching the Mac for another The Sims 4 folder, without success.
The EA support team have not been able to find a cause or solution so any advice you can provide would be much appreciated!
Bluebellflora
Hero+
5 years ago
@kirstym91

Thanks 🙂

Can you open Terminal (Applications > Utilities), copy and paste the following then hit return/enter:

find ~ -type f -name "*Slot_*" 2>/dev/null

It may take a little while to return the results. When it's done please copy/paste the results here. This is searching your Mac user account for save files in places it wouldn't normally search by using Spotlight.
Rosieekate
5 years ago
Hi @Bluebellflora I hope you don't mind me jumping in here but I am having exactly the same problem!
I am also on a Mac, and I've just logged in to play for the first time in a few weeks, only to find my saved games have disappeared (all 500 hours' worth of play...). My 'saves' file in Documents says it was created 10 days ago - which I'm guessing is when I last updated the game - and it is empty.
I have just done the search you recommended and this is what came up for me:
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 47.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000001.save.ver0
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 10.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 51.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 92.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 84.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000001.save.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 26.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 71.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 88.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 67.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 30.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 31.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 89.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 66.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 70.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 27.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 85.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 93.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 50.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 11.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 46.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save.ver4
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 20.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 77.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 61.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 36.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 41.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save.ver2
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 16.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 3.ver3
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 57.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 7.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 94.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 82.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 83.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 95.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 56.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 6.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 17.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 40.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 37.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 60.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 76.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 21.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 34.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 63.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 75.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 22.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000001.save.ver4
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 9.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 59.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000001.save.ver3
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 18.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 38.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 80.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000001.save
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 79.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 96.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 5.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 55.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000001.save.ver2
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 14.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 43.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 42.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 15.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 4.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 54.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 78.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 97.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 81.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 39.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 19.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 8.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 58.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 23.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 74.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 62.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 35.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 69.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 86.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 90.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 28.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 3.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 53.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save.ver0
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 12.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 45.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 32.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 65.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 73.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 24.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 49.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 48.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 25.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 72.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 64.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 33.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 44.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 13.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 2.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 52.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 29.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 91.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 68.ver1
/Users/rosiestevens/Documents/Personal/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves/Slot_00000002.save 87.ver1

Any ideas what any of this means? 🤔
Bluebellflora
Hero+
5 years ago
@Rosieekate

I don't mind at all! It's great to keep identical issue posts in the same place 🙂

Your issue is the Electronic Arts folder is within another folder called Personal in the Documents folder. It needs to be directly in the Documents folder.
Rosieekate
5 years ago
UPDATE!
Sorry, having jumped on this thread I have now answered my own question...
For some reason I had ended up with two 'Electronic Arts' folders, one containing my saved files and one not. I did a tidy up of my Documents folder yesterday and moved EA into a subfolder within Documents, and I now realise a new EA folder had appeared in the main Documents folder (sans save files). So, I've now moved the new EA folder elsewhere (scared to delete it in case something else disappears...) and moved the original folder back into the main Documents folder, and this seems to have solved it!
I hope that makes sense, and is perhaps helpful for you @kirstym91 if a similar thing has happened with your game? I hope you manage to get it fixed in any case!
Bluebellflora
Hero+
5 years ago
@Rosieekate

Yep, that will be the reason 🙂 The game only looks in Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 4. It won't look in any subfolders in the Documents folder.
Rosieekate
5 years ago
Thanks so much for your help @Bluebellflora ! I did not realise this when I was doing my Documents tidy up, but from now on I will know to leave my EA folder put! 😇
AmberLiiza
3 years ago
I'm having the same exact problem. The only difference is I moved my Sims 4 folder to my desktop and then back into the EA folder. I started the game and it loaded all my CC and mods and saves, but then I accidentally quit the game. When I started it again nothing loaded and all my folders were empty, 2300 hours lost. Everything I've ever played from the sims4 is just gone and idk where it is. It has to be somewhere on my Mac right? Things just dont disappear...?
Bluebellflora
Hero+
3 years ago
@AmberLiiza

Please open Terminal and copy and paste the following command then 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 the results in a post here.