Forum Discussion

Hero+

9 months ago

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

If you're experiencing this error message it doesn't mean your game is already running, the actual message itself is incorrect. It means The Sims 4 cannot access the Electronic Arts > The Sims 4 fold...

external drive

launching

clouddjumperr

5 years ago

@mlkhny I need help! Every time I try to launch the Sims 4 on my mac, it just says "Unable to Start". How did you fix this problem?

Margyb9
Seasoned Rookie
2 years ago
Was playing Sims 4 earlier today and my game crashed.The game totally locked. I restarted my Mac and tried to re-open the game. Won't load the game. Getting an error message that states the game is already running. Tried repairing it. No change. Tried un-installing Origin. No change. Tried moving the Sims 4 folder from my Document/Eletronic Arts folder to desktop. Game will open, but only as a new game without any of my lots, families, etc. Moved the f9lder back, and the "game is still running" message again appears.
- Bluebellflora
  Hero+
  2 years ago
  @Margyb9
  
  That's very interesting that a new Sims 4 folder fixes the issue. Were you prompted to allow the game permission to access the Documents folder when you relaunched the game?
  
  A good test would be to move the Sims 4 folder to the desktop again so a new one is created and the game properly launches. Then quit and move over one save and see if it still launches. If it does, systematically move over saves and test the game is still working.
  - Margyb9
    Seasoned Rookie
    2 years ago
    Thanks for replying. When I opened the game with the original EA folder on my desktop, the only option I had to play a game was to start a new one. I made a quick random sim and when I went to put it into a neighborhood, all my neighborhoods were in the original condition. All my data was not there (figured the saves from myn0d EA f0der needed to be moved back in. you suggested I move one save at a time back into the game, but there are tons! I've had 4 active neighborhoods, with 8-10 families in them. A lot of time put into all of them.