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Bluebellflora's avatar
Bluebellflora
Hero+
3 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
nyx699's avatar
nyx699
3 years ago
@Sarahtd9 Hi Sarah I have solved the problem by running the game only AFTER creating a new user on my Mac with administrator privileges.
I have tried everything already suggested. Nothing works.
Clearly in my case on Mac Book Pro 13" 2021 Big Sur the only solution was the new user. Not sure why is that :-(
Something weird is in the settings of my normal user.
Bluebellflora's avatar
Bluebellflora
Hero+
3 years ago
@nyx699

It will be permissions 🙂 Maybe Origin/Sims 4 didn't have full permission in System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy to access the relevant files and folders and disk access it needed. By setting up a new user account, and allowing all the access you were prompted for in that account, it's given Origin and the game everything it needs to properly run.
  • Carap40's avatar
    Carap40
    Rising Newcomer
    5 months ago

    you just saved me thank you!! i just searched all over for about 2 hours trying to fix this and your comment was the only on that worked! crazy that i just had to click a check mark lol 

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