Forum Discussion

Hero+

10 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

Bluebellflora

Hero+

2 years ago

@arose4medusa

Did you do a Finder search to look for it? If so it won't show up if it is in the correct place - Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 4 - because it is hidden from search results (no idea why, not normal practice). Please manually navigate to that location and check 🙂

arose4medusa

2 years ago

@Bluebellflora

I looked for the Sims 4 folder in my documents folder and it was there as a shortcut, which I then deleted after trying to open it and it giving me an error message. Then when I tried again it worked (!!), albeit with my saves gone. I only really play the game for CAS/dress up though so no huge loss. Thank you!

Bluebellflora
Hero+
2 years ago
@arose4medusa

Had you created the symlink to store the Sims 4 folder on an external drive at some point? That would explain the alias/shortcut folder and the error message if the game cannot find the original folder. By trashing the alias you've forced the game into recreating the Sims 4 folder which has fixed it but yes, none of your previous content will be there. You must have the original Sims 4 folder somewhere.....
- arose4medusa
  2 years ago
  @Bluebellflora
  
  I found the folder in one of my back up files, it was on a different user account on my computer. Do you know how I sholuld go about getting my saves and other info back into the new Sims 4 folder?
  - Bluebellflora
    Hero+
    2 years ago
    @arose4medusa
    
    Yep, just move the saves from the backup folder directly into the new Sims 4 > saves folder 🙂
- Nouyasmine
  1 year ago
  @Bluebellflora Hiya, I have the exact same problem but all I did was uninstall the Sims 4. I've reinstalled it to my external hard drive and now it says that it is already running. It does not even have a folder in Electronic Arts. I'm unsure what to do. I have already given permission and full disk access.