Moved Sims 4 folder to desktop and have now lost all game data?

I couldn't get Sims 4 to open by origin, it would load and then choose to do nothing. I searched it up and found another post with the same issue and so I followed their chosen solution which was to move the 'The Sims 4' folder from EA Games folder onto desktop. I did it and now all of my game data is gone and it's like the game's been reset. How do I fix it? Please help.

UPDATE: I have removed all 332 items of CC that I downloaded today and it still wouldn't work. Today is the first time that I had downloaded CC since I was last on the Sims. None of my CC from today is the issue.

172e3cda0034987
8 years ago
When you move the Sims 4 folder from the Electronic Arts folder to the desktop, and launch the game again, you are basically doing a factory reset of the game. It starts the game fresh like it's newly installed.
Your user data isn't actually gone, it's backed up to the desktop. - C:\Users\Username\Desktop\The Sims 4. -- For example, if you look in your Sims 4 Saves folder, you should see your save files in it.
Read more about a factory reset from the article with this link: https://sims4.crinrict.com/en/2014/09/resetting-the-game-to-factory-settings-without-reinstalling/
If you move or rename the Sims 4 folder, the game will no longer be able to find it. When you go to launch and play the game it will create a new Sims 4 folder.
If the game launches and plays okay, then you can start putting the files back. (List of files and folders below).
- Options.ini (User game settings)
- Tray Folder (Sims/Houses/Commercial lots and rooms)
- Screenshots/Videos/Custom music
- Saves Folder
(leave out slot_00000001.save which is the autosave. It is not used anymore.)
- Custom content like clothing, hair, skins, and makeup
- Mods (Put these back one by one to make sure they all still work)

18 Replies

172e3cda0034987
8 years ago
When you move the Sims 4 folder from the Electronic Arts folder to the desktop, and launch the game again, you are basically doing a factory reset of the game. It starts the game fresh like it's newly installed.
Your user data isn't actually gone, it's backed up to the desktop. - C:\Users\Username\Desktop\The Sims 4. -- For example, if you look in your Sims 4 Saves folder, you should see your save files in it.
Read more about a factory reset from the article with this link: https://sims4.crinrict.com/en/2014/09/resetting-the-game-to-factory-settings-without-reinstalling/
If you move or rename the Sims 4 folder, the game will no longer be able to find it. When you go to launch and play the game it will create a new Sims 4 folder.
If the game launches and plays okay, then you can start putting the files back. (List of files and folders below).
- Options.ini (User game settings)
- Tray Folder (Sims/Houses/Commercial lots and rooms)
- Screenshots/Videos/Custom music
- Saves Folder
(leave out slot_00000001.save which is the autosave. It is not used anymore.)
- Custom content like clothing, hair, skins, and makeup
- Mods (Put these back one by one to make sure they all still work)
Anonymous
7 years ago
I’m still confused. I thought I could move the folder to the desktop and it would be easier to reach. I’m not sure what to do because I need all my mods back, all my households are gone.
172e3cda0034987
7 years ago
@confettifawn

If you've backed up your Sims 4 folder to the desktop - C:\Users\Username\Desktop\The Sims 4 you should still have the files/folders needed to copy back to your new Sims 4 folder.

Copy back the files of your Tray folder to get back your families, houses, rooms and community lots. - C:\Users\Username\Desktop\The Sims 4\Tray

Your mods should be found in - C:\Users\Username\Desktop\The Sims 4\Mods
To copy back the files or folders open the Sims 4 folder on your desktop, right-click on the Tray folder, for example and select Copy. Paste it into your new Sims 4 folder. It's okay to overwrite your current Tray folder if you have one, since you already have it backed up on the desktop.

Your game saves should be found in - C:\Users\Username\Desktop\The Sims 4\saves. You should be able to copy back these files without issues.

Copy back the contents of the mods folder carefully, as you may run into outdated mods and custom content. It's suggested to use the 50/50 method when putting back your mods and custom content.

To fix mods and custom content try the 50/50 method:

1. Move all the mods and cc out into a temporary folder on the desktop.
2. Move a few files back at a time. Load the game to make sure it loads and everything is good.
3. Delete the localthumbcache.package from the Sims 4 folder.
4. Repeat steps 1 - 3 till there is no more files to check.

** While your testing, don't save the game. If you find any problems, delete the mod or custom content file.

How To Find Problem Mods and CC -http://simswiki.info/wiki.php?title=Game_Help:TS4_Finding_Problem_Custom_Content

Custom content can become outdated with most new game patches. If the game works when the Mods folder is removed, then one or more of the mods and/or custom content has become outdated and will need to be removed or replaced. EA/Maxis aren't responsible for broken mods/cc. It's up to the creators to fix.
Hopefully this helps.
Anonymous
7 years ago
Ok, I’ll try this. Thank you so much!!
nadiaaxo24
7 years ago
I can’t find any of my saves there what else can I do
172e3cda0034987
7 years ago
@nadiaaxo24
Have you searched for Sims 4 folder on your computer?
Click Start, in the search box type in Sims 4. Go to where the path takes you.
By default it should go to: C:\Users\Username\Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 4
- This is where user files get installed and saved.
If it takes you to OneDrive, move the Sims 4 folder to your desktop and turn off or disable OneDrive.
Moving the Sims 4 folder to the desktop and turning off OneDrive is safe to do and helps the user folder not be saved to OneDrive anymore.
Sims 4 and Onedrive don't work well together. If the user files aren't in the Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 4 folder, the game can't see or use them.
How To: Turn off, disable, or uninstall OneDrive
https://support.office.com/en-us/article/turn-off-disable-or-uninstall-onedrive-f32a17ce-3336-40fe-9c38-6efb09f944b0
XxxQueenChloexx
7 years ago
I just read this and last night the same thing happened but now I kept replacing the Sims 4 folder so all the cc I had was replaced and now I have no clue where everything went!! I had over 1,000 things!! Please help!!😞
jpkarlsen
Hero (Retired)
7 years ago
@XxxQueenChloexxX
Please read answer in your own thread.
rubyyb88
7 years ago
Thanks! This helped so much!!!!
SimsJLM
7 years ago
Can you explain how to get the game to see the new location of the files once moved? I can't seem to figure that part out. I removed my files from OneDrive, put them to my Docs folder on C drive and reopened the game t=in hopes I could go to settings to tell it where to find the saved files, but no options there other than locations for saving vids and pics. Not for actual game files.