It's possible but I won't recommend it.
Trouble is with the drive letter since it can happen that a hard drive is not applied the same letter when reconnected and then the game won't work. Depending on your USB connection, it can also be slow.
If you want to try anyways, here's instruction on how to change the installation path: http://sims4.crinrict.com/en/2014/09/change-installation-path/
There have been posts that users have installed to a usb drive but no one have reported how long it works. What kind of computer do you have. If it's a desktop you should be able to add a second drive very easily. If it's a laptop you can get a larger drive and image the old one to the new one then swap them. Some laptops even have the ability to add an extra drive. The data rate on a usb drive will be slower then a drive connected to the motherboard. The only big problem I see if you have a laptop is any external connection could be reset should you disconnect the devices and use the laptop at a different location. Although I have though about Windows 10 with Microsoft OneDrive. I personally have reservations about my data being in the public domain (cloud storage). Data centers do go off line. Although data centers are are more reliable then your local cable company. There's always a nas box. Might get a better data rate because of the network connection. With things getting smaller, faster, and less complicated - I can't see making it larger, slower, and more complicated. Amazon has a Hitachi 2TB 7200rpm drive $43.99. Amazon Prime and in 2 days and a couple hours work. When I was in data processing class we were taught KISS (keep it simple stupid).
The best I can describe this is your hanging over a very deep canyon and your holding on to kite string.
Good luck.
Hello, I know this post is kinda old but I wanted to say that I managed to download the Sims 4 onto my external in 2015, and I also used that with my laptop since I didn't have a computer. It worked well for me, the only issues I had was lag and long-ish loading screens but that could be because I used a laptop and not a PC. I also downloaded what I think was a lot of Custom Content and few mods and it still worked the same.
Hopefully, This can be useful to someone even if this is kinda late
i'd also love to know how to do this successfully! it's taking up way too much space on my laptop
Having the same problem. I bought a 1T External Hard Drive but when i go to my Origin settings > Installs & Saves > On your computer > Game Library Location and then choose my external hard drive, its says "The game installation directory is invalid. Please select a different directory." I just spent $80 on this hard drive plus the $25 for sims. If this doesn't work i'm going to be seriously upset. It was my birthday present to myself and so far its done nothing but stress me out and make me cry.
@pcakes88 you can manually create the folder or change the Origin destination location THEN uninstall and reinstall and the installer should create the folder for you.
I am also getting an external hard drive to play The Sims 4. I have a HP Stream laptop with Windows 8. Will an external rive work with my computer to play Sims 4? It worked before but with the new Christmas update it can't update and I haven't been able to play it since December 14, 2017 (or the 12th).
Hi @Nya1904
Are you using any mods or cc in your game? They're sometimes broken is game updates.
Try to remove them and see if the game works better.
For example, move the mods folder from C:\Users\Username\Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 4 to your Desktop and start the game.
We can help you take a look at your laptop but we need more info about it, please post a DxDiag:
https://help.ea.com/en-us/help/pc/how-to-gather-dxdiag-information/
Which is? That you wonder if it's possible?
Yes it is, but it depends on both your computer and your external hard drive, they both need to be powerful enough to pull this off! 🙂
Okay but it works now or? 🙂
The game will always save the user files in your documents, even if the game is installed on an external drive. This is the PC forum and I know how to move your documents folder to another drive there, but not on a Mac, you should maybe try asking in the Mac Forum? 🙂
Read the accepted answer in this thread.
@andielovess89 Origin has been the DRM for this game since 2012. You need to configure Origin to download and install to the external drive.
Hi! How did you add you costom content and mods?
Please read install instructions were you got it. Notice that you need to ensure that they work with the latest patch.
I have the same problem with others! My laptop's space is so full, because of the sims 4 and all the cc. I wonder if I could only move the cc into USB, but how can I connect my cc to the sims from my USB?
That is not possible. You can move Documents to another drive but NOT an external drive.
If I get a hard drive, how much space should it have that I could play sims from it?
Community Manager
