Forum Discussion

Re: I cannot type with my keyboard in Sims 4

@sassysnowflake1 and @AngelofDeath1203  Please disable any apps you use that come with overlays: Steam, Discord, etc.  Please also disable the EA App overlay, which you can do through the App settings.

If this doesn't help, let me know what language you play Sims 4 in and what language your system uses.

23 Replies

  • oxfordsplice's avatar
    oxfordsplice
    New Veteran
    3 years ago

    Can you explain how to do this to the EA app? I don't have anything else that creates an overlay. Thanks

  • puzzlezaddict's avatar
    puzzlezaddict
    Hero+
    3 years ago

    @oxfordsplice  Click the three lines in the upper-left corner of the EA App window and choose Settings.  I believe the overlay setting is in the Application section, but if you don't see it there, check the other sections.

  • puzzlezaddict's avatar
    puzzlezaddict
    Hero+
    3 years ago

    @MuteHeavy  If you don't play through Steam, make sure it's not running before you launch Sims 4.  You can check the Task Manager, including the background processes list.

    If you do play through Steam, disable its in-game overlay globally.

  • MacigWitcher's avatar
    MacigWitcher
    3 years ago

    Is there no way to disable that overlay option permanently? It gets turned on with every single update the EA app makes on its own which is beyond annoying. I don't like having to constantly re-disable it, especially seeing as this function is so buggy.

  • carissaev's avatar
    carissaev
    2 years ago

    what do I try if my overlay settings on EA is turned on but it still won't let me type anything in the sims?

  • puzzlezaddict's avatar
    puzzlezaddict
    Hero+
    2 years ago

    @carissaev  Turn off the in-game overlay.

    If that doesn't help, disable any other apps that come with overlays: Steam, Discord, etc.

  • coconut7345's avatar
    coconut7345
    2 years ago

    I had the same issue I had to close my game and then I was able to deselect it. 

  • Kmmh99's avatar
    Kmmh99
    2 years ago

    @MacigWitcher wrote:

    Is there no way to disable that overlay option permanently? It gets turned on with every single update the EA app makes on its own which is beyond annoying. I don't like having to constantly re-disable it, especially seeing as this function is so buggy.


    How do I disable overlay?

  • @Kmmh99  In the EA App, click the three lines in the upper-left corner of the window.  Choose Settings, then Application, and the in-game overlay will be one of the options there.

  • kcuddles1972's avatar
    kcuddles1972
    2 years ago

    The in game overlay cannot be turned off in EA gMes app. It is blacked out.

  • puzzlezaddict's avatar
    puzzlezaddict
    Hero+
    2 years ago

    @kcuddles1972  Please restart your computer and try again, without any game running.  If this doesn't help, please post a screenshot of what you see.

  • RamenKid07's avatar
    RamenKid07
    11 months ago

    I did not see any options of turning this setting off, the setting is on but not highlighted and when I click it, nothing happens. It suggests to "open the in-game overlay using the keyboard shortcut shift+F1 but it doesn't do anything. 

  • @sne888  An overlay is a user interface from one program that is superimposed (often transparently or only in one area) on another program currently running.  The idea is that you might want ot use some feature of the program providing the overlay without closing the other program.  For example, you might be playing a game when one of your friends comes online, and you can use the EA App or Steam overlay to message their friend while still looking at your game.

    Many apps designed to be used alongside other apps come with overlays.  Most game launchers have one, as does Discord, as does Nvidia's GeForce Experience.

    The point here is that overlays can conflict with games at times, in various ways.  The suggestion in this thread was based on the idea that an overlay might be active but the player didn't notice or couldn't see it, so when they went to type in-game, they were really typing in the overlay instead without knowing.

    Having said all that, if disabling your overlays doesn't help, please open Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 4 > ConfigOverride and delete any files inside.

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