Re: Sims 4 game license invalid

Every time I attempt to play the Sims 4, it launches with the error that my game license has expired. I follow the instructions and clear caches, but that does nothing. I have uninstalled my game and reinstalled it. I have uninstalled my app and reinstalled and nothing has worked. I am beyond frustrated as every time I attempt to open a case it does not give me the option, only to come to forums. Nothing on forums has worked. Like what am I meant to do.

Sims 4 won't launch and I don't get an error code. I have problems ever since I updated the game to the newest version. I click play, the ea app closes for half a second, then reopens as if nothing happened. No clue what's going on.

Edit, just restarted and repaired the EA app, now I get this fascinating error popup, screenshot attached. If I put my information in, it just reopens the EA app without any difference.

@HayleyRob1 @Robin9139 and @ebony2319  I've merged your posts with another thread for this error.  Are you launching Sims 4 through the EA App or through its desktop shortcut?  Please go through the App, and make sure it's fully loaded before pressing Play.

If that doesn't help, click Windows key-R and enter this in the run box:

%ProgramData%\Electronic Arts\EA Services

Move the License folder to the desktop, but don't delete it if you have other EA games you'd like to play.  The folder and the relevant data inside should regenerate the next time you launch one of those games, but if it's not working for Sims 4, it might also not work for other games.

Please also let me know what's in the License folder you move as well as whether it regenerates when you try to launch Sims 4.  There should be one entry for each EA game you've installed on this computer, although they're only sometimes labeled in an obvious way.

Entered, file not found

@puzzlezaddict I did exactly as you told, and I already play the sims 4 through the EA app, but it still gives the same error code.
I also got the same files inside before and after doing this, 1011164.dlf

@kaimoook and @Robin9139  Thanks for checking.  I've flagged this since a few players are currently affected.  I don't know what else to suggest at this point, but hopefully someone will have other ideas soon.

@puzzlezaddict  is there any progress you know of that isn't posted here? It has been almost a week since the last message and the bug is big enough that we all can't play the game whilst a timed event is ongoing. Thank you for anything you can tell us.

@Robin9139  I don't have anything particularly useful to offer here.  I do know that one person fixed the issue by installing a new version of Windows, not just an update but I think upgrading from 8.1 to 10.  Since that's not a feasible path forward for most users, the closest thing I can suggest (short of wiping the system, which is also not ideal) is to run a repair install.  Here are instructions for Windows 10 and 11:

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/16397-repair-install-windows-10-place-upgrade.html

https://www.elevenforum.com/t/repair-install-windows-11-with-an-in-place-upgrade.418/

This shouldn't delete any of your data, but if you get to step 13/14 and are NOT asked to keep personal files and apps, back out and start over.

This particular issue has been stubborn, unfortunately, and other users have already tried every other suggestion I made, without success.

@puzzlezaddictthank you for the response. I read through the sites you sent and find them to be a bit intimidating to do if I'm honest. I might test it when a family member better with computers is visiting, but for now I won't risk doing it and making a mistake for something that may or may not fix my game. What is interesting though, is that this suggests that the problem lies within Windows instead of the EA app or the Sims 4. It doesn't make sense when every other game I have works just fine.

Is there any chance of this fixing itself over time, or some kind of work around so I can at least do the event and get the rewards I'm now missing out on? If it is a Windows problem, would starting the game on a different computer work for example?

I fixed it! I removed my mods, saves and screenshots folders, then repaired the game. I should have tried this sooner, but it fixed the game. I will now test if I can add those folders again and will edit this post as I go.

Edit: I added my saves and screenshots folders, it still works.
Edit 2: added the mods folder and it still works!

@Robin9139  I'm glad to hear the problem is fixed.  It's possible EA did something on the back end at the same time, so I wouldn't assume the repair addressed the issue (although it could have), and I wouldn't expect changes to your user folder to have any effect at all.  But the important thing is that it's fixed, not how that happened.

@kaimoook @HayleyRob1 @ebony2319  Please try again to see whether this issue is fixed, and if you still get the error, clear the EA App's cache and repair Sims 4 (again).

https://help.ea.com/en-us/help/faq/clear-cache-to-fix-problems-with-your-games/