Re: "Sims 4 is already running"

@shonbtru  Are you saying you can't sign into Origin?  If so, that's an entirely different issue, and you'll need to contact EA customer support for help.

https://help.ea.com/en/contact-us/

You should be able to start a case without signing in if you choose the "can't login" option.

If you can sign into Origin (or you get that issue fixed) but still can't play, please run a dxdiag and attach it to a post.

https://help.ea.com/en/help/pc/how-to-gather-dxdiag-information/

Please also let me know what antivirus you use.

here is the dxdiag file

@shonbtru  Please set exceptions in McAfee for both TS4_x64.exe and Origin.exe.  Many antivirus programs block the game by default now.

If that doesn't help, please move your entire Sims 4 folder out of Documents\Electronic Arts and onto your desktop, and try to play again.  If the game launches, a clean folder will spawn with no content.  Don't add anything to it yet; just see whether you can get far enough to start a new save.

I tried doing what google said but the sims 4 didn’t pop up on my task list…but even when it did i clicked “end task” and it didn’t fix the issue. what should i do?

@sprinklucupcake9  Did you try the steps here?

https://sims4.crinrict.com/eng/crin-error/game-already-running/

If they don't or didn't help, please let me know what antivirus you use.  Please also run a dxdiag and attach it to a post.

https://help.ea.com/en/help/pc/how-to-gather-dxdiag-information/

@JadaWadaG  When you say you reset your computer, what exactly did you do?  Please either list the steps or link the tutorial you followed.

Please also try playing in a new Windows account on your computer.  Make it an admin account; the username should contain only letters and numbers, no special characters.  Don't sign into Microsoft or any other services you normally use.  Just see whether you can play Sims 4.

If not, please let me know what antivirus you use.

@JadaWadaG  Did you try playing in a new admin user account?  If that doesn't or didn't work, please let me know what antivirus you use.

@amanobanano  That depends on the underlying cause of your issue.  If you have any mods or custom content at all in your main user account, please move the Mods folder to the desktop and try playing again.

If that doesn't work, your Documents folder may have borked permissions.  In that case, you can try running the takeown command, as I described here for another user:

https://answers.ea.com/t5/Technical-Issues-PC/new-install-windows-11-can-t-start-damaged-or-missing-game-files/m-p/12115824#M241041

@ptjiiogvx0lc  Restart your computer, then try again.  If you're trying to move the Sims 4 user folder and still see this error, it's probably due to OneDrive syncing, so try pausing the sync:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/how-to-cancel-or-stop-sync-in-onedrive-4885c27e-3d89-4d69-be75-2646c71367d3

hi! i feel bad for boithering you- but im desperate- ive tried everything here... lkiterally everything... the problem happened after i tried using the simsync mod- which i couldnt  do without port forwarding, so gave up--- however it had been running ok until i changed a network setting- then it has beensying its already running even since changing the setting back... ive reinstalled/repair etc etc. any hel[p would be greatly appreciated

@jinxD21  What network setting did you change?  What antivirus do you use?

We're in 2024, and the problem STILL HERE, even if we do all that steps...

Yes! I just recently started playing again and now I can’t even play because it tells me the game is already running. I have tried everything and it still won’t work!

@rachelesther1506 @AbC1441a2544063 and anyone else who comes across this, please try the suggestions in the first post of this master thread for the already running error:

https://answers.ea.com/t5/Technical-Issues-PC/CURRENT-ISSUE-Sims-4-already-running/m-p/13276380

Since this thread is somewhat old, I'll lock it here.