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Re: Sims 4: Lost data and game progress

If the saves are no where to be found on your computer, there's not much you can do other than to start over.

My recommendation for the future: Backup your saves and user files on a regular basis: http://sims4.crinrict.com/en/2014/09/backups/

Also save the Sims your like to the gallery and your library and also back that up.

18 Replies

  • Anonymous's avatar
    Anonymous
    9 years ago

    You shouldn't have to back up files etc. You buy a game -it should work - simple as that!

  • crinrict's avatar
    crinrict
    Hero+
    9 years ago

    Hi @HawleySims

    you should always backup your files in case of hardware failure or other issues. There's so many factors that can have a influence.

    I agree with you, that the game should work as intended but that doesn't make backups obsolete.

    Did you loose your data ? 

  • I also have this issue and have found the saves. What do I do now? I tried to open them but it wouldn't let me.

  • crinrict's avatar
    crinrict
    Hero+
    9 years ago

    You'll need to copy them back to the saves folder the game uses.

  • Anonymous's avatar
    Anonymous
    9 years ago

    The same problem just happened to me. I save all my sims to the gallery, but they were all gone☹️((((

  • crinrict's avatar
    crinrict
    Hero+
    9 years ago

    Hi @SusanneMoholt1

    are you talking about your local library or the online gallery ?

    Did you try the suggestions in this thread ?

  • Anonymous's avatar
    Anonymous
    9 years ago

    Well now it has happened to me also.  BUT, I do have all my saved game files where they are supposed to be, however I am back at the create a sim beginning as well AND my saved library of sims and households is gone.   Even the EA chat guy is at a loss so far!  WTF???

  • crinrict's avatar
    crinrict
    Hero+
    9 years ago

    Sounds like the game is using a different folder

    Did you try the steps giving in this thread ?

  • crinrict's avatar
    crinrict
    Hero+
    8 years ago
    slot_00000001.save is the autosave and no longer used.

    They are usually not the same though. ver1 is an older backup.
  • Hi, I moved my files and now when I open the Sims it is as if I've never played before. I moved the file back but it still doesn't work. All my saved files are still there though. How do I find which folder my Sims uses for it's files?

    Kind regards.

  • @aydingozel

    If you still have your saved games in your Sims 4\saves folder - [C:\Users\Username\Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 4\saves]

    It may be the game isn't reading the save files correctly. Have you tried renaming your saved game file?

    To rename your save, remove the version number. - .ver0 or .ver1 by deleting the .ver1 on the end.

    For example:
    Slot_00000002.save.ver1

    Rename it to:
    Slot_00000002.save

    You may want to give it a different number if you already have a save 2 in your folder. The game should then recognize the save file again.

    -- If you have an old auto save file (Slot_00000001.save) it's safe to delete as the game doesn't use it anymore.

    If the above doesn't help, Crinrict has some very useful tips on saved games disappearing:

    Save Games disappearing
    https://sims4.crinrict.com/en/2014/09/save-games-disappearing/

    ----
    When I've come across the problem of having a lot of saves in my folder and need to rename them is to move the saves folder to the desktop, and copy back only a few or so, maybe 10 at most at a time, and rename them in a 02.save, 03.save, 04.save, etc. up to 10.save

    For example:

    Slot_00000002.save
    Slot_00000003.save
    Slot_00000004.save

    Load the game, select a save from the Load Game Menu and take notes of what save is what. To help keep track of the saves better.

  • FreyaHaglund's avatar
    FreyaHaglund
    6 years ago

    I tried this, and I found all my saves, and renamed a couple to the current save, but when I go to "load game", I'm still told that there aren't any save files to use. Any idea what I'm doing wrong?

  • Candyilona's avatar
    Candyilona
    6 years ago

    Hi, 

    I´m having same problem. All my progress is gone. I can find saves and slots but can´t figure out how to get the game to load from there. Help!

    Candyilona

  • puzzlezaddict's avatar
    puzzlezaddict
    Hero+
    6 years ago

    @Candyilona  The game doesn't use the saves labeled slot_00000000 or slot_00000001 anymore; it starts with 2.  So just delete the .ver0 from the slot_00000002.ver0 file, and see if you can load it.  If not, remove that file and delete the .ver1 from the next save down.

  • puzzlezaddict's avatar
    puzzlezaddict
    Hero+
    6 years ago

    @Candyilona  So you're saying that if you test each save in succession, renaming each one to slot_00000002 (they should always have the same number of zeros they do now), and remove the other saves from your Saves folder, none of the saves will load?

    You can try the same thing in a clean game folder to see whether you have any more luck.  Pull the entire Sims 4 folder out of Documents\Electronic Arts; you can put it on your desktop.  Launch the game once to create a new folder.  Then move each save over one at a time, being sure to rename them so the game can read them.  Any that work you can put aside and organize later; any that don't might not be salvageable/

  • Candyilona's avatar
    Candyilona
    6 years ago
    @puzzlezaddict Thank you so much!! I pulled the entire Sims 4 save-folder to desktop and launched the game. Then I moved one save to folder and it WORKED! Everything is back! I´m so grateful for you.