Hey there.I bought this game on Steam a few days ago, installed it, made an Origin account, launched it, no issues. It ran fine. The next day I bought some DLC, also on Steam, and wanted to play again. But I can't launch the game anymore. Whenever I try to launch the game I get the same error, no matter whether I try it from Steam or from Origin."There is no program associated with this action. Please install a fitting program, or create an association in system settings under "standard programs" if one is already installed."This happens every single time. I tried uninstalling Origin and reinstalling it again. I tried uninstalling Sims 4 and reinstalling it again. I tried uninstalling Steam and reinstalling it again. Nothing helped, I always get this message when I try to launch the game.The DLCs have been properly activated in Origin after buying them on Steam, so I don't think they're the culprit.This is really frustrating and only confirms my view that DRM only hurts the paying customer.

Omg I have had the same issue that that person was having. And I can confirm that when I tried to download origin on my computer it wouldn’t work. It’s really confusing and I have no clue how to do it. I bought the sims 4 through steam because origin wouldn’t let me buy it for some reason. And now when I try to download origin it doesn’t work. I just want to play this game ☹️

I tried both. The only thing that changes is the heading of the error message.When I don't have Origin running when I start to launch the game, the header of the error window shows this:When I do have Origin running, the header of the error window has quite a lot more letters and numbers in it:So I tried to go into the Sims 4 install folder and just start the game with the .exe.I went into J:\Games\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\The Sims 4\Game\Bin and double-clicked the TS4_x64.exeThis is not my screenshot, btw, since for some reason my screen capturing program doesn't grab this error window. But it looks pretty much exactly the same, except for where it says "Activation" at the top left, it says "The Sims (TM) 4".

@realjarlfrank I have a similar problem, I downloaded it on steam I didn't play and tried to install a dlc (when it apapeared saying that link2ea was needed) I saw people saying that need to unistall the origin but I don´t have installed on my pc (I don't have an origin account either)

@crinrict origin wont download either!!! iv downloaded sims4 and payed for the pets expansion and the university one. neither have given me the option to download on purchase. steam having downloaded origin! this is a shambles spent a fortune for a game any other suggestions before I get my money back take the pc back tot he store and give it all a miss.

Its a new laptop totally clean. Second hand though steam isbthe only thing downloaded. It wont download origins either asking for a refund and my daughter will have to just use it for homework dont know what else to do 😕

Sims 4 on Steam not launching - error message link2ea://launchgame

16 Replies

crinrict
Hero+
6 years ago
@realjarlfrank And you're running both Origin and Steam when you try to launch the game ?

It should launch automatically but are you shutting down one of them after starting ?
realjarlfrank
6 years ago
I tried both. The only thing that changes is the heading of the error message.
When I don't have Origin running when I start to launch the game, the header of the error window shows this:
When I do have Origin running, the header of the error window has quite a lot more letters and numbers in it:
So I tried to go into the Sims 4 install folder and just start the game with the .exe.
I went into J:\Games\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\The Sims 4\Game\Bin and double-clicked the TS4_x64.exe
This is not my screenshot, btw, since for some reason my screen capturing program doesn't grab this error window. But it looks pretty much exactly the same, except for where it says "Activation" at the top left, it says "The Sims (TM) 4".
crinrict
Hero+
6 years ago
@realjarlfrank Looks like something went wrong with the connection.

I think the best course for the moment is to contact support and see if they can find anything off on your account.

Come back if they can't help you either.
joordsantos
5 years ago
@realjarlfrank I have a similar problem, I downloaded it on steam I didn't play and tried to install a dlc (when it apapeared saying that link2ea was needed) I saw people saying that need to unistall the origin but I don´t have installed on my pc (I don't have an origin account either)
crinrict
Hero+
5 years ago
@joordsantos You need both Origin and an origin account for the steam version to work. You should be prompted to create one when you try to install the game.
Williamtin36
5 years ago
I keep reinstalling the EA app origins as people say that's what fixes it but it never works the setup file for origin for me continues to never open unlike other apps such as discord of which their setup downloads actually function. need advice.
hannahmullins89
5 years ago
@crinrict origin wont download either!!! iv downloaded sims4 and payed for the pets expansion and the university one. neither have given me the option to download on purchase. steam having downloaded origin! this is a shambles spent a fortune for a game any other suggestions before I get my money back take the pc back tot he store and give it all a miss.
crinrict
Hero+
5 years ago
@hannahmullins89 Did you try downloading Origin manually from here: https://www.origin.com/deu/en-us/store/download ?
Dollxsucks
5 years ago
Omg I have had the same issue that that person was having. And I can confirm that when I tried to download origin on my computer it wouldn’t work. It’s really confusing and I have no clue how to do it. I bought the sims 4 through steam because origin wouldn’t let me buy it for some reason. And now when I try to download origin it doesn’t work. I just want to play this game ☹️
ojhg6588
5 years ago
@realjarlfrank I DONT KNOW BUT I BOUGHT IT THE OTHER DAY ON ORIGIN i should of kept my money can you help me out and btw im on windows 10