Unable to start Initialization error - Win 10

I don't have this issue anymore but I wanted to put this out here because I couldn't find anything easily and I hope it helps.

When I had started the game from new I would get the error. So no Sims4 directory in Documents and I have access to the Pictures directory too.

It was Windows Defender that prevented it from starting due to the "Controlled folder access" feature. I did find a thread suggesting to turn it off but I feel this is an unsafe, permanent, solution. So:

First you need to go to you the "Controlled folder access" settings.

• You can either type "Controlled folder access" in the Cortana search bar
• or
• right click the start button > click settings > Update & Security > Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > find and click the "Manage settings" link under "Virus & threat protection settings" > Scroll down until you see "Controlled folder access" > Click the "Manage Controlled folder access"

Either direction you take click "Allow an app through controlled folder access" (Accept the User Account Control message) > Click "Add an allowed app".

From here there are two options:

• Recently blocked apps & Browse all apps
• If you attempted to run the Sim4 (which is why you are here) click the first option and click the plus symbol next to the one called TS4.exe or TS4_x64.exe and click close.

This is the safer way I found than disabling an entire function.

Disable this function as a test temporarily but never leave it as such!

I found that it was blocking a few other things related to the Sims4 and EA etc. so added them too. See pics reference.