To move The Sims 4 user data out of OneDrive, back up the entire Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 4 folder, turn off OneDrive backup for Documents while choosing to keep the files on your PC, and place the game folder in your local Documents folder if it remains in OneDrive. Then launch the game and check that your saves and mods are present before deleting any copy.
Which Sims 4 folder should you move?
This is about the game’s user data, not the installed application. EA’s Windows guidance places the folder at Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 4. It contains saves and other game data; the Mods folder is inside it too. Copy the whole folder so you preserve its contents. See EA’s backup and reset instructions and EA’s mod installation guidance.
Move the folder safely
- Close the game and its launcher. This avoids moving files while the game may be writing to them.
- Make a backup. In File Explorer, find
Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 4and copy the complete folder to a separate safe location. Keep this copy until you have checked the game. - Turn off Documents backup. Select the OneDrive cloud icon, open Settings, then go to Sync and backup > Manage backup. Turn off backup for Documents. When prompted, choose the option to keep the files on your PC rather than only in OneDrive. Microsoft’s folder-backup guidance explains the available choices; labels may vary with the OneDrive app version.
- Download cloud-only files if needed. If OneDrive reports that some files could not be moved because they are online-only, use Always keep on this device for the relevant files or folder and wait for them to download before moving anything.
- Check both Documents locations. Look in the OneDrive Documents folder and the local Documents folder. If
Electronic Arts > The Sims 4is still in OneDrive, move it into the localDocuments > Electronic Artsfolder. Microsoft says to move files manually from the OneDrive folder back to the device folder when you want them back on the PC and not in OneDrive. - Verify in game. Start The Sims 4 and check that your saves, settings, and mods appear. Keep the backup until this succeeds; remove duplicates only after you know which folder the game is using.
What if you want to keep Documents backed up?
Turning off Documents backup matches the goal of keeping the game folder outside OneDrive, but it also means Documents is no longer protected there. If you leave backup enabled, the folder remains part of the OneDrive-backed Documents location. Choose based on whether you want Documents protected by OneDrive and whether you have another backup. Before deleting a copy, check where the files actually are: files kept only in OneDrive may no longer appear in the local device folder after backup is stopped.
Why unlinking OneDrive is not the same thing
Unlinking OneDrive stops syncing the account; it does not, by itself, ensure that the Sims 4 folder has been relocated to local Documents. Microsoft describes stopping folder backup and moving files back to the device as separate actions. Use the Documents backup setting and check the folder locations rather than relying on unlinking alone. See Microsoft’s OneDrive unlinking guidance.
#1 Best Overall
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- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
Keep the standard local folder path
EA and Microsoft’s cited instructions support backing up the user folder, stopping Documents backup, and manually moving files. They do not establish a universal custom location that The Sims 4 will recognize. Keep the folder at local Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 4 unless you have separately verified a method for using a different path. A work or school device may also restrict OneDrive backup settings.
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- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
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- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
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- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
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