If The Sims 4 closes during launch or crashes while you play, the crash alone does not reveal why. Mods, damaged game files, user-folder settings, software, and system-level conflicts are all possible branches. Try the reversible checks first, changing one thing at a time; you do not need to buy hardware unless you have evidence of a specific hardware problem.
This guide is for The Sims 4 on Windows PC. EA forum suggestions are troubleshooting leads, not guaranteed fixes, and launcher labels can change.
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Try these eight checks in order
After each change, launch the game and see whether the same crash occurs. If a step resolves the problem, you can stop. If not, undo temporary changes where appropriate and continue.
1. Test the game without mods and custom content
Close the game and temporarily move the Mods folder out of your Sims 4 user folder—for example, to your desktop. Then launch the game and test the activity that usually causes the crash. EA notes that mods can require additional memory and CPU resources and affect performance (EA’s guidance on mods and game updates).
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- Requires The Sims 4 & all game updates. For PC, see minimum system requirements for the pack.
- Develop Parenting Skills – Level up your Sim’s parenting skills to satisfy their child’s needs and influence their behaviors. Gain new abilities through experience and choosing when to discipline bad actions, encourage good behavior, or just let kids be kids.
- Shape Your Sim’s Childhood – The decisions you make influence how your Sim parents and leave a lasting impact on their child’s future. Each choice shapes their personality, affects their traits, influences their family relationships, and guides their path into adulthood.
- Gather your Sim’s family to participate in new activities and spend quality time with each other. Sims of all ages can work together to complete a variety of school projects, express their creativity using construction blocks, or volunteer their time for good.
- Customize your Sims’ looks and their home with new family fashion and build items. Give the kids’ bedrooms extra personality, remodel the kitchen to feel homier, and let your Sims express their sporty or artistic sides with new outfits.
If the crash stops, a mod or custom-content item may be involved. Restore content in small batches, testing between batches, to narrow down the cause. This is a diagnostic test; it does not mean you have to give up all mods.
2. Delete the local thumbnail cache
While the game is closed, find localthumbcache.package in the Sims 4 folder under Documents > Electronic Arts and delete that file. The game can create a fresh cache when needed. EA forum troubleshooting recommends removing it when testing whether custom content is involved (EA Forums troubleshooting discussion).
Do not delete your saves or the entire Sims 4 folder for this step. If deleting the cache does not change the crash, continue.
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- Requires The Sims 4 & all game updates. For PC, see minimum system requirements for the pack.
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3. Repair or verify the installation
Damaged or missing game files are another possibility. Use the option for the launcher where you installed the game:
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- EA app: Open your game library, select The Sims 4, choose Manage, then Repair.
- Steam: Open the game’s Properties, select Installed Files, then choose Verify integrity of game files.
These labels may vary with launcher updates. Let the check finish before launching again. Repairing checks the installation; it is not a guaranteed fix for crashes caused by something else. The paths above are also described in the EA forum discussion linked in step 2.
4. Clear the EA app cache if you use the EA app
If you installed through the EA app and repair has not helped—or the app itself seems to be behaving incorrectly—try EA’s current cache-clearing procedure, then repair the game again if needed. Cache-clearing steps can change, so follow EA’s instructions for clearing cache rather than relying on an old menu path. This step does not apply to a Steam-only installation.
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- Create unique sims: A variety of sims are yours to personalize, each with distinct appearances, dynamic personalities, and inspiring aspirations
- Build the perfect home: Construct the home of your, and their dreams by planning its layout, choosing furnishings, and altering the landscape and terrain
- Explore vibrant worlds: Travel between locations, discover amazing and distinctive neighborhoods, and encounter captivating venues
- Play with life: Control the rich and entertaining moments of your Sims’ lives from their relationships to their careers
5. Test with a clean Sims 4 user folder
This check helps determine whether content or configuration in your Sims 4 user folder is contributing. Close the game, then move the existing The Sims 4 folder from Documents > Electronic Arts to another location as a backup. Launch the game; it should create a new folder. Test before restoring anything.
If the clean folder changes the result, restore items selectively from the backup, starting with saves or other files you need and testing between additions. Keep the original folder until you have confirmed what you want to restore. EA forum troubleshooting describes this approach in the discussion linked in step 2.
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6. Check for game and graphics-driver updates
Install available Sims 4 updates through your launcher. If the game still crashes, check for a graphics-driver update from your PC maker or graphics-card maker’s official support site. EA forum launch troubleshooting lists driver updating among possible later workarounds (EA Forums launch troubleshooting discussion).
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Update only the relevant software, then test again. A newer driver may not address a crash caused by mods, files, or another conflict.
7. Compare your PC with EA’s requirements and try Laptop Mode if appropriate
EA’s current The Sims 4 PC requirements list these specifications:
| EA-listed specification | RAM | Free drive space |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum | 4 GB | 25 GB, plus 1 GB additional space for custom content and saved games |
| Recommended | 8 GB | 50 GB, plus 1 GB additional space for custom content and saved games |
These are EA’s product requirements, not a diagnosis of your PC or a guarantee that meeting them prevents crashes. To check key system details in Windows, open Settings > System > About for the processor, RAM, and Windows version. For the graphics adapter, open Device Manager > Display adapters. EA’s requirements page also describes how to check system information.
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- Requires The Sims 4 & all game updates. For PC, see minimum system requirements for the pack.
- Customize Kids Rooms – Build kids bedrooms that are both expressive and full of style. Excite your Sim’s imagination with colorful new furniture and themed decorations ranging from space robots to fun flower flourishes.
- Battle with Monsters – Collect and trade monster cards featuring your Sim’s favorite magical creatures. Use cards in the electronic battle station to bring them to life and challenge friends to a monster duel that’s sure to excite.
- Play with Puppets – With the all-new puppet theater and a bit of imagination, Sims can tell a variety of whimsical stories to entertain an audience of family and friends.
- Kids Fashion – Trendy yet playful kids clothing and hairstyles let Sims showcase their individual style, or highlight obsession with the latest tween heartthrob.
If you play on a laptop or your PC is at or near the minimum requirements, EA suggests trying Laptop Mode. In the game, open Game Options > Graphics and enable Laptop Mode. EA says this setting can improve frame rate and efficiency. If the game crashes before you can reach its options, this setting may not be accessible as a test.
8. Investigate system-level conflicts or seek machine-specific help
If the earlier checks do not help, EA forum troubleshooting raises possibilities including antivirus exceptions, OneDrive settings, and a clean boot. These are conditional diagnostic branches, not established causes of every Sims 4 crash. Avoid broad changes such as disabling security protection permanently; use EA’s current guidance and restore settings after a test where appropriate. The possibilities are discussed in the EA Forums launch troubleshooting thread linked in step 6.
For support or a PC technician, note when the crash happens, the exact error message, whether it occurs during launch or play, and your Windows and graphics details. That information can help someone investigate your specific system; the symptom alone cannot identify a failed component.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.When should you consider replacing hardware?
Do not buy RAM, a graphics card, a drive, a cooling pad, or peripherals just because the game crashes. EA’s specifications are a point of comparison, not a recommendation to replace a part. Consider a purchase only when a machine-specific diagnosis identifies a relevant shortfall or fault; the checks above may help narrow the software side first.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsQuick Recap
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