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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →First identify where loading stops: before The Sims 4 reaches the Main Menu, or when opening a particular save or household. For an EA App launch failure, try repairing the game; if the Main Menu opens but a save will not load, test without Mods and use a backup to isolate the affected save. There is no single cause established for every loading problem.
Find where the loading problem happens
The fix depends on the failure point. The game may fail to open at all, hang before the Main Menu, or open normally but stall when you select a save or household. Those are different symptoms and do not, by themselves, identify the cause.
| What happens | Where to start |
|---|---|
| The game will not launch or reach the Main Menu | Repair the game in the EA App. On PC, test with the EA in-game overlay off. |
| The Main Menu opens, but a save or household will not load | Test with Mods disabled, then use backed-up data to isolate the affected save. |
If The Sims 4 will not launch
Repair the game in the EA App
- Open the EA App and select Library.
- Open the game tile’s three-dot menu and choose Repair.
- When the repair finishes, try launching the game again.
EA recommends repairing game files for games that will not load in the EA App. If the problem continues on PC, temporarily turn off the EA in-game overlay and test again; EA identifies the overlay as a possible cause of crashes, not a guaranteed explanation for every launch failure. See EA’s EA App troubleshooting guidance.
If you use Mods or Custom Content
Mods can prevent the game from booting or loading saves, and a game update can make a previously working Mod incompatible. EA recommends testing with Mods disabled first, then checking the creator’s site for a version compatible with the current game update. Its guidance also cautions that Mods can cause less obvious gameplay problems.
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![The Sims 4 - Vampires - Origin PC [Online Game Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/513y5rPI8OL._SL160_.jpg)
- Requires The Sims 4 & all game updates. For PC, see minimum system requirements for the pack.
- Create Vampires
- Unleash Supernatural Powers
- Escape to Forgotten Hollow
- Live the Immortal Life
- Move or disable your Mods so the game starts without them, then launch and test the affected save.
- Exit without saving during this test. EA warns that saving before custom content is re-enabled may remove content from the saved game.
- If the game works without Mods, check each creator’s compatibility information. Re-enable Mods carefully and test; update or remove any that bring the problem back.
EA says error codes 102, 123, 125, 127, 129, and 131 are commonly associated with script issues where a script Mod could be responsible; code 110 commonly appears after an update because of outdated Mods. These are troubleshooting clues, not proof that a specific Mod caused an individual error. Read EA’s Mods, updates, and error-code guidance.
If only one save or household will not load
Try an earlier manual save point
If you can reach the Main Menu, EA’s recovery steps let you select an available earlier point for a manual save:
Rank #2
![The Sims 4 - Parenthood - Origin PC [Online Game Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51N60qq6z6L._SL160_.jpg)
- 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.
- Choose Load Game from the Main Menu.
- Select the affected manual save slot, then choose Recover Save (the floppy-disk icon).
- Select an available save point and choose Play.
EA says the game has one Autosave slot, which is replaced whenever an Autosave is triggered; it is not a history of earlier Autosaves. Recovery options depend on the available save points. See EA’s guide to recovering a past saved game.
Isolate the file only after making a backup
EA’s backup and reset guidance uses a careful process: back up your Sims 4 data, test backed-up folders individually, and then test individual save files if needed, checking whether the game loads after each change. This can help identify a problematic file, but it cannot guarantee that a damaged save is recoverable. Follow EA’s backup, reset, and save-file guidance and do not replace or discard save data without a separate backup.
Rank #3
![The Sims 4 Royalty & Legacy Expansion Pack - PC EA App [Online Game Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51iL3EXTL6L._SL160_.jpg)
- Requires The Sims 4 & all game updates. For PC, see minimum system requirements for the pack.
- Rule your story: Build a powerful Dynasty, shape shared Values, choose an Heir, or exile family members in a deep life simulation driven by legacy, prestige, and choice.
- Claim the crown: Rise through Nobility by winning the people, pleasing rival Nobles, dueling with swords, or exposing Scandals that can change the balance of power.
- Scandal fuels drama: Forbidden romances, secret children, and public disgrace can impact careers, relationships, Dynasty Prestige, and Noble Favor.
If the first checks do not solve it
A community troubleshooting guide on the EA Forums recommends repairing the game and then testing with a clean Sims 4 user-data folder. The folder is under Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 4; it can contain Mods, saves, and other files or settings that may affect loading. Treat this as a diagnostic test, not an official guarantee or a confirmed diagnosis.
Keep a backup before resetting or replacing user data. If the game works with a clean folder, restore backed-up folders or files incrementally and test between changes to narrow down what reintroduces the problem. The forum guide, by Bluebellflora, is available at EA Forums: How to troubleshoot and test a broken game.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- PLAY WITH LIFE, IN REAL LIFE: Dive into the neighborhood, meet iconic Sims, and fulfill your life’s aspirations like never before!
- A NEW WAY TO PLAY SIMS: Gather up to 5 players as you each craft your own story while collecting matching SIMbols along the way in this family strategy game
- EVERY GAME, A NEW STORY: Embark on an entirely new journey each time you play while encountering unexpected surprises at every turn — what will your life look like?
- ICONIC DETAILS FOR FANS: Ideal for play and display, featuring iconic artwork, nostalgic touches, plumbob movers, interaction dice, and a needs tracker familiar to fans
- MAIN CHARACTERS WANTED: Recommended for 2-5 players, ages 12 and up
Rank #4
![The Sims 4 StrangerVille [Online Game Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51pIwWba5ZL._SL160_.jpg)
- A Different World - Explore StrangerVille, a rural desert town shrouded in secrecy. Encounter weird weather, creepy townies, dangerous plants, odd collectibles, and more.
- Unravel the Story – Immerse your Sim in unique and mysterious events. Unmarked vans appear in neighborhoods, government agents use secret listening devices, and scanners are key in detecting the unusual.
- Crack the Code – Have your Sims investigate using their Military training, searching for clues to solve a mystery that lies within the secret lab.
- Suit Up Your Sim – Get Sims in the mystery-solving mood by gearing them up in desert-inspired clothing and military fatigues, or prepare them for the end with conspiracy-themed clothes, secret agent attire, and a hazmat suit.
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