Last updated: 27 October 2026

Sims 4 Crashing or Won't Launch? Fix It Step by Step

If The Sims 4 crashes or will not start, the cause is most often a mod or custom content file that no longer matches the game version — EA's own September 2026 update notes say some crashes come from outdated mod files. The fastest fix is to take your mods out, test, then bring them back in a structured way. This guide goes in order from the cheapest check to the heaviest, so you stop as soon as the game works.

01Step 0: Back up your saves

Several fixes below delete or move files, so copy the folder first. On Windows: go to My Documents → Electronic Arts, copy The Sims 4 folder to your Desktop and rename the copy to something like Sims 4 Backup. On Mac: Documents → Electronic Arts → The Sims 4, copy with Command+C, paste on the desktop and rename it. Your saves are inside this folder.

02Step 1: Rule out mods and custom content

Mods are the first suspect, and the test is free. After each game update The Sims 4 disables mods automatically, so a crash right after a patch with mods re-enabled is a strong sign something is outdated.

1. Close the game and move everything out of Documents/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/Mods into a temporary folder on the Desktop.
2. Launch the game with mods disabled, load a save and play a few minutes in Live Mode. Custom content will not appear while mods are off.
3. If the game now runs, one of the files you moved is the problem. If it still crashes, mods are not the cause — jump to Step 3.
4. Close without saving: open the menu in Live Mode and choose Exit Game, then confirm. EA warns that Save and Exit before re-enabling content can remove content from your saved game.

Two practical notes. Game mods (script mods that change how the game works) are more likely to cause trouble than plain custom content such as hair or clothes, so check those first. And check the creator's page for an update before you re-enable a mod: a mod can need a full reinstall for the latest patch, and creators need time to catch up.

03Step 2: Find the broken file with the 50/50 method

This is EA's own method for finding a problem mod. Put the files back in batches and test after each one:

1. Return a batch of mods to the Mods folder and launch the game. Keep track of what is in each batch.
2. If the game runs, that batch is probably fine; add the next one.
3. When the problem returns, the last batch holds at least one bad file. Remove half of that batch and test again.
4. If the problem remains, remove half of what is left; if it is gone, add back half of what you removed.
5. Repeat until a single file is identified, then delete it or replace it with a current version from the creator.

Do not save your game while testing. Some mods depend on others (a core or library mod), so keep those in place during the search and test them last.

04Mod error codes that point to the cause

EA lists a few in-game error codes that are directly mod-related:

• 102, 123, 125, 127, 129 or 131 usually mean a problem with the game's script, so a script mod could be the cause.
• 110 usually appears after a game update and is caused by outdated mods.

Also see our guide to installing mods and custom content for the Enable Custom Content and Mods setting (Game Options → Other) and folder depth rules.

05Step 3: Repair the game in the EA app

If the game fails to load even with an empty Mods folder, repair the installation. In the EA app, go to your Library, open the three-dot menu on the game tile and choose Repair. When it finishes, launch the game again.

If the game will not launch on PC, EA also suggests turning off the in-game overlay: profile thumbnail → Settings → Application → toggle In-game overlay off. Turn it back on afterwards if you need invites and messages.

06Step 4: Clear the EA app cache and check the app

In the EA app choose Help → App Recovery → Clear Cache. On Mac you may need to enter your Mac login password for the helper to clear the cache. If the app says the game is stuck on preparing, EA's advice is: clear the cache, close background applications that limit performance, check Windows and GPU updates and drivers, and try a clean boot.

Still stuck? Try running the EA app as administrator (right-click the icon → Run As Administrator), or uninstall and reinstall the EA app (not the game files and saves) and try again. If you get a Create Folder error when installing, updating or repairing, make sure the SYSTEM account has full control of the game folder.

07Step 5: Last resort — reset the Sims 4 folder

Only after you made a backup in Step 0. On Windows, delete The Sims 4 folder in My Documents (it may be under Electronic Arts), empty the Recycle Bin and restart the computer; on Mac delete it from Documents → Electronic Arts, empty the Trash and restart. The game then starts without your saves and mods.

• If it runs normally, the problem was in a save or Gallery content. Copy folders back from your backup one at a time (start with the saves folder) and test each time. If it breaks, the file you just added is the culprit.
• If it still crashes, your saves were not the cause. Restore the backup and contact EA support or post on the EA Forums.

08Keep it stable after a patch

Check the version number in the lower left of the Main Menu and compare it with the version your mods say they support. EA's September 22, 2026 update addressed about ten notable crash incidents and the notes flagged outdated mod files as a cause of some crashes, so a fresh patch plus old mods is the classic recipe for a broken game. Update or remove outdated script mods first, and do not re-enable content until the vanilla game runs.

Fixes change between patches; cross-check EA Help for your version.