Fix: Sims 4 won't open in Windows 10/11

by Madalina Dinita

Madalina has been a Windows fan ever since she got her hands on her first Windows XP computer. She is interested in all things technology, especially emerging technologies... read more

Published on

  • The Sims 4 is the most recent entry in the entire Sims franchise and the most popular one too.
  • However, some players cannot enjoy it since some report that they can't even open it.
  • To solve this issue, consider repairing the game, fixing your registry, and more.
  • Once you've followed the steps below, you should be able to play Sims 4 without any further issues.

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The Sims 4 is one of the most popular life simulation games worldwide. Just like in real life, players can engage their Sims in different activities and can form relationships with other Sims.

The Sims 4 is a very stable game, but players report that various technical issues may occur from time to time, limiting their gaming experience.

Whenever I click the Sims 4 icon it takes me to Origin, but when I click the Plau button on Origin it thinks about it for a moment and then does nothing. The Sims 4 will not load, it works fine with my other game but not with Sims 4. I tried restarting my computer but had the same issue, Origin will not load the Sims 4, although it did so earlier in the day.

If Sims 4 won't start, you've come to the right place. In this article, we're going to show you how to fix start issues in The Sims 4.

The Sims 4 is a popular game, but many users reported that The Sims 4 won't open on Windows 10 or 11 at all. Speaking of issues with The Sims, here are some other problems that users reported:

  • Sims 4 won't open in Windows 10 after update
    • According to users, the game won't open at all. This can occur due to third-party applications, so you might have to perform a Clean boot and find the problematic applications.
  • The Sims 4 cannot start, won't run, won't load, won't play, won't launch
    • Users reported various issues with The Sims 4, but you should be able to fix most of these issues by using one of our solutions.
  • Sims 4 won't open after repair

Now, there is one particular case that caught our eye and that is the MODS issue. Let's quickly review this issue as well before listing the solutions.

Sims 4 won't open after downloading CC

Installing Custom Content makes the game particularly appealing and it elevates the experience altogether through personalization. But as it turns out, adding CC can cause a fair share of mayhem for Sims 4 aficionados.

For some, the game keeps crashing with mods, others get a white screen, then a black screen. For less fortunate players, Sims 4 won't open after mods at all.

We have a few specific solutions for this case, but feel free to try out all the tips included in this guide when your mods are not letting you open Sims 4.

How do I stop Sims 4 from crashing with CC?

  1. Copy your Mods folder to your desktop and delete it from its default location (the folder game). If this does not work, try the following step.
  2. Move your CC folder to the desktop and run the game to force it to generate a new one, then exit it. Start adding the CC in the newly created folder gradually (either individually or in small batches and test the game's functionality after each one).
  3. If this solution seems too laborious, simply list the CC files by creation date to identify the latest ones you added and only remove those.
  4. Finally, use a conflict detector to identify any potential incompatibilities between mods. Since CC is usually developed by third parties, you might end up with conflictual mods and that can cause Sims 4 to not open after downloading the new CC. Run You can also try running The Sims 4 in compatibility mode.

Don't forget to back up your game data first in order to prevent losing all your custom content.

How do I fix Sim 4 when it doesn't open?

1. Repair the game

  1. Open Origin.
  2. Now go to your Library
  3. Right-click The Sims 4 and choose Repair game option.

According to users, sometimes The Sims 4 won't open if your installation is damaged. To fix the problem, you just need to repair your The Sims 4 installation.

Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the repair process. Keep in mind that the repair can take a while, so you'll need to be patient.

Once the game is repaired, try to start it again and check if the problem is still there.

2. Clean your registry

In some cases, your registry can cause issues with the game. If The Sims 4 won't start on your PC, it might be a good time for you to clean your registry.

Cleaning the registry manually can be a hard and tedious task, therefore it's better to use a tool such as Restoro.

In case you're not familiar, Restoro can remove old and unnecessary files from your PC, but it can also clean your registry and remove old and unnecessary entries.

After cleaning your registry with Restoro, try to start The Sims 4 again and check if the problem is still there.

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3. Clean boot your computer

  1. Press Windows Key + R and enter msconfig. Now press Enter or click OK.
    The Sims 4 cannot start
  2. On the Services tab,  click to select the Hide all Microsoft services check box > select Disable all .
    Sims 4 won't open Windows 10
  3. On the Startup tab, click Open Task Manager.
    The Sims 4 cannot start
  4. Select each startup item > click Disable .
    Sims 4 won't open after update
  5. Close Task Manager > click OK > restart the computer.
    The Sims 4 won't run

Sometimes third-party applications and services can interfere with your game and cause this and other similar issues.

If The Sims 4 won't launch on your PC, you might want to try performing a Clean boot.

In a Clean boot state, all third-party applications and services will be disabled, so there won't be anything to interfere with your game.

If the Clean boot solves your problem, you need to enable disabled applications and services one by one or in groups until you find the cause of the problem.

Once you do that, remove the application and the issue will be permanently resolved.

4. Delete the Origin cache files

Over time, these files accumulate out-of-date or corrupted data causing various issues. Here's where you can find the Origin cache files:

          C:Users<username>AppDataLocal  C:Users <username> AppDataRoaming

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If you can't see any files at these locations, unhide them. Go to the search menu, type folder, and then select Show hidden files and folders from the search results.

You can also access these directories by using the Run dialog. To do that, just press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog. Now enter one of the following lines:

  • To enter Roaming directory, enter %appdata% and press Enter or click OK.
  • To enter Local directory, enter %localappdata% and press Enter or click OK.

Don't waste time and choose a tool from our list to remove cache files automatically. One of the best automatic tools on the market that will certainly help you overcome this issue is CCleaner.

It scans your PC and detects all unnecessary junk files that slow down your PC and cause additional errors like this Sims 4 won't open one.

This tool can clean your registry, help you manage startup tools and scheduled tasks, clean cookies, and cached files, clean your browser, and more.

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5. Check your antivirus software/firewall

In some cases, your antivirus can interfere with the game and prevent you from running it. However, you might be able to fix the problem simply by disabling certain antivirus features.

Alternatively, you can try addingTS4.exe,Origin.exe, andauthorizationUI files to the exclusions list in your antivirus and check if that helps.

If the issue is still there, try disabling the antivirus and check if the game runs. In the worst-case scenario, you might have to remove your security software altogether and check if that helps.

If removing solves the problem, you should consider switching to an antivirus optimized for gaming.

Many antivirus tools have a special feature called Gaming Mode that ensures that your security utility doesn't interfere with your gaming sessions in any way.

6. Deactivate Origin in-game

Several users reported that disabling Origin In Game fixed the problem for them. According to users, this feature can sometimes prevent The Sims 4 from starting, and one way to fix the problem is to deactivate Origin In Game.

This is quite simple, and you can do it by following these steps:

  1. Open Origin.
  2. Now go to Application Settings > Origin In Game
  3. Uncheck Origin In Game.

After doing that, try to start The Sims 4 again and check if the issue is still there.

7. Update your Windows OS, as well as your graphics drivers and game

  1. Press Windows Key + I to open the Settings app.
  2. When Settings app opens, go to Update & Security section.
    Sims 4 won't open Windows 10
  3. Now click Check for updates button in the right pane.
    Sims 4 won't open Windows 10

According to users, This Sims 4 won't start sometimes if your PC is out of date. Windows 10 is a solid operating system, but certain bugs can cause issues such as this one to occur.

If any updates are available, they will be downloaded in the background. Once the updates are installed, check if the issue is still there.

After updating your system, be sure that you have the latest patches for The Sims 4 installed. To do that, right-click on The Sims 4 in Origin > selectSearch for Updates.

In addition to updating your system, it's important to update your graphics card drivers, which you can easily do with a software tool like DriverFix.

8. Reset your user files

Sometimes you can fix the problem with The Sims 4 simply by resetting your user files. This is relatively simple, and you can do it by following these steps:

  1. Go to My Documents > open the Electronic Arts folder.
  2. Find The Sims 4 folder > right-click on it > selectCopy.
  3. Go to your Desktop > right-click on a free space > selectPaste.
  4. Right-click on the copied folder > selectRename.
  5. Change the name of the folder > launch a new game.

9. Remove recently installed applications

Some apps and programs may cause conflicts with The Sims 4, and even block the launch process. Remove the latest programs that you've installed on your computer and launch the game again.

If you want to ensure that the problematic application is completely removed, we suggest you use uninstaller software.

This kind of software will remove all files and registry entries associated with the application you're trying to remove.

Some of the best uninstaller utilities also include additional system optimization features that will help you keep your PC in the best shape.

There you go, we hope these quick workarounds helped you to launch the game. If you've come across other solutions to fix start issues in The Sims 4, list the troubleshooting steps in the comment section below.

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