The Sims 4 not opening or launching on Windows PC

If you are unable to open or launch The Sims 4 on your Windows 11/10 PC then this post is sure to help you resolve the issue. The Sims 4 is a popular social simulation game. However, many users have reported being unable to launch the game. Whenever they try launching Sims 4, there is no action and the game won’t just open up. Now, if you are one of those for whom the game is not launching or opening, this post is for you. In this guide, we are going to several fixes to resolve the problem.

Why is my Sims 4 not launching?

Here are the possible causes due to which Sims 4 might not launch:

• The problem might occur due to the corrupted game files. In that case, try preparing the game in Origin and then see if the issue is fixed.
• It can also be caused due to outdated or corrupted graphics or network controller drivers. If the scenario applies, try updating the respective drivers to fix the problem.
• Your antivirus might also be the main culprit that is blocking the game from opening. So, you can disable your antivirus and see if the problem is resolved or not.
• Using too many Mods or corrupted Mods can also be a reason that the game won’t launch or open. If the scenario is applicable, try checking or removing Mods and check whether the problem is resolved.
• Corrupted game files associated with the game can also be causing the same problem. Hence, you can try resetting the game to resolve the issue.
• Another reason for the same can be the corrupted installation of the game or the Origin client. In that case, you can try reinstalling the game or Origin to resolve the issue.
• Software conflicts can also be one of the reasons due to which the game might not open. So, try performing a clean boot and see if the issue is resolved.

Based on the above scenarios, you can try the most suitable fix from the below ones.

Fix The Sims 4 not opening or launching on Windows PC

Here are the fixes that you can try when Sims 4 won’t launch, load or open on your PC:

1. Repair the game.
2. Update the GPU card driver.
3. Update the network controller driver.
4. Disable your antivirus.
5. Check Mods in Sims 4.
6. Reset Sims 4.
7. Reinstall Sims 4 or the Origin client.
8. Troubleshoot in a clean boot state.

1] Repair the game

The first thing to do when Sims 4 won’t launch or open on your PC is to repair the game. As it turns out to be, one of the common reasons behind the issue of not being able to launch Sims 4 is corrupted game files. So, if the scenario applies, you should be able to fix the problem by repairing the game files. To do that, you can follow the below steps:

1. First, open the Origin client on your PC.
2. Now, navigate to your Game Library and locate the Sims 4 game.
3. Next, right-click on the Sims 4 game and press the Repair option from the context menu.
4. After that, wait for the repair process to complete.
5. When done, try launching the Sims 4 game and see if it opens up without any issue.

In case this method doesn’t work for you, you can try the next potential fix to resolve the problem.

Read: Far Cry 3 Not launching, Working, or Responding.

2] Update the GPU card driver

One of the major issues with the game launches is an outdated or faulty graphics driver. So, if you have corrupted or out-of-date graphics drivers on your system, you are likely to encounter problems in launching games like Sims 4. Hence, try updating your graphics driver to fix the problem.

You can update your graphics drivers using any of the below mediums:

1. Try updating your graphics driver by opening the Settings app using Windows + I hotkey and using the Windows Update > Advanced options > Optional Updates feature.
2. You can also visit the device manufacturer’s official website and download the latest graphics drivers from there.
3. Use Device Manager and update your display drivers.

When done updating graphics drivers, reboot your system and then try launching Sims 4 to check whether the problem is resolved or not. If not, go ahead and try the next potential fix to counter the problem.

See: Wolcen Lords of Mayhem crashes and not launching on Windows PC.

3] Update the network controller driver

Updating just the graphics driver might not help you fix the problem as the problem might also be caused due to faulty network controller driver. In that case, you can try to update your network controller driver and then see if the problem is fixed or not. For options to update the network driver, you can check method (2).

Read: Generation Zero not launching, freezing, or crashing at startup on PC.

4] Disable your antivirus

In multiple instances, it turns out that your antivirus is the one preventing your game from launching. So, you can try disabling your antivirus and then check whether or not you are able to open Sims 4. If yes, you can be sure that it’s your antivirus that is the main culprit. Now, to permanently resolve the problem without turning your antivirus off, you will have to add the game executable and the Origin’s executable to the exception/ exclusion list of your antivirus.

See: Rockstar Games Launcher not working on Windows PC.

5] Check Mods in Sims 4

Mods used in Sims 4 can be a reason for not being able to launch the game. Hence, you can try removing Mods in Sims 4 and then see if the issue is fixed. Here is how to do that:

1. Firstly, open the Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 4 folder and go to the Mods folder.
2. Now, cut all the files and then paste them on your desktop.
3. Next, try opening the game and see if you are able to launch the game.

If yes, you can be sure that the Mods were causing the problem at hand. You can try moving the Mods one by one to the original folder and analyze which one was causing the issue.

See: FIFA 21 won’t launch EA Desktop on PC.

6] Reset Sims 4

The problem might also be caused due to corrupted files associated with the game. If the scenario applies, you should be able to fix the issue by resetting the game. But, first of all, back up the game files just to be on the safer side. To do that, you can use the below steps:

1. Firstly, open File Explorer using Windows+E and then move to Documents > Electronic Arts.
2. Now, look for The Sims 4 folder and right-click on it.
3. Next, select the Copy option.
4. After that, paste the folder on your desktop or wherever you want to keep the backup.
5. Then, rename the backup folder as something else, e.g., Sims 4 Backup.

Now, you can restore the game by following the below procedure:

1. Firstly, go to Documents > Electronic Arts in File Explorer.
2. Now, right-click on The Sims 4 folder and select the Delete option to remove it.
3. After that, go to Recycle Bin and permanently remove The Sims 4 folder.
4. Next, go to your backup folder and copy it.
5. Finally, paste the copied folder to the Electronic Arts directory.

To reset the game, try the following step:

1. First, open the Documents > Electronic Arts folder.
2. Now, select and right-click on The Sims 4 folder and press the Delete option.
3. Next, go and empty Recycle Bin.
4. After that, reboot your PC and then check if you are able to launch Sims 4 or not.

If you are still not able to open the game, move on to the next potential fix to resolve it.

Read: Hitman 3 won’t launch on Windows PC.

7] Reinstall Sims 4 or the Origin client

If none of the above solutions work for you, there are high chances that you are dealing with corrupted installation files. That might be the reason that you are unable to open Sims 4. Hence, you can try reinstalling the game and then see if the problem is fixed.

Sometimes, the issue might be with the Origin client. In that case, you can try uninstalling Origin and then reinstall it back on your PC.

Related: The Sims 4 not responding or working.

8] Troubleshoot in a clean boot state

As it turns out that software conflicts can also be a reason that prevents Sims 4 from opening, you can try performing a clean boot to resolve the problem.

Read: Xbox Error 0x82D40003 occurs when you launch a game.

How do I fix the initialization error at startup Sims 4?

To fix the initialization error at Sims 4 startup, you can try repairing the game files. If that doesn’t help, you can also try running the game as an administrator and starting the game in compatibility mode. Other than that, the problem might be with the corrupted installation of the Origin client. So, you can try reinstalling Origin to fix the error.

That’s it!

Now read:

• Rockstar Games Launcher: Unable to launch game.
• GTA 5 not launching or running on Windows PC.