How To: Download and Install Store ContentUpdated: May. 2023Quick Links:-
How to Download Store Items-
Clear Edge and IE Browser Files and Some Tips-
How to Install/Uninstall Store Items-
How To: Redeem the Monte Vista/Hidden Springs World Bundle -
How-To: Backup and Restore Store Content-
Bought Used Copy of Game or World Discs-
Sims 3 Points/Sims 3 Currency-
How To: Get Sims 3 Store Content Recognized By Game-
Troubleshooting TipsPlease note that recently purchased store items may take several minutes to appear on the purchase history page.
How to Download Store Items: There are a few ways to download store content. It's recommended to do so in a new Sims 3 folder for best results. To create a new Sims 3 folder, go to: (\Documents\Electronic Arts) - right-click on the Sims 3 folder and select Rename. I usually rename it something like Sims3-Bkup. Everything is safe in your backup Sims 3 folder. Launch the game and exit it so it creates a new folder.
~ 1. Using the EA App:Open the Sims 3 using the EA App. Go to the Load Game Page, click the three dots in the lower left and click Open Download Dashboard. This is where you should find all your Store Content. Look for Riverview, for example. When you find it, click Install Now.
This will download Riverview to the downloads tab of the launcher and install the it. Showing a status of downloaded and installed. -- Go into the launcher > Installed Content tab to see that everything is installed correctly.
~ 2. Sims 3 Store Site:Go to the
Sims3.com Store site and login with your Origin/EA username and password. (
http://store.thesims3.com)
Go to your Username in the upper left hand corner of the screen and left-click on it and select
My Store Account. Under it's menu select
Purchase History This is where you can find all store content purchased and re-download it from there if needed.
If needed, you can go to the item's page and download it from there. -- Items will show up in the Downloads tab in the launcher.
✽ Note: It's highly recommended to download files in small batches of maybe 20 files or less and world files one by one. This is to help not overwhelm the launcher.
Download content to a new Sims 3 folder for best results. To create a new Sims 3 folder, go to: (\Documents\Electronic Arts) - right-click on the Sims 3 folder and select Rename. I usually rename it something like Sims3-Bkup. Everything is safe in your backup Sims 3 folder. Launch the game and exit it so it creates a new folder.
Open the launcher so it's ready to receive the store content you're wanting to download. Start downloading store content in groups, for example you could start with store worlds, then store sets (download a few sets at a time, depending on how big the sets are) and then the individual pieces.
After you've downloaded all your store content. Make a backup copy your Sims 3 folder. By copying it to backup media of choice (a folder outside of the Electronic Arts folder, usb drive, external hard drive, etc.) -- This way you have your store content backed up ready to go if/when you need it again later.
Click the downloads tab in the launcher, Click Select All and Install.
~ 3. Downloads DashboardIf for some reason you are experiencing issues downloading content from your Purchase History page or item's page, You can use the Downloads Dashboard to get the store content downloaded into your game. More details in the link below:
About Downloads Dashboard (What & How-To Use)
http://www.carls-sims-4-guide.com/forum/index.php?topic=16094.0Back to top
Clear Edge and IE Browser Files and Some Tips:If you're having issues with the Store site, downloading and/or installing content try these tips.
~ Clear Edge and IE Browser Data:The Sims 3 launcher uses parts of IE to work, so clearing Edge and IE's browser data can help with launcher issues such as downloading and installing store content.
View and delete browser history in Microsoft Edge:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-edge/view-and-delete-browser-history-in-microsoft-edge-00cf7943-a9e1-975a-a33d-ac10ce454ca4 ~ Password Issues? If your password contains any special characters, it's a good idea to change your password. The launcher doesn't do well with some of those, for example & or !. This is the case even when the password works fine on other EA sites.
Reset your password for expired credentials: (
https://help.ea.com/en/help/account/reset-password-expired-credentials/)
Additionally, go into Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 3 > Downloads and delete the file labeled [your email].bin. if you have it.
~ Repair/Verify Game, Clear EA App Cache:Repair Game: If Using EA App: Open the EA App > Library > Find Sims 3 and Click Manage > Repair.
Repair/Verify Files: If Using Steam: In Games Library, click on Sims 3 > Properties > Local Files > Verify integrity of game files.
Clear the EA App Cache Files: Click Menu (☰) up top left > Help > App Recovery > Clear Cache. * Restarting your computer maybe helpful after this step.
Back to top
How to Install/Uninstall Store Items:The items you download from the store will go to your Downloads tab in the Sims 3 launcher. Once the items are finished downloading, click the Select All button, then click the install button. After installed they will show up under the Installed Content tab.
----------
~ To Uninstall Store Content:1. Open the launcher, click the Installed tab.
2. Find the items you want to uninstall and checkmark them or click the Select All button.
3. When finished click the Uninstall button.
4. You'll get a warning message of Are you sure you want to uninstall the selected items? Click Ok.
-- The uninstall may take a few minutes depending on how many items you selected.
Back to top
How To: Redeem the Monte Vista/Hidden Springs World Bundle: When purchasing the bundle, you will receive an email confirmation with codes for these world files. Be sure to check your spam folder in case it might be in there.
~ To redeem this bundle:1. Log into the store -
https://store.thesims3.com. Click your username, and select My Store Account -
https://store.thesims3.com/myAccount.html-- You may need to redeem the codes separately for each world.
2. Click the green plus (+) sign to the right of Redeem a Code (right side of screen)
3. Enter the code and Click Redeem.
-- Once you do this for both worlds, they should now be added to your Purchase History page and be available for download.
4. Check either your purchase history page for the worlds or go to their item pages to download and install.
Monte Vista:
http://store.thesims3.com/montevista.html?categoryId=12642Hidden Springs:
http://store.thesims3.com/hiddenSprings.html?categoryId=12642
Notes on Hidden Springs and Monte Vista:HiddenSprings is known to be a little tricky to get via this bundle. What should happen is your account should get credited up to 2000 Simpoints. At that point, you should be able to go to it's item page:
http://store.thesims3.com/hiddenSprings.html and purchase it that way. It should then show up on your purchase history page.
http://store.thesims3.com/purchaseHistory.html. It should then be ready to download and install.
You may find that you get an error message of This code has already been used for Monte Vista. That's okay. You've already redeemed the code for the town. It should now be ready to download and install from your purchase history page, or from it's item page.
http://store.thesims3.com/montevista.htmlNote: Key codes for the worlds, store content and game are stored in the Windows registry. So, that's why it is skipping the game code entry when you're installing any of the above - it uses those keys even though you may be installing it from disc.
If for some reason this does not work, or the worlds do not show up in your purchase history after awhile, please contact EA's customer service (
https://help.ea.com/en/contact-us/). Missing games/content seems to be an account issue, like code(s) being blocked and needing a new one or game entitlements not being recognized as owned. You may need to try asking about it with Live Chat Support. If you don't see the option, change the location in your browser window to U.S. or U.K.
-----
Reference Links:
[Guide] Sims 3 Store Worlds
http://answers.ea.com/t5/The-Sims-3/Guide-Sims-3-Store-Worlds/m-p/1589911How to Install Hidden Springs -
https://help.ea.com/en-gb/help/the-sims/the-sims-3/how-to-install-the-sims-3-hidden-springs/Unable to Download/Install Hidden Springs and Monte Vista bundle
http://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/860994/unable-to-download-install-hidden-springs-and-monte-vista-bundleBack to top
Information on Sims 3 Points/Sims 3 Currency: Simspoints are now called Sims 3 Currency and you can buy them with the EA App.
Can't Buy SimPoints on Store.TheSims3.com?
https://answers.ea.com/t5/Technical-Issues-PC/Can-t-Buy-SimPoints-on-Store-TheSims3-com/td-p/11953657Players can still purchase SimPoints/Sims 3 Currency in the EA app for PC (and Origin on Mac) to then redeem on TheSims3.com and in the in-game store.
Buy Sims 3 Currency in the EA App: If you're not seeing the option, click Sims 3 in your game library, then click DLC, and "Sims 3 Currency" should be the first listing. Click that and select the number of points you want, then proceed to checkout.
Back to top
Get Store Content Recognized By Game: It seems like for the most part, downloading from the Sims 3 Store's website:
https://store.thesims3.com/ > purchase history page:
http://store.thesims3.com/purchaseHistory.html to the Sims 3 Downloads folder, isn't the issue.
Where the problem comes in is getting store content to stay installed or getting the game to recognize that it's already installed.
Click images to see larger view.
Exit the game and EA App and delete the files mentioned below.
Delete the igs.bin and platform.bin files in the SigsCache folder
- \Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\SigsCache
Launch the game again to see if that helps. The game will regenerate these files. If not, try the tip below:
◆ ◆ For this tip, please be sure to have your store content and custom content files backed up. Deleting the both files in the folder mentioned below deletes both the installed store content and custom content that is installed via the Sims 3 launcher. -- However, deleting just the missingdeps.idx file should not delete store or custom content.
Delete the missingdeps.idx file from the DCCache Folder
- \Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\DCCache
If uncomfortable deleting the files mentioned above, save a copy of your Sims 3 folder to your desktop or usb stick for back up purposes. Then try deleting the files.
Please see the article linked below by Crinrict to read about the Sims 3 User Files.
Sims 3 User Files Explained
https://sims3.crinrict.com/en/2011/01/faq-user-files.htmlBack to top
Troubleshooting Tips: Make sure Origin/EA App is open and the Sims 3 launcher is open before you log into the store to download the content. As it may take awhile for the launcher to open depending on how much content you have installed already.
If you're having problems downloading any of the store content, try using a different browser. For example: Firefox.
If you're having a problem with your EA account, downloading or installing, try the tips listed here first. If those don't help, please contact EA's Customer Service (
https://help.ea.com/en/contact-us/) as they can help with account issues.
Missing games/content seems to be an account issue, like code(s) being blocked and needing a new one or game entitlements not being recognized as owned. You may need to try asking about it with Live Chat Support. If you don't see the option, change the location in your browser window to U.S. or U.K.
You may need to verify your account details and show proof of purchase. -- If at some point you have registered your discs/games with Sims3.com that might be able to be used as proof of purchase.
-----
Reference Links:
[Troubleshoot] Downloading/Installing of Store Content
http://answers.ea.com/t5/The-Sims-3/Troubleshoot-Downloading-Installing-of-Store-Content/m-p/4287701#U4287701[FAQ] The Sims 3 Store
http://answers.ea.com/t5/The-Sims-3/FAQ-The-Sims-3-Store/td-p/333394Back to top============
============
Created: Mar. 2016
Updated: May. 2023