[Info.] Transfer Sims 4 Game Saves or Sims 4 Folder to Another Computer

[MrsFlynn]

Transfer Sims 4 Game Saves or Sims 4 Folder to Another Computer

Easiest way to copy or transfer Sims 4 game files, (like saved games, mods, screenshots, etc.) is to save the whole Sims 4 folder to a usb thumb drive. - This way everything is saved and backed up. Plus it's easier to copy the whole folder at once.

How to Copy -
Right-click on the Sims 4 folder, select Copy and paste it to your USB key.


Quick Links Index:

- How-To: Save The Sims 4 Folder
- How-To: Breaking it down by specific files/folders
- Notes on backing up the Sims 4 folder
- How-To: Recover a Saved Game

Note: This thread has been locked as it's for informational purposes.

    ✽ - Looking to transfer Sims 3 Games over to your new computer? Click here for a how-to on that!!

[MrsFlynn]

How-To: Save The Sims 4 Folder

This part explains how to back the folder up, copy it to backup media of choice, like a usb thumb drive and move it to another computer.

1. Copy the Sims 4 folder to a flash drive or backup media of choice.
C:\Users\<Username>\Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 4

-- Rename it for best results - example: TheSims4Backup

2. Take it to your new computer and copy/paste it into your Electronic Arts folder:
C:\Users\<Username>\Documents\Electronic Arts\

It should then look like this:
C:\Users\<Username>\Documents\Electronic Arts\TheSims4Backup

3. If you want the backup folder to be your main folder, rename the current Sims 4 folder to Sims4C or something like that. And rename the backup folder to The Sims 4, to look like this:
C:\Users\<Username>\Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 4

Load the game and you should find your saved games, families and houses. If you load your game and can't find any save game files or the load button isn't there, you may need to rename the current save file so it can be recognized by the game. See link below to help with that.

How-To: Recover a Saved Game (More Info on Saves)
http://www.carls-sims-4-guide.com/forum/index.php?topic=21519.msg387147#msg387147

[MrsFlynn]

How-To: Breaking it down by specific files/folders

I would recommend doing this after you have your Sims 4 folder safely backed up.

If you need/want to break it down even further than that. You just save the following folders and files:

*** The folders/files below will help with what to copy over to your new Sims 4 folder.

Files/Folders you want to add back in:

Options.ini File -- The graphic/sounds/gameplay options
Saves -- Saved game files - leave out slot_00000001.save which is the autosave. It is not used anymore.
Tray -- Sims, Houses, Rooms and Community lots
Screenshots -- Photos you've taken with the C key in-game.
Recorded Videos -- Video clips you've taken with the V key in-game.
Mods -- Game mods and Custom content like clothing, hair, skins, and makeup
** Put mods back one by one to make sure they all still work.

The other files and folders not mentioned here will auto-regenerate.

Sims 4 Factory Reset - (What & Howto)
http://www.carls-sims-4-guide.com/forum/index.php?topic=29292.msg401669#msg401669

[MrsFlynn]

Notes on Backing Up the Sims 4 Folder

** Do not copy your Sims 4 folder that came from the documents folder [C:\Users\<Username>\Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 4] into where you installed Sims 4. [C:\Program Files (x86)\Origin Games\The Sims 4] **

This will cause a mess and make it to where the game needs to be reinstalled.

The post linked below talks about where to find your game install files as well as where to find your user files. They are both installed in different areas. If the user files get mixed up with the install files it will cause problems and the game will need to be reinstalled.

My Sims User Folder or Install Files are Missing?
http://www.carls-sims-4-guide.com/forum/index.php?topic=29315.msg431335#msg431335

The game will not recognize any game saves or anything from the folder, if you have a Sims 4 folder within your current Sims 4 folder.

What I am talking about is this - here's an example:
C:\Users\<username>\Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 4\The Sims 4 -- The game cannot recognize this.