Are you a devoted Sims 4 player who finds the constant updates frustrating? Do you prefer the classic gameplay experience without the latest add-ons? If so, you’re in luck. It’s possible to bypass the automatic update feature and savor the game in its original form.
The solution lies in turning off the automatic update option. Navigate to your Origin client, select “Application Settings,” and uncheck the “Automatic Game Updates” box. Once this step is complete, you can prevent Origin from downloading and installing updates for Sims 4. However, it’s crucial to note that this method can lead to compatibility issues with other players who have updated versions of the game.
Alternatively, you can consider creating a Steam shortcut to bypass updates. Locate the Sims 4 game file in your Steam library, right-click on it, and choose “Create Desktop Shortcut.” Next, right-click on the shortcut and select “Properties.” In the “Target” field, add “-noauto” at the end of the existing text (without quotes). This modification will prevent Steam from automatically updating the game when you launch it through the shortcut. Remember that this method is only applicable if you have purchased Sims 4 on Steam.
Launch Sims 4 Offline
To launch The Sims 4 without updating, you’ll need to take the following steps:
- Completely exit The Sims 4 and Origin. Make sure that both programs are closed and not running in the background.
- Navigate to the folder where The Sims 4 is installed. The default location is “C:\Program Files (x86)\Origin Games\The Sims 4”.
- Locate the “Game.exe” file within the installation folder. Right-click on the file and select “Create Shortcut”.
- Move the shortcut to your desktop or another convenient location.
- Locate the “Origin.exe” file in the Origin installation folder, which is typically located at “C:\Program Files (x86)\Origin”.
- Right-click on the “Origin.exe” file and select “Create Shortcut”.
- Move the Origin shortcut to the same location as the Sims 4 shortcut.
- To launch Sims 4 offline, double-click on the Sims 4 shortcut. This will bypass Origin and launch the game directly.
- When prompted to sign in to Origin, choose “Cancel”.
- You can now play Sims 4 offline without being connected to the internet or updating the game.
Things to keep in mind:
- You will not be able to access online features such as the Gallery or Origin friends.
- Any mods or custom content you have installed may not work if they require an updated version of the game.
- If you want to update the game in the future, you will need to launch it through Origin and allow it to update.
Create a New Folder for Game Files
To avoid automatic updates, create a new folder outside of the default game directory. For instance, navigate to “Documents” > “Electronic Arts” > “The Sims 4.” Copy the entire Sims 4 folder to your preferred location, such as Desktop or any external hard drive.
Once the copying process is complete, rename the newly created Sims 4 folder to “Sims 4 – No Updates.” This will distinguish it from the original folder that receives automatic updates.
Disable Origin in-Game for Offline Play
To prevent Origin from interfering with your offline gameplay, follow these steps:
- Launch Origin and click on “Application Settings” (gear icon) in the top-right corner.
- Select “Origin In-Game” tab.
- Untick the box “Enable Origin In-Game for all games.”
- Click “Save” to apply the changes.
Now, when you run the Sims 4 game from the “Sims 4 – No Updates” folder, Origin will not load in the background, ensuring a seamless offline experience without any update prompts.
Block Sims 4 Internet Access
To prevent Sims 4 from accessing the internet and downloading updates automatically, you can block its internet connection using a firewall or by editing the game’s settings.
Using a Firewall:
1. Open your firewall settings (e.g., Windows Firewall in Windows).
2. Create a new rule that blocks all incoming and outgoing connections for The Sims 4 executable file (usually found in “Program Files (x86)\Origin Games\The Sims 4\Game\Bin”).
3. Save and apply the rule.
Editing Game Settings:
1. Launch Sims 4 and navigate to “Game Options” from the main menu.
2. In the “Other” tab, uncheck the “Enable Online Features and Content” option.
3. Restart Sims 4 to apply the changes.
Bypassing Antivirus Software:
Some antivirus software may block Sims 4’s internet access. To bypass this, you may need to add Sims 4 as an exception in your antivirus settings.
Table: Antivirus Software Exception Settings
| Antivirus Software | Exception Settings |
|---|---|
| Windows Defender | Add “C:\Program Files (x86)\Origin Games\The Sims 4\Game\Bin” to the allowed list |
| Bitdefender | Go to “Protection” > “Advanced Threat Defense” > “Exceptions” > “Add Exclusion” > Add “The Sims 4.exe” |
| Avast | Go to “Settings” > “General” > “Exceptions” > “Add” > Add “The Sims 4.exe” |
Use a Third-Party Launcher
Third-party launchers, such as Sims 4 Tray Importer and Sims 4 Studio, offer an alternative way to launch the game without triggering automatic updates. These launchers allow you to customize the game’s settings, manage mods, and import or export Sims and households. Here are some popular third-party launchers:
Sims 4 Tray Importer
Sims 4 Tray Importer is a tool primarily used for managing families and households. It enables you to quickly create, edit, and share Sims and households without loading the entire game. Tray Importer provides a user-friendly interface to manipulate Sims’ appearance, traits, skills, and relationships. You can also use it to import or export Sims from other games in the Sims series.
Sims 4 Studio
Sims 4 Studio is a comprehensive modding tool that allows you to create and edit custom content for the game. It includes features for creating new objects, clothing, hairstyles, and even custom animations. Sims 4 Studio also supports scripting, enabling you to create your own mods to modify the game’s behavior. By using Sims 4 Studio, you can personalize your Sims 4 experience and create unique content that is not available in the base game.
How to Use a Third-Party Launcher
To use a third-party launcher, you typically need to download and install the software on your computer. Once installed, you can launch Sims 4 through the third-party launcher instead of the Origin or EA app. The launcher will load the game files directly, bypassing the Origin or EA app’s update process.
| Launcher | Features |
|---|---|
| Sims 4 Tray Importer | Family and household management |
| Sims 4 Studio | Custom content creation and editing |
Edit the Game’s Registry Key
This method involves modifying a specific registry key that controls the game’s update behavior:
- Type “regedit” into the Windows search bar and open the Registry Editor.
- Navigate to the following registry key: “HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Electronic Arts\EA Games\The Sims 4”
- Right-click on “The Sims 4” and select “New” > “DWORD (32-bit) Value.”
- Name the new value “SkipPatching” and set its value to “1.”
- Close the Registry Editor and restart your computer.
| Action | Result |
|---|---|
| Double-click on “SkipPatching” | Opens the Edit DWORD Value window. |
| Enter “0” in the “Value data” field | Disables update skipping. |
| Click “OK” | Saves the changes. |
By modifying this registry key, you can instruct the game to skip the update process and launch directly without prompting for any patches.
Modify Game Shortcut Properties
Locate the Sims 4 shortcut on your desktop or in the Start menu. Right-click on the shortcut and select “Properties” from the context menu.
1. Modify Target Path
In the “Target” field, add “-noautoversion” (without quotes) to the end of the path. This will prevent the game from automatically checking for updates.
2. Disable Origin Auto-Update
If you have Origin installed, launch it and go to “Application Settings.” Under the “Origin” tab, uncheck the box labeled “Automatically update games.”
3. Change Compatibility Settings
Click on the “Compatibility” tab in the shortcut’s Properties window. Check the box labeled “Run this program in compatibility mode for” and select a previous version of Windows (e.g., Windows 8 or Windows 7).
4. Disable Auto Downloads
Navigate to the following directory: Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 4\GameVersion. Open the “GameVersion.txt” file and change the line “AutoDownloadEnabled” to “0.”
5. Use a Third-Party App
Consider using a third-party application like “Sims 4 Updater Disabler” to automatically disable updates and provide other customization options.
6. Remove Origin from Startup
Press “Ctrl + Alt + Del” and open Task Manager. Under the “Startup” tab, find Origin and disable it so that it doesn’t automatically start when you boot your computer.
7. Block Update Notifications
You can block update notifications by creating a firewall rule. Go to the Windows Control Panel, click on “System and Security,” then “Windows Firewall.” Click on “Advanced Settings” and create a new rule to block incoming connections to the Origin update server (origin.ea.com). This will prevent Origin from notifying you about available updates.
Run Sims 4 in Compatibility Mode
Compatibility mode allows you to run Sims 4 on older versions of Windows that it may not be compatible with. To do this:
- Right-click on the Sims 4 shortcut or executable file.
- Select “Properties” from the context menu.
- Click on the “Compatibility” tab.
- Check the box next to “Run this program in compatibility mode for”.
- Select the version of Windows that you want to run Sims 4 in from the dropdown menu.
- Click “Apply” and then “OK” to save your changes.
- Try running Sims 4 again and see if it works.
Note: Compatibility mode may not work in all cases, and it may cause some issues with Sims 4’s performance or functionality.
Troubleshooting Compatibility Mode
If you are having trouble running Sims 4 in compatibility mode, here are some things you can try:
- Try a different version of Windows in the compatibility mode settings.
- Make sure that you have the latest version of the Sims 4 game installed.
- Update your computer’s drivers, especially your graphics card driver.
- Verify the integrity of the Sims 4 game files through Origin or Steam.
- Disable any antivirus or firewall software that may be interfering with Sims 4.
- Reinstall Sims 4 and see if that resolves the issue.
| Compatibility Mode Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Windows XP (Service Pack 3) | Simulates running Sims 4 on Windows XP Service Pack 3. |
| Windows Vista (Service Pack 2) | Simulates running Sims 4 on Windows Vista Service Pack 2. |
| Windows 7 | Simulates running Sims 4 on Windows 7. |
| Windows 8 | Simulates running Sims 4 on Windows 8. |
| Windows 8.1 | Simulates running Sims 4 on Windows 8.1. |
| Windows 10 | Simulates running Sims 4 on Windows 10. |
Install an Older Version of Sims 4
If you’re not ready to update to the latest version of Sims 4, you can still play an older version. Here are the steps:
1. Right-click on Sims 4 in your Origin library
2. Select “Game Properties”
3. Go to the “Updates” tab
4. Uncheck the “Automatic Updates” box
5. Select “Cancel”
6. Exit Origin
7. Delete the “Origin” folder from your Documents folder
8. Restart Origin
9. Navigate to your Sims 4 game folder:
| Windows | Mac |
|---|---|
| C:\Program Files (x86)\Origin Games\The Sims 4 | /Applications/Origin.app/Contents/Resources/Apps/The Sims 4.app/Contents/Resources/The Sims 4 |
9. Rename the “The Sims 4” folder to “The Sims 4 Backup.”
10. Copy the “The Sims 4” folder from the “Old Versions” folder to the main game folder.
11. Start Sims 4 and enjoy playing the older version.
How To Open Sims 4 Without Updating
If you’re like me, you probably don’t like to update your games. You’re happy with the way they are, and you don’t want to deal with the hassle of updating them. Luckily, there’s a way to open Sims 4 without updating it.
To do this, you’ll need to create a shortcut to the game’s executable file. Here’s how to do it:
1. Find the game’s executable file. It’s usually located in the following folder:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Origin Games\The Sims 4\Game\Bin
2. Right-click on the executable file and select “Create shortcut.”
3. Move the shortcut to your desktop or another convenient location.
4. Right-click on the shortcut and select “Properties.”
5. In the “Target” field, add the following text to the end of the existing text:
-noautoupdate
6. Click “OK.”
Now, when you double-click on the shortcut, Sims 4 will open without updating.
People Also Ask
How to disable auto-updates for Sims 4?
To disable auto-updates for Sims 4, follow these steps:
1. Open the Origin client.
2. Click on the “My Game Library” tab.
3. Right-click on Sims 4 and select “Game Properties.”
4. Uncheck the “Enable automatic game updates” box.
5. Click “OK.”
Can I play Sims 4 offline?
Yes, you can play Sims 4 offline. However, you will need to have an active Origin account in order to do so. Once you have an active Origin account, you can launch Sims 4 without an internet connection.
How to fix Sims 4 not opening?
If Sims 4 is not opening, there are a few things you can try:
1. Make sure that your computer meets the minimum system requirements for Sims 4.
2. Update your graphics drivers.
3. Verify the integrity of the game files.
4. Reinstall Sims 4.
