Sims4 Won't Launch in EA App

[ayeeteagann]

I'm having the exact same issue as the OP. I try to load the game, it takes a moment but the white screen appears with an hourglass as if it's loading. Just for it to crash and the EA app pops back up. If you're able to look at my DxDiag and help me troubleshoot this, that would be amazing!

[puzzlezaddict · Accepted solution]

@ayeeteagann  Sorry, somehow the link didn't paste.  (I'm sure it's user error.)  It looks like you might have installed a newer driver from Lenovo rather than the one directly from Nvidia, which you can get here, after selecting the proper categories:

https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/drivers/

That driver should be from a few weeks ago at most rather than from June 2023, and that might make the difference.

Your dxdiag shows Sims 4 is crashing because of an issue with DirectX 11, but DX11 itself is not necessarily the issue—it could just as easily be something that uses DX11 incorrectly.  That's why I suggested updating the driver.  But if the very newest driver from Nvidia doesn't help, please run a couple of basic checks of your Windows system files, as described here:

• Hit Windows key-X
• Choose either “PowerShell (Administrator)” or “Windows Terminal (Administrator),” whichever option is offered
• Inside the window that appears, copy and paste “DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth” without quotes, and enter
• The system will start validating soon. If it throws an error, please list it here
• After it reaches 100%, hit Windows key-X again
• Again, choose “PowerShell (Administrator)” or “Windows Terminal (Administrator)”
• Inside the window, copy and paste “sfc /scannow” without quotes, and enter
• Post the message you receive here

Restart your computer, hit Windows key-i, select Update & Security, and click the box to check for updates.  If any install, restart again afterwards.

If that doesn't help either, an interim workaround is to force Sims 4 to use DirectX 9 mode instead.  This won't work forever, as the game will go DX11-only (at least for supported systems) at some point, but it will allow you to play for now.  And I'm happy to help you troubleshoot the DX11 issue further while you play in DX9 mode the rest of the time.  Open the EA App, click Sims 4 > Manage > View properties, and enter -dx9 in the command line box.

[puzzlezaddict]

@ayeeteagann  Please update your laptop's Nvidia graphics driver.  Go here:

Select GeForce, GeForce GTX 16 series (notebooks), GTX 1650, Windows 11, and download the Game Ready Driver offered.  Run the installer as an admin: right-click the download and select "Run as administrator."  Restart your computer after installing and before trying to play.

Please also disable iCloud, at least while you're trying to play Sims 4.  It's crashing a lot, according to your dxdiag.  And if it's trying to sync your data while you play, that could prevent the game from loading.

[ayeeteagann]

Thank you for your quick response. I've been trying to figure it all out and I believe I did it correctly. However I'm still unable to fully launch the game. I've attached an updated DxDiag to hopefully see if you can help me troubleshoot again. I appreciate all your help thus far. 

[puzzlezaddict · Accepted solution]

@ayeeteagann  Sorry, somehow the link didn't paste.  (I'm sure it's user error.)  It looks like you might have installed a newer driver from Lenovo rather than the one directly from Nvidia, which you can get here, after selecting the proper categories:

https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/drivers/

That driver should be from a few weeks ago at most rather than from June 2023, and that might make the difference.

Your dxdiag shows Sims 4 is crashing because of an issue with DirectX 11, but DX11 itself is not necessarily the issue—it could just as easily be something that uses DX11 incorrectly.  That's why I suggested updating the driver.  But if the very newest driver from Nvidia doesn't help, please run a couple of basic checks of your Windows system files, as described here:

• Hit Windows key-X
• Choose either “PowerShell (Administrator)” or “Windows Terminal (Administrator),” whichever option is offered
• Inside the window that appears, copy and paste “DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth” without quotes, and enter
• The system will start validating soon. If it throws an error, please list it here
• After it reaches 100%, hit Windows key-X again
• Again, choose “PowerShell (Administrator)” or “Windows Terminal (Administrator)”
• Inside the window, copy and paste “sfc /scannow” without quotes, and enter
• Post the message you receive here

Restart your computer, hit Windows key-i, select Update & Security, and click the box to check for updates.  If any install, restart again afterwards.

If that doesn't help either, an interim workaround is to force Sims 4 to use DirectX 9 mode instead.  This won't work forever, as the game will go DX11-only (at least for supported systems) at some point, but it will allow you to play for now.  And I'm happy to help you troubleshoot the DX11 issue further while you play in DX9 mode the rest of the time.  Open the EA App, click Sims 4 > Manage > View properties, and enter -dx9 in the command line box.