Sims 4 Error: Already Running

[kashley07]

When I try hit Play on the Sims4, I get an error message that reads: Unable to start. The Sims 4 is already running. 

I have uninstalled both Origin and the Sims several times, cleared everything out of the Task Manager (even though there is nothing Sims or Origin related) rebooted my computer several times, and even tried given access to my Pictures b/c of some random advice on another thread. I also cleared some kind of cache based on advice from another thread. Nothing is working. 

Advice?

[pekesims · Accepted solution]

If you have Windows 10, please, try the following:

1. Find the "Electronic Arts" folder inside "Documents".
2. Right click on it and choose "Properties".
3. In the new window, select the "Sharing", and a few lines below, press the "Sharing..." button.
4. It will open a new window. There's a drop-down list. Choose "Everyone" and then Add.
5. Everyone will be added to the list below. Choose "Read/write" in the permission level for everyone.
6. Save the changes.
7. Open Origin, log in, and try to launch your game again.

Let us know if that works for you.

[Phantomlover1717]

Did you try this?:
http://sims4.crinrict.com/en/2014/09/resetting-the-game-to-factory-settings-without-reinstalling/

[UltimateXrecalls]

I Have the same problem and this doesnt work, any other suggestions?  

[jdripple]

I have the same thing. It didn't happen until the Windows 10 upgrade. Please help.

[pekesims · Accepted solution]

If you have Windows 10, please, try the following:

1. Find the "Electronic Arts" folder inside "Documents".
2. Right click on it and choose "Properties".
3. In the new window, select the "Sharing", and a few lines below, press the "Sharing..." button.
4. It will open a new window. There's a drop-down list. Choose "Everyone" and then Add.
5. Everyone will be added to the list below. Choose "Read/write" in the permission level for everyone.
6. Save the changes.
7. Open Origin, log in, and try to launch your game again.

Let us know if that works for you.

[kashley07]

Still nothing. I tried this and resetting the game to factory settings. 

[crinrict]

Did you check the task manager if the game is actually running or not ?

TS4.exe would be the process.

[Shewolf13]

This solution worked for me!  Thanks ^^

[burin077]

What version of Windows are you running? One step that might help would be to try and run Origin as a new Windows user.

This forces Windows to have to start a new instance of the program you are using under that user profile.

Here's a few links to help create a new Windows user.

Windows 7: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/create-user-account#create-user-account=windows-7

Windows 8/8.1: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/create-user-account#create-user-account=windows-8

Windows 10: http://www.networkworld.com/article/2956427/microsoft-subnet/how-to-setup-a-local-account-in-windows... (At the moment, there is no Microsoft.com article on setting up Local Accounts.)

After the above steps have been done, log out of Windows or restart the computer, it will ask you to sign in under your old user profile or new profile. Select the new profile, then when the desktop loads, open Origin, log in, and attempt to re-open Sims 4.

Hopefully that works, if it does not, there may be something more deep-rooted than the Operating System that's happening. It could be Firewall or Program-related. If anyone else has additional thoughts, please let us know.

- B

[evobe13]

---

@pekesims wrote:

If you have Windows 10, please, try the following:

1. Find the "Electronic Arts" folder inside "Documents".
2. Right click on it and choose "Properties".
3. In the new window, select the "Sharing", and a few lines below, press the "Sharing..." button.
4. It will open a new window. There's a drop-down list. Choose "Everyone" and then Add.
5. Everyone will be added to the list below. Choose "Read/write" in the permission level for everyone.
6. Save the changes.
7. Open Origin, log in, and try to launch your game again.

Let us know if that works for you.

---

This actually worked for me. Thanks a ton. Any idea as to why?