Sims 4 Unable to Go Online

by billiegoats
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Original Post

Sims 4 Unable to Go Online

[ Edited ]
★★ Novice

Hi, 

 

I'm trying to get online in The Sims 4, but no matter what I try, I can't. Whenever I try to go online, it prompts me as to whether or not I want to connect, and if I say "go online," it tells me it was unable to go online and to check my internet connection. The entire gallery is made up of red X's, if I click on anything it says "this object could not be located." Origin is online and I have an internet connection. I am not using a proxy. I do have Bitdefender antivirus/firewall.

 

I have tried: 

  • Restarting my computer (several times)
  • Adjusting the settings on my antivirus 
  • Turning off my antivirus
  • Adjusting the settings on my firewall
  • Turning off my firewall
  • Running the game as an administrator
  • Running Origin as an administrator 
  • Running both Origin and the game as an administrator 
  • Turning my Wifi on and off 
  • Toggling the online access options in-game (have also done this after trying each of the things listed here) 
  • Disabling all my CC/mods 
  • Going offline on Origin and then going back online 
  • Logging in and out of Origin
  • Updating the game
  • Repairing the game 
  • Using CCleaner
  • Factory reset (moved Sims 4 folder to desktop, started game to create new folder)

None of it works. I still can't access the Gallery or any of the other online features. I don't understand why this is happening and I am really upset and frustrated by it. If anyone could help me, I would appreciate it. 

Message 1 of 8 (1,103 Views)

Re: Sims 4 Unable to Go Online

Hero (Retired)
@billiegoats
Try to do the factory reset of the game. Your all old saves and library will be safe despite this process.

Step 1. Rename The Sims4 folder to "The Sims4 old"
Step 2. Fix the game in Origin
You have to wait until Origin will fix all packs, not only the base game.
Step 3. Turn on the game - a new game folder will be created and you will have two - one old, one new
Step.4. Check if you still have this problem with connecting to Gallery with the newly created game folder.
Step. 5 If all is working properly delete in the newly created game folder following folders - Tray and saves
Step 6. Go to "The Sims 4 old" folder and copy - your "saves " folder.
Step. 7 Paste this folder in a newly created game folder.
Step 8. Do the same with Tray folder
Step.9 If all is still OK - delete The Sims4 old folder. Now you will have only one game folder with new empty mods folder and the game - I hope - will be working properly.

I don't work for EA
Message 2 of 8 (1,085 Views)

Re: Sims 4 Unable to Go Online

★★ Novice

I already tried a factory reset, but I had not fixed the game between renaming the old file and starting the game, so I attempted this. Unfortunately it did not fix the problem. Still, if I try to go online, the game tells me it was unable to connect to the internet. Is there anything else I could try?

Message 3 of 8 (1,075 Views)

Re: Sims 4 Unable to Go Online

@billiegoats  Among the many interventions you listed, I didn't see any mention of clearing Origin's cache, or of uninstalling it completely.  (This wouldn't affect your TS4 install, although of course you couldn't play until you reinstalled.)  When uninstalling, make sure to either follow the instructions for "the hard way" or to use a cleaner app to remove all traces of Origin before you reinstall.

 

https://help.ea.com/en-us/help/faq/clear-cache-to-fix-problems-with-your-games/

https://help.ea.com/en-us/help/origin/origin/manually-uninstalling-origin/

 

It's also a good idea to disable Bitdefender while trying to get Origin running properly again, although of course you'll want to keep your internet activity to a minimum while it's off.

——————————————————————————————————————————

I don't work for EA. I'm just trying to help fellow players with their games.
Message 4 of 8 (1,067 Views)

Re: Sims 4 Unable to Go Online

★★ Novice

Thank you so much for your help, but unfortunately neither suggestion has worked. I tried both clearing Origin's cache and uninstalling/reinstalling Origin, but neither fixed the game. 

 

The odd thing is that, when I attempt to access the Gallery from the main menu of the game, I can see things such as people's usernames, but all images are red X's and when I try to click on one I get "could not locate this item." I looked up this problem and it said it was likely my antivirus, but I've tried disabling Bitdefender (both antivirus and firewall) and it still does this. And like I said, when I try toggling the Online Access Features off and then back on, I get prompted to connect and then told the game was unable to connect to the Internet, despite Origin being connected. I really don't know what's wrong with it.

Message 5 of 8 (1,047 Views)

Re: Sims 4 Unable to Go Online

[ Edited ]
Hero (Retired)

@billiegoats 

Perhaps some running program in the background interferes with the connection. Could you use the Task Manager to check it and close all unnecessary programs running in the background?
https://www.howtogeek.com/108742/how-to-use-the-new-task-manager-in-windows-8/

Message 6 of 8 (1,036 Views)

Re: Sims 4 Unable to Go Online

★★ Novice

I don't think that's what's going on here, I've tried closing out some background processes and I get nothing. I've also now tried completely uninstalling and reinstalling the game, and that gives me nothing too. 

 

Still, My Library works fine, but nothing in the Gallery loads. Just red Xs and the popup if I try to disconnect/reconnect to online services. All I can think of is that it's Bitdefender, but even if I completely disable Bitdefender it does this.

Message 7 of 8 (999 Views)

Re: Sims 4 Unable to Go Online

★★ Novice

Okay, update: I tried connecting through my cell phone (started a mobile hotspot and used that instead of my wifi) and was able to connect to the Gallery. I think something must just be wrong with my connection. Which is annoying, because I am a college student using my university's wifi and so I can't exactly just go fix my router. Guess I'll just have to deal with this. Thank you to everyone for trying to help, though! 

Message 8 of 8 (982 Views)