Can't open The Sims 3 on my Mac due to "unknown error."

[Bluebellflora]

@cardinellia

Clean up apps are absolutely awful and more often than not cause more issues than they resolve by deleting files that they shouldn't and/or not actually deleting all the files they purport to. You should manually uninstall the game to make sure you get rid of all the game files.

Having said that, the game is now pretty much unplayable for so many since updating to El Capitan and Sierra. The Unknown Error message is very common and normally linked to Late Night and Ambitions. Try playing the game without those EPs and see if it makes a difference.

[raechel2154]

I just downloaded 4 new expansion packs and 1 stuff pack. I went to launch my game and it says "unknown error occurred" I restarted my Mac, no help.

[Bluebellflora]

Sims 3 I presume? Have you read the stickied thread and tried the troubleshooting suggestions? http://answers.ea.com/t5/The-Sims-Mac/READ-FIRST-Sims-3-Mac-Help-Guides-and-Troubleshooting/m-p/7496...

This may also be relevant - http://answers.ea.com/t5/The-Sims-Mac/CURRENT-ISSUE-The-Sims-3-Issues-playing-on-newer-post-2013-Mac...

[raechel2154]

I recently bought a few expansion packs and a stuff pack. I downloaded them and installed them. I went to play my game and the launcher wouldn't load but instead I got a message saying "unknown error occurred" I've uninstalled everything even the base game. I deleted everything off of my computer including com.transgaming files, cider folder, and i patch folder. After doing so, I re-install the base game. It works! Then I install an expansion pack and launch my game. Unknown error occurred. I've been working on this for 2 days now, calling EA tech support and such. I've tried the super patcher, nothing. I've tried reinstalling them in order of release date, still nothing. It seems like I can only install world adventures. I haven't attempted generations, seasons, pets, etc. I've only tried late night, ambitions, and world adventures as I have to delete everything and clear my mac of any and all sims things. I'm really really really desperate. I know this is a common issue for mac users, so why isn't there a fix? 

[mkm_897]

I've been having the same exact issue too after I uninstalled and reinstalled my starter pack due to an insane amount of crashing. With Late NIght EP it's unplayable. Base game with HELS SP it crashes a lot.

MacBook Air (13-inch, Early 2015), latest update with Sierra.

Processor: 1.6 GHz Intel Core i5

Memory: 4 GB 1600 MHz DDR3

Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 6000 1536 MB

As far as that post by BluebellFlora is concerned, the issue has not been fixed in over a year. When I try downloading that version of Origin one of the EA community managers suggested in that post, I am unable to log in because it thinks I'm "offline". My case I submitted with EA customer experience has been escalated to a specialist and I would really like this fixed. 

If not, I really want a refund. It's ridiculous I can't get one because the issue remains to be unfixed for a large amount of time and I can't play my game--at all. 

[Jasmine8394]

Hi all, 

I purchased the Sims 3 (downloadable version) with 6 expansion packs and one stuff pack : Ambitions, Late Night, Generations, Island Paradise, Pets, Seasons and High End Loft stuff. I had to uninstall this game with all of it's content maybe 4 months back because my computer ran out of storage while at school and my hard drive crashed and I needed the space. I have a Macbook Pro. Anyways for the past few days I've been troubleshooting with ea (they've been little to no help) and are now going to contact me within 3-5 days with a "specialist" anyways, I was wondering if anyone could help me in the meantime. I have no custom content, my origin app is up to date and my base game works completely fine on it's own but once I try to install an expansion pack (doesn't matter which one I've tried all of them ) my game updates then the launcher crashes and then refuses to open. Instead, I get the pop up message of "an unknown error occurred" weirdly enough, whenever I try to uninstall the expansion pack, my sims 3 uninstaller crashes "your sims 3 uninstaller is corrupted or content is missing". I'm seriously desperate here guys please help me. 

[Bluebellflora]

@mkm_897 @raechel2154 @cc2992 @cardinellia @rhiannonglover  @mysskae

I have moved related posts to this one so all information is in one place. The opening post has suggestions on how to work around this issue.

[EA_Mai]

Hi @Jasmine8394,

I have moved and merged your post to this thread because you are having this same issue. Please, read the first post in this thread for more information about what's happening.

Thanks,

Mai

[ZAPPSOFT-LLC]

Hey,

I have the exact same problem.

I have installed them from the DISC and from DOWNLOAD and both once installed cause the program to no longer work and "Unknown Error" causing the game to not even try to load. Once I uninstall Ambitions and Night Life all becomes well again. 

I have tried everything from the moon and back to get these to work and they simply will not work no matter what I try.

It's as if installing these two packs literally causes the game to become corrupted.

Yet if I install these on my PC Everything Works Great!

Meaning it's something to do with the MAC Installation. I have heard it may be because of the type of design my MAC is.

I am using a Mac Book Pro and I have found info that states these machines don't work well with these packs.

Symptoms occur are, After installation no folders for Night Life or Ambitions appear in the main location of the game.

It acts like they never got installed. Even though it says they went in fine.

Someone else told me that when they didn't allow any updates or patches to be installed, everything worked fine.

Which makes me wonder if it's the patches and updates are causing corruption.

Sadly for me to try this would mean uninstalling the game again and reinstalling everything without updates.

Even with a Solid State Hard Drive and 200 MPS Download Speed. This still can take about 2 hours to install everything.

I am trying to avoid that but do miss not having all of the packs installed on my MAC.

Not sure if anyone can help with this but here is my two cents on the matter.

[RakleSparkle]

I recently reinstalled The Sims 3 base game and all of the expansions onto my computer, however Late Night refuses to install correctly. I installed the game via disc into my Applications/The Sims 3 folder, however after the install is complete, the EP isn't in the folder, and when I try to start the game I get a message saying: 'Unknown Error Occurred'. 

Despite it not having installed correctly, when I launch the Sims 3 Uninstaller, Late Night is on the list of expansions to uninstall. I have to do this whenever I try reinstall in order to be able to play the game. Whenever I uninstall it i go into my library files and delete anything pertaining to Sims 3 EP3 (Late Night) , however this doesn't help when I reinstall it. It still doesn't work.

Before I uninstalled the game, late night worked perfectly fine. Also, my Sims 3 game is patched to the latest version.

I've also tried installing the game via Origin download, however the same thing occurs.

My computer specs:

MacOS Sierra V10.12.2

iMac (27-inch, Late 2012)

3.2 GHz Intel Core i5

8 GB 1600 MHz DDR3

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675MX 1024 MB

If anyone has any suggestions please let me know, this is a little painful. Thank you