[4 Fixes Included] Sims 4 Save Files Missing? How to Recover

The Sims 4 is a widely known social simulation game available on multiple platforms including Windows, Xbox, PlayStation, and macOS. However, some players have encountered the Sims 4 save file missing problem. Spending hours carefully building your Sims' dream home only to find that your save file is missing. This is a nightmare for any Sims 4 player.

But don't panic! Whether it's due to a system crash, accidental deletion, or file corruption, we can help. This article provides 4 ways to recover Sims 4 saves on Windows/PS4/Xbox One, explores the reasons behind the dreaded Sims 4 save files disappearing problem, and offers suggestions for preventing future losses.

How Do You Recover Sims 4 Save Files? (4 Ways)

How to recover Sims 4 saves? Now, let's see what methods are available to recover The Sims 4 save files safely and quickly. 4 methods are provided below.

⚠ Note: To ensure that you can completely recover your game files, we recommend that you stop using the drive containing the lost data as soon as you discover the Sims 4 save file is missing. This is because using the device again or performing inappropriate operations may cause your game saves to be overwritten and unrecoverable.

Way 1. Recover Sims 4 Missing Saves with MyRecover

If you've ever faced the issue of The Sims 4 save files missing, and without any backups and can't locate them in their original location, using MyRecover is the effective way to recover deleted Sims 4 save files. This powerful software excels in retrieving deleted game files on your PC, including The Sims 4 game data and other popular PC games.

Key features of MyRecover:

🍕 Whether your Sims 4 saves are lost due to accidental deletion, formatted disk, virus infection, partition loss, or system crash, MyRecover can help.
🍕 Advanced scanning mode simplifies and speeds up the recovery process, ensuring you can quickly get Sims 4 save files and game progress back.
🍕 Recover your Sims 4 save files and game progress with a high success rate, keeping their original filename, directory, path, content, and quality.
🍕 Support recover lost saved game data on PS5, Xbox One, etc. Apart from Sims 4 game data, it can recover other popular PC games.
🍕 Compatible with all the Windows OS, including Windows 7, 8/8.1, 10, 11, and Windows Server.

🔥 The MyRecover free edition allows you to recover lost Sims 4 save files, up to 500MB for free. You can try to scan the target drive to see if the lost files can be found. Then, follow these simple steps to recover deleted Sims 4 game files with MyRecover.

Step 1. Run MyRecover and scan the target drive

Download, install, and run MyRecover on your Windows PC. Hover over the drive containing lost and deleted Sims 4 save files and click Scan to continue.

Step 2. Preview found files

Quick Scan and Deep Scan will find all your lost or deleted save files. You can apply the "Filter" function to find the desired files. Also, you can preview many file formats such as jpg, png, bmp, jpeg, tif, svg, gif, ico, etc. to make sure they are the files you want.

Step 3. Recover the files

Select the Sims 4 save files and click Recover X Files. Please save the recovered file to a different location from the original.

Way 2. Recover Save Files Using the Sims 4 App

If your data has become corrupted or you want to revert to a previous save, The Sims 4 automatically stores saves for you to choose from. This method works well if the game has automatically stored a backup save, allowing you to restore to a previous point in the game. You can refer to the following steps to restore a lost save file through the Sims 4 application itself:

Step 1. Launch the Sims 4 and navigate to the main menu. Select the "Load Game" option from the menu.

Step 2. Choose the save point you want to revert and click Recover. Click "Yes" to confirm.

Way 3. Rename the Sims 4 Game Files

Sometimes, incorrect naming conventions can cause The Sims 4 save files to disappear or fail to load. OneDrive may have automatically modified your save names to prevent duplicate files or folders, usually appending "Copy.Save" or "Copy.Ver" to the end of the Sims 4 save file. Here's how to fix The Sims 4 save files missing:

Step 1. Open File Explorer and go to Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 4\saves.

Step 2. Sims 4 saves must follow a specific format, starting with "Slot_", followed by 8 hexadecimal digits, and ending with ".save". So, make sure the file name follows this format: Slot_<8-digit hexadecimal number>.save, and that there are no extra characters in the save file name.

Step 3. Remove any extra characters or spaces in the file name. Open The Sims 4 and check if the save file is now recognized.

Way 4. Free Up Space on Your PC

Low storage space can sometimes cause Sims 4 save files missing or become inaccessible. Making sure you have enough free space on your PC can prevent this problem. To free up space: Just go to "This PC" and check your storage drive. Delete files and programs that you no longer need.

Also, you can use the Disk Cleanup tool to clear cache and temporary files. Or, transfer large files to an external hard drive or cloud storage.

Why Are My Sims 4 Save Files Gone?

It’s crucial to understand why your Sims 4 missing game data. Here are some common reasons:

🐱‍🏍 Accidental deletions: Errors happen, and files can be accidentally deleted or misplaced.

🎇 Game crashes: Unexpected crashes can corrupt or delete save files.

🐱‍🚀 Software glitches: Bugs in the game or conflicting software can cause data loss.

🎏 Game Updates: Sometimes, game updates can cause save files to disappear.

6 Preventive Measures to Avoid Losing Sims 4 Save Files

While recovering lost files is crucial, it’s equally important to take preventative measures to avoid losing Sims 4 save files in the future. Here are some tips to help you protect your game progress and reduce the risk of experiencing lost saved files.

1️⃣ Back up regularly: Back up your save files frequently to an external drive or cloud storage. You can use this free backup software for Windows like AOMEI Backupper Standard to help you.

2️⃣ Avoid overwriting saves: Create new save files instead of overwriting existing ones to minimize the risk of data corruption.

3️⃣ Disable OneDrive syncing: OneDrive can sometimes interfere with The Sims 4 save files. Disable OneDrive syncing for The Sims 4 folders.

4️⃣ Monitor system updates: Keep an eye on system updates and game patches to avoid compatibility issues.

5️⃣ Check antivirus settings: Make sure your antivirus software isn’t mistakenly deleting or quarantining The Sims 4 files.

6️⃣ Use reliable mods: Only use mods and custom content from reputable sources to prevent game crashes and data loss.

Final Words

In this article, we introduce you to 4 ways to solve the Sims 4 save files missing and introduce the common loss reasons and protection measures for The Sims 4.

If you have lost The Sims 4 save files and cannot recover them by conventional means, we recommend using MyRecover. With its powerful and reliable recovery features, it provides a simple and effective solution to recover lost game data. Don’t let missing Sims 4 save files spoil your gaming experience. Download MyRecover and recover your lost saves in no time!

In addition, no matter which method you use, continue to implement effective measures such as regular backups, careful handling of game files, and monitoring system updates and antivirus settings to ensure the safety of your Sims 4 save files in the future.

FAQs on Sims 4 Save Files Missing

1. Why aren't my saved games showing up in Sims 4?

If your saved games aren't appearing in Sims 4, make sure the file path to your saves is correct. To check this, right-click on a save file and select Properties > General, then look for the Location. If the saves are in a different folder than the one Sims 4 is accessing, that's likely the problem.

2. Where are my Sims 4 save files located?

Your Sims 4 save files are stored in your game folder located at Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 4. This folder contains all your saves, builds, created households, and other content. If you have a backup of this folder, simply transfer the Saves and Tray folders from the backup to your current game folder.

3. How do I fix a corrupted Sims 4 save file?

To fix a corrupted Sims 4 save file, move the entire Sims 4 folder from Documents\Electronic Arts to your desktop. When you launch the game, a clean folder will be created. Exit the game from the Main Menu, then copy one of your affected saves into the new Saves folder. Launch the game again to see if it crashes.

4. How do I restore Sims 4 saves on my Mac?

To restore Sims 4 saves on your Mac, locate the save file and ensure it's placed in Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 4 > saves. The game will then be able to load it.

5. How to load save files in Sims 4?

To load a save, simply start the game, go to the main menu, click "Load Game" and select your save file.

6. How to download save files in Sims 4?

To download a save file, find one online, download and extract it, then move it to the Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 4 > saves folder. Start the game and load your new save from the main menu. These steps make it easy to manage and enjoy different game progress and content.