Few things in gaming sting more than losing a Sims 4 save file you have been building for weeks, months, or even years. A corrupted save after a patch, an unexpected OneDrive sync wiping your Documents folder, or a mod conflict that breaks everything — it happens more often than it should. The good news is that The Sims 4 gives you direct access to save files on every platform, and with the right knowledge you can locate them in seconds, create reliable backups before anything goes wrong, and recover previous versions when disaster strikes. This guide walks you through every step for Windows, Mac, PlayStation, and Xbox with the latest file paths updated for 2026.
Where Are Sims 4 Save Files Located?
Regardless of whether you installed The Sims 4 through the EA App, Steam, or the legacy Origin client, save files are always stored in the same default location on your computer. The game installation directory does not affect where saves go — they always live inside your user Documents folder.
Windows Save File Path
To navigate there quickly, press Windows + R on your keyboard, type %userprofile%\Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 4\saves and press Enter. This shortcut works regardless of where your Documents folder is mapped.
Mac Save File Path
Open Finder, click Documents in the sidebar, then open Electronic Arts → The Sims 4 → saves. If the folder is not visible in Finder, press Cmd + Shift + G and paste the path above directly.
Alternate Method: Find the Path In-Game
If you cannot locate the folder manually, The Sims 4 itself can show you the exact path:
Launch The Sims 4 and reach the main menu.
Click Load Game.
Hover your mouse over the folder icon next to any save file name.
A tooltip will appear showing the full file path where that save is stored on your system.
You can also check Game Options → Other inside The Sims 4 and look at the screenshot capture folder path. It points to the same parent Electronic Arts\The Sims 4 directory where your saves live.
Understanding Sims 4 Save File Names and Structure
When you open the saves folder, you will see a list of files with names that look like this:
Slot_00000001.save.ver0
Slot_00000001.save.ver1
Slot_00000001.save.ver2
Slot_00000001.save.ver3
Slot_00000001.save.ver4
Slot_00000001.save.ver5
Slot_00000002.save
Slot_00000002.save.ver0
…
Here is what each part means:
| File Name | What It Is |
|---|---|
Slot_00000001.save | Your current active save for that save slot. This is the file the game loads when you hit “Resume” or “Load.” |
.save.ver0 | The most recent automatic backup — created the last time you saved. |
.save.ver1 through .ver5 | Older automatic backups, with higher numbers being progressively older versions. |
Slot_00000002.save | A different save slot (second saved game). |
The Sims 4 automatically maintains up to 5 backup versions (ver0 through ver5) for each save slot. This means even without manual backups, you have multiple restore points available. The .ver0 file is always the newest backup, and .ver5 is the oldest.
Those .ver files are your safety net. If your main .save file becomes corrupted, you can rename a .ver file to restore a previous version. Never delete them to “clean up” your saves folder.
Other Important Folders in The Sims 4 Directory
Besides the saves folder, the Electronic Arts\The Sims 4 directory contains other critical folders you should know about for complete backup protection:
| Folder | Contents |
|---|---|
| saves | All save game files and automatic backups |
| Tray | Sims, lots, rooms, and outfits you saved to your Library |
| Mods | All custom content (CC) and script mods |
| Screenshots | In-game screenshots |
| cache | Temporary cache files (safe to delete for troubleshooting) |
| Options.ini | Your game settings (graphics, audio, gameplay preferences) |
How to Back Up Sims 4 Save Files (Step-by-Step)
Creating a manual backup takes under a minute and can save you hundreds of hours of lost gameplay. You should back up before installing any game update, expansion pack, or large mod/CC package.
Method 1: Manual Backup (Recommended)
Close The Sims 4 completely. Never copy save files while the game is running — this can create incomplete or corrupted copies.
Navigate to Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 4.
Copy the entire saves folder (right-click → Copy, or Ctrl+C / Cmd+C).
Paste the copy into a safe location — an external hard drive, USB stick, or cloud storage like Google Drive or Dropbox.
Rename the backup folder with today’s date, for example: saves_backup_2026-02-27.
For maximum protection, also copy the Tray folder (your Library of saved Sims and lots) and the Options.ini file (your settings). This way, you can restore your complete game state if anything goes wrong.
Method 2: Full Game Folder Backup
If you want to back up everything at once — saves, mods, Tray, custom music, and settings — copy the entire The Sims 4 folder from inside Documents\Electronic Arts to your backup location. This is especially useful before major game updates.
EA’s official support recommends this approach in their backup and reset guide, and it is the safest way to ensure nothing is lost.
Method 3: Cloud Storage Backup
Uploading your saves folder to Google Drive, Dropbox, or iCloud Drive provides offsite protection against hardware failure. However, do not use cloud sync services (like OneDrive’s automatic folder sync) to sync the live game folder while playing. This causes conflicts that can corrupt or delete save files — more on this in the OneDrive fix section below.
Instead, manually upload a dated copy of your saves folder to cloud storage after each play session.
How to Recover a Previous Save in The Sims 4
If your most recent save is broken, bugged, or lost progress you want to undo, The Sims 4 has a built-in recovery feature that works on both PC and console.
In-Game Recovery (PC and Mac)
Launch The Sims 4 and click Load Game from the main menu.
Select the save you want to recover.
Click the Recover Save button (it looks like a floppy disk icon).
A list of previous save versions will appear. Select the one you want and click Recover.
Click Yes (checkmark icon) to confirm.
The recovered save will appear as a separate entry with “Recovered” in its name, so your current save file remains untouched. This is the safest recovery method because it does not overwrite anything.
Manual Recovery Using .ver Files
If the in-game recovery option does not work, or the game will not load at all, you can manually restore a backup version:
Close The Sims 4 completely.
Navigate to your saves folder.
Find the .ver file you want to restore. Remember, .ver0 is the most recent backup, and higher numbers are progressively older.
Rename the current .save file to something else (e.g., add _broken to the end).
Rename the .ver file by removing the .ver0 (or whichever version) from the end so it becomes Slot_XXXXXXXX.save.
Launch The Sims 4 and load the save to verify it works.
Always rename rather than delete when troubleshooting. This way, if the .ver file also turns out to be corrupted, you still have your original file to try other recovery methods.
How to Fix a Corrupted Sims 4 Save File
Save corruption is one of the most frustrating issues Sims 4 players encounter. Common signs include an infinite loading screen, error codes (102, 109, 110, 111, 122, or 135), crashes when loading a specific household, or the game starting as if no saves exist.
Step 1: Try In-Game Recovery First
Use the Load Game → Recover Save method described above. If your most recent save is corrupted, an older .ver backup might be perfectly fine.
Step 2: Clear the Cache
Close The Sims 4.
Navigate to Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 4.
Open the cache folder and delete everything inside it.
Also delete the file named localthumbcache.package in the main Sims 4 folder if it exists.
Restart the game. These files will regenerate automatically.
Step 3: Test Without Mods
Move your Mods folder to your desktop temporarily. Launch the game and try loading the save. If it works, a mod is causing the corruption. Add mods back in small batches, testing after each, to identify the culprit.
Step 4: Repair the Game Through Your Launcher
A corrupted game installation can cause save issues even if the save file itself is fine:
- EA App: Right-click The Sims 4 in your library → select Repair
- Steam: Right-click → Properties → Installed Files → Verify Integrity of Game Files
- Origin (Legacy): Right-click → Repair Game
EA’s official help article on restoring saved games recommends this as a standard troubleshooting step.
Step 5: Isolate the Problem File
If clearing cache and removing mods did not fix the issue, the problem may be in the Tray folder (saved Sims and lots). Move your saves folder back in first and test. Then copy your Tray folder back. If the game breaks after restoring the Tray, a corrupted household or lot in your Library is the issue.
Fix: OneDrive Deleting or Hiding Sims 4 Save Files
This is one of the most commonly reported issues in the Sims community, particularly on Windows 10 and 11. OneDrive’s automatic folder sync can move your Sims 4 save files to the cloud, rename them with “Copy” suffixes, or delete them when it runs a storage cleanup.
Why This Happens
By default, Windows may configure OneDrive to sync your Documents folder. When this happens, The Sims 4 tries to save files to Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 4\saves, but OneDrive intercepts those files and moves them to cloud-only storage. The game cannot read cloud-only files, so your saves “disappear.”
In other cases, OneDrive renames your save files to avoid duplicates, appending text like Copy.save or Copy.ver. The Sims 4 does not recognize these modified filenames and ignores them.
How to Fix It
Click the OneDrive icon in your Windows taskbar (cloud icon near the clock).
Click the gear icon → Settings.
Go to the Sync and backup tab (or “Choose folders” in older versions).
Uncheck “Documents” from the folder sync list. This stops OneDrive from managing your Documents folder.
If saves were moved to OneDrive, navigate to C:\Users\YourUsername\OneDrive\Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 4\saves and copy (not move) all .save and .ver files back to your local Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 4\saves folder.
If files were renamed, remove any Copy text from the filenames so they follow the correct Slot_XXXXXXXX.save format.
Launch The Sims 4 and verify your saves appear in the Load Game menu.
After fixing this, keep OneDrive’s Documents sync disabled permanently, or explicitly exclude the Electronic Arts folder from sync. You can still back up Sims 4 saves to cloud storage manually without the risks of automatic sync.
Sims 4 Save Files on Console (PS4, PS5, Xbox)
Console players do not have direct file system access like PC and Mac users, but you still have multiple options for protecting your saves.
PlayStation (PS4 and PS5)
The Sims 4 on PlayStation supports 10 manual save slots plus automatic saves. To recover a previous save:
Go to the Main Menu in The Sims 4.
Click Load Game.
Select one of your manual saves or a previous auto-save to load.
For cloud backup, PlayStation Plus subscribers can enable automatic cloud uploads:
- Navigate to Settings → Application Saved Data Management → Auto-Upload
- Enable Automatic Uploads for The Sims 4
If you are not a PS Plus subscriber, connect a USB drive and go to Settings → System → Back Up and Restore to create a manual backup.
Xbox (Xbox One and Series X|S)
Xbox automatically syncs save data to the cloud every time you exit a game, provided you are connected to the internet. This means your Sims 4 saves are automatically backed up with no extra action needed.
If you experience issues, you can force a re-sync by going to My Games & Apps → The Sims 4 → Manage Game & Add-ons → Saved Data and deleting the local save. The next time you launch the game, it will re-download the cloud copy.
How to Transfer Sims 4 Saves to Another Computer
Switching to a new PC or laptop? Transferring your Sims 4 saves is straightforward.
On your old computer, navigate to Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 4.
Copy the following folders to a USB drive or cloud storage: saves, Tray, Mods (if you use custom content), and the Options.ini file.
On your new computer, install and launch The Sims 4 once to generate the default folder structure. Then close the game.
Paste the copied folders into the new computer’s Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 4 directory, replacing the empty default folders.
Launch The Sims 4 and your saves, Library items, and mods will be exactly where you left them.
Sims 4 save files work across different PC launchers (Steam, EA App, Origin) because saves are stored in the same Documents folder regardless of the launcher. However, saves are not transferable between PC and console platforms.
Mods, Custom Content, and Save File Safety
Mods and custom content (CC) are a core part of the Sims 4 experience for millions of players, but they are also the most common cause of save corruption. Every time The Sims 4 receives a major update, existing mods and CC can become incompatible, leading to crashes, infinite loading screens, or corrupted save data.
How to Protect Your Saves When Using Mods
- Always back up your saves folder before installing new mods or updating the game. This is the single most important habit you can develop.
- Keep mods updated. Check mod creator pages and community Discord servers for compatibility updates after each game patch.
- Remove all mods before major game updates. After updating, re-add mods one at a time, testing the game after each to identify any that cause issues.
- Download mods only from reputable sources like established mod creators’ official pages. Avoid random reupload sites that may bundle outdated or malicious files.
- Maintain a separate unmodded test save. Use this save to verify the game runs correctly after updates before loading your main save with mods enabled.
Good backup habits protect you across all games, not just The Sims 4. Whether you are managing save data in a life sim or tracking deck progress in a competitive game like Clash Royale, understanding where your files live and how to back them up is always worth the effort.
Best Practices to Prevent Sims 4 Save File Loss
Prevention is always easier than recovery. Here are the habits that experienced Simmers swear by:
| Practice | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Use “Save As” instead of “Save” | Creates a new save slot rather than overwriting the existing one. If the new save corrupts, your old save is still intact. |
| Back up before every game update | Game patches can occasionally cause save incompatibilities. A pre-update backup gives you a restore point. |
| Back up before adding mods/CC | New mods are the number one cause of save corruption. A backup lets you roll back instantly. |
| Disable OneDrive sync for Documents | Prevents Windows from moving, renaming, or deleting your save files without your knowledge. |
| Keep two backup copies | One local (USB or external drive) and one offsite (cloud). Protects against both software issues and hardware failure. |
| Whitelist Sims 4 in your antivirus | Some antivirus software mistakenly quarantines or deletes game files it flags as suspicious. |
| Save important Sims to your Library | Use “Save Sim to Library” at every major life stage. These Library copies live in the Tray folder and can be placed into a new save if your current one is lost. |
| Date your backups | Name backup folders with the date (e.g., saves_2026-02-27) so you can identify which version to restore. |
These practices take minimal time but provide enormous peace of mind, whether you are building a Victorian mansion over several weekends or running a ten-generation legacy challenge. The EA community team on the official EA Forums calls regular backups “the simplest insurance policy in The Sims 4.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are Sims 4 save files stored on PC?
On Windows, saves are stored in Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 4\saves. This path is the same regardless of whether you installed through Steam, the EA App, or Origin. On Mac, the path is ~/Documents/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves.
Can I recover a deleted Sims 4 save file?
Yes. First check the in-game Load Game → Recover Save option. If the files were deleted by OneDrive, check the OneDrive recycle bin at onedrive.live.com. You can also look for .ver backup files in your saves folder and rename one to replace the missing .save file.
Why did my Sims 4 saves suddenly disappear?
The most common cause on Windows 10 and 11 is OneDrive automatically syncing the Documents folder, which moves or renames save files so the game cannot find them. Game updates, antivirus software quarantining files, and corrupted mods are other frequent causes.
Does The Sims 4 automatically back up saves?
Yes. The Sims 4 maintains up to 5 automatic backup versions (.ver0 through .ver5) for each save slot. These are created every time you save. The .ver0 file is always the most recent backup. You can restore these through the in-game Recover Save feature or by manually renaming the .ver file.
Can I transfer Sims 4 saves from PC to console?
No. Save files are not cross-platform compatible between PC and console. However, you can transfer saves between PCs (including between Steam and EA App installations) since both use the same Documents folder location.
How do I fix a corrupted Sims 4 save?
Start with the in-game Recover Save feature to load an older version. If that fails, clear the cache folder, temporarily remove all mods, and repair the game through your launcher. Then test older .ver backup files one by one. If a specific mod caused the corruption, testing without mods will confirm this.
How many save slots does The Sims 4 allow?
On PC and Mac, there is no hard limit — you can have as many saves as your storage allows. On console, The Sims 4 provides 10 manual save slots plus automatic saves.
Should I use OneDrive to back up my Sims 4 saves?
You should not use OneDrive’s automatic folder sync for the Documents folder while playing. This causes conflicts that can delete or rename save files. Instead, manually copy your saves folder to OneDrive (or any cloud service) after each play session for safe offsite backup.
Official Sources: EA Help – Backing Up & Resetting The Sims 4 • EA Help – Recover a Past Saved Game • EA Forums – Backing Up Saves Guide • The Sims 4 Official Site
