The Sims 4 is a social simulation game that was released in 2014. The game is the sequel to The Sims 3 with the main aim of playing a virtual character through their life. It is a great game that allows you to take full control of your Sim. From creating their look to building their whole life, you can do a lot in The Sims 4. However, lately, The Sims 4 players have been encountering some issues in accessing and playing the game. The error that pops up on the screen of players states Sims 4 unable to start contents of your user data. If you are also dealing with unable to start cannot start because required game data is missing issue and are looking for a quick fix to get back to your favorite game, then we have a perfect guide for you. In this doc, we will consider all the fixes available for the error. So, let us begin with Sims 4 cannot place content because it was created with a newer version solution right away.
How to Fix Sims 4 Unable to Start Contents of Your User Data
Normally, issues like this where The Sims 4 won’t launch due to an error stating that content was created with a newer version is because of installing a new update for the game. In such a case, a few files of the old game version remain on your system while you try to play the game using a newer version.
Apart from this, some other reasons that are involved in causing this error include:
- Third-party antivirus software on the computer
- Windows Defender Firewall blocking the game
- Corrupt or missing game files
Facing errors interrupting gameplay or restricting you from launching a game, like in The Sims 4, can be a bit annoying. As mentioned above, a couple of reasons result in this issue. So, to fix it, let us start reading the solutions.
Method 1: Remove Sims Save Folder
As we discussed earlier, on updating The Sims 4, if you attempt to play through the new version itself, you can encounter unable to start cannot start because required game data is missing issue because of the already saved files of The Sims 4. Therefore, you must delete these saved folders from your system. You can check the following steps to remove the Sims GameVersion folder:
1. Open File Explorer by pressing Windows + E keys together, then click on Documents folder in the left pane.
2. Open the folder named Electronic Arts.
3. Now, click on The Sims 4 folder.
4. Right-click on the GameVersion folder and select Delete.
Also Read: How to Encrypt a Folder in Windows 10
Method 2: Disable Antivirus Program (If Applicable)
Third-party antivirus software on your PC can be one of the primary reasons why you have been encountering Sims 4 unable to start contents of your user data. Antivirus software works by blocking any potentially dangerous threat to your system. If it detects The Sims 4 installed on your PC as a threat, it can block it from launching and thus the error. In such a case, it is advised to disable the program temporarily, if applicable. You can go through our guide on How to Disable Antivirus Temporarily on Windows 10 and safely attempt the method.
Method 3: Disable Windows Firewall (Not Recommended)
If the above method does not help you with Sims 4 cannot place content because it was created with a newer version, you can try disabling Windows Firewall on your PC. The Windows Defender Firewall protects against viruses and malware that can put your data and system at risk. Even though it is not recommended to disable Windows Firewall as it can make your system vulnerable and susceptible to viruses, you can try disabling it temporarily to check if it is the specific cause behind the issue. Our guide on How to Disable Windows 10 Firewall will help you to attempt this method with utmost safety.
Also Read: How to Fix Origin Won’t Open on Windows 10
Method 4: Repair The Sims 4 Game
Apart from all other factors, corrupt game files can also be a triggering factor for Sims 4 unable to start contents of your user data. So, you can try repairing The Sims 4 to resolve this error from your Origin client. Look at the steps below for more:
1. Press the Windows key, type Origin and click on Open.
2. Now, select My Game Library from the left panel.
3. Next, right-click on The Sims 4 game to open the menu.
4. Select Repair Game from the menu.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.
6. Finally, reboot the PC and relaunch the game to check if Sims 4 unable to start contents of your user data error has been resolved.
Also Read: How to Fix Origin Error 9:0 in Windows 10
Method 5: Reinstall The Sims 4Game
The last method to fix Sims 4 cannot place content because it was created with a newer version involves reinstalling The Sims4. You can follow the steps to uninstall it as stated below:
Note: The following steps are for uninstalling The Sims 4 via Origin.
1. Launch the Origin app.
2. Click on the My Game Library option.
3. Now, right-click on The Sims 4 and select Uninstall.
4. Go to the path in the File Explorer.
C:\Program Files (x86)\Origin Games
5. Select The Sims 4 Folder and press the Delete key.
6. Again, go to Origin > My Game Library.
7. Click on The Sims 4 tile.
8. Then, click on the Download button to install the game.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. What can I do when Sims shows an unable to start error?
Ans. If you cannot launch Sims on your device and it is showing unable to start issue, then the best possible action to take in this case is to uninstall it completely and then reinstall it via Origin on your system.
Q2. What happens on resetting Sims?
Ans. If you reset Sims, it will return to the playable state, but Sims will not return to its home lot. All in all, Sims remains the same after a reset.
Q3. What happens on repairing The Sims 4?
Ans. On repairing The Sims 4, files that are found different and re-downloaded after comparisons are made between installed game files and files in Origin. Also, the registry entries are repaired for the game in case they have been altered or repaired.
Q4. How do game files become corrupt?
Ans. Game files become corrupt when they are partially saved or when a system crashes when the files are being downloaded.
Q5. How can I update Sims 4?
Ans. To update Sims 4, you can launch Origin, and in My Game Library, you can right-click on The Sims 4 and select Update.
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We hope our doc provided you with suitable fixes that could help you fix Sims 4 unable to start contents of your user data issue. If our guide helped you fix the issue, let us know. Also, if you have any queries or suggestions to give, you can leave a comment below, and we will get back to you.
