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How to recover a missing saved game in The Sims 3

If you’re missing a saved game for The Sims 3, these steps can help you get it back.

How to recover a missing saved game in The Sims 3

PC players
  • First, backup your saved games:
    • Click Start > My Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 3.
    • In The Sims 3 folder, you should see a folder called Saves. Right-click on the Saves folder, and select Copy in the right-click menu.
    • Right-click on your Desktop, USB drive, or other preferred file location where you want your backup games to be saved. Select Paste in the right-click menu.
    • You now have a second copy of your saved games folder. We recommend that you rename this copied folder to avoid confusion. You might call it "Sims 3 backup saves."
  • After creating your backup copy, return to The Sims 3 folder, and open the Saves folder.
  • You will see two files in this folder, one with the file extension .sims3, and one with the file extension .sims3.backup. The first is the one your game is currently loading; the second is the prior saved game.
  • Drag the .sims3 file to your Desktop (or any other location you wish to use) for safe keeping.
  • Once the .sims3.backup file is the only file you see in the Saves folder, rename it to change the extension to .sims3 instead. Then the game will know this is the file you want it to load.
Mac players
  • First, backup your saved games:
    • Open Finder, then go to your Documents folder, then Electronic Arts, and then The Sims 3.
    • In your The Sims 3 folder, click on the Saves folder while you press and hold down Command/Apple and C to copy. Then click on your Desktop (or wherever you’d like to keep your backups) and press Command/Apple and V to paste.
    • Rename this copied-and-pasted folder "Sims 3 Backup Saves" or something similar to distinguish it from the original.
  • After creating your backup copy, return to The Sims 3 folder, and open the Saves folder.
  • You will see two files in this folder, one with the file extension .sims3, and one with the file extension .sims3.backup. The first is the one your game is currently loading; the second is the prior saved game.
  • Drag the .sims3 file to your Desktop (or any other location you wish to use) for safe keeping.
  • Once the .sims3.backup file is the only file you see in the Saves folder, rename it to change the extension to .sims3 instead. Then the game will know this is the file you want it to load.

If you continue to have problems after following these instructions, please don’t hesitate to contact an advisor for assistance.

You may also wish to view a video tutorial on backing up your saved games.

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