If you’re frustrated when The Sims won’t update on the Mac, we’ve got some potential solutions you can try to troubleshoot the issue.
What Causes The Sims to Fail to Update on Mac?
If you can’t update The Sims on Mac, this can be for a number of reasons with some being easier to fix than others. Here’s a quick overview of why The Sims might not be updating.
- The The Sims servers are down. Sometimes, The Sims’s servers can be down, so it’s a good idea to check if the issue is on your end or theirs first before doing anything else.
- A VPN or firewall is blocking access to The Sims. If your VPN or firewall is set up to block a lot of activity, you may find it impossible to update The Sims while it’s active.
- Your Mac isn’t compatible with The Sims. Got an aging Mac? A recent update may mean you can no longer play The Sims on that Mac.
- Your The Sims install is corrupt. Sometimes, the The Sims files can fail so you’ll need to uninstall and reinstall it or opt to run The Sims via your browser.
Note: When The Sims won’t update, you won’t lose any files or progress as The Sims data is stored on the cloud. You simply won’t be able to access it.
How to Fix the The Sims Update Error on Mac
Follow the steps below to fix the The Sims update error you may be seeing when trying to update it on Mac. Not all of these may apply to your situation but follow them in order and skip any that aren’t relevant.
1. Check your Mac is online. Check you’re currently online and have a strong internet connection. If you aren’t online, you can’t update The Sims.
2. Restart your Mac. It’s a simple solution but restarting your Mac often fixes many issues and that can include problems updating The Sims.
3. Launch The Sims from your browser. If you keep seeing an “upgrade failed” message, try playing The Sims via your web browser instead of using the app. By doing so, the latest version of The Sims player will be installed so you can continue playing.
4. Try using a different web browser. If you also can’t get The Sims to launch from your browser, try using a different one. The Sims recommends using Google Chrome or Firefox rather than Safari.
5. Uninstall and reinstall The Sims. Uninstall the The Sims app from your Mac and try reinstalling it. This can fix issues with corrupt files.
Note: Make sure to download The Sims from a reputable source.
6. Update your Mac. Sometimes updating your Mac can fix many common issues, including running The Sims successfully.
7. Disable your VPN or firewall. If you use either a VPN or a firewall, the update may fail due to network issues. Disable them temporarily to update The Sims.
8. Reset The Sims settings. If you’re willing to delve into some settings on your Mac, navigate to Library > Preferences then delete everything in the The Sims folder.
Note: To access the Library folder, with either the desktop or a Finder window as the frontmost application, hold down the Option key and select the Go menu. The Library folder appears as one of the items in the Go menu.
9. Download The Sims to a USB flash drive on another Mac. If you’ve tried removing all traces of The Sims on your current Mac, try downloading a new version of it via a different Mac. It requires you to have another Mac available (or from a friend), but it may fix the issue.
10. Contact The Sims support. If you’ve tried all these steps and The Sims still won’t work, contact The Sims customer support with your The Sims username, any error messages you’ve received, the model name of your Mac, and which version of macOS your Mac is running.
FAQs
If you decide you don’t want to use The Sims anymore, you can permanently delete it from your system. First, make sure you’ve quit and completely closed down the The Sims application. Locate the The Sims application icon in your Mac’s Applications folder, then drag and drop The Sims into the Trash and Empty it. Note that this removes The Sims from your system, but does not get rid of your The Sims account.
Was this page helpful?

Jasper Reed is the founder of heyhowtodoit.com with 8+ years of experience in Search Engine Optimization.He has researched, tested, and written hundreds of articles ranging from social media platforms to messaging apps.
With a passion for technology and a natural aptitude for understanding consumer behavior, Jasper has built a successful career in blogging.He has been quoted and referenced by major publications and media companies.
An avid traveler and tech enthusiast, Jasper loves to explore new places and experience different cultures. With his thick-rimmed glasses and geeky demeanor, Jasper is a true tech nerd at heart.
Follow Jasper on Twitter and Reddit.
You can read more about the team here.