Forum Announcement, Click Here to Read More From EA_Cade.

The Sims 4 doesn't start without an Internet connection

WinMacSims3WinMacSims3 Posts: 1,610 Member
edited November 2014 in PC - Technical Discussions
Although The Sims 4 doesn't require an Internet connection, it's needed to activate the game and start the game. Unlike The Sims 3, The Sims 4 won't start if you're not connected to the Internet as it has to sign in to Origin. Likewise, The Sims FreePlay will not work at all without an Internet connection.

The results of when I start The Sims 4.
  • Connected to Internet & signed in to Origin: Can play The Sims 4.
  • Disconnected from the Internet but signed in to Origin: Origin automatically runs in offline mode and can start The Sims 4.
  • Not connected to the Internet & not signed in to Origin: The Sims 4 won't start as Origin won't connect.

I know that in Steam, if I have problems with Steam not connecting or I'm not connected to the Internet, I have the option of running it on Offline Mode instead so I can play games offline if the account was saved. This isn't the case with Origin. When I tried to access my account, Origin won't let me use my account offline so therefore I can't start The Sims 4 if I'm not connected to the Internet. If I was signed to Origin but got disconnected, I'm still on the Origin account and can play games offline. Note that I do Origin to remember me when I start it so I don't have to sign in every time I start it.

So it seems that to me that it's impossible to start The Sims 4 without being connected to the Internet as it fails to sign in to Origin. I know Origin has an offline mode but without an Internet connection, I can't use my account. I'm not sure if there's a way to start TS4 without an Internet connection.
Origin ID: GothicSimmer, YouTube: GothicSimmer
Post edited by WinMacSims3 on

Comments

  • vvoytekvvoytek Posts: 36 Member
    A million times this. It is so annoying. Does absolutely anybody have a solution or a workaround for the Origin thing?
  • DarkAmaranth1966DarkAmaranth1966 Posts: 13,416 Member
    You need to be ONLINE when you put Origin in OFFLINE mode, then you can run the game while offline but, you do need to be online to get Origin into Offline mode.
    Life is what you make it so, make it good.
  • Celticgamer0Celticgamer0 Posts: 1,997 Member
    You can create a desktop shortcut as well to bypass Origin after doing what DarkAmaranth1966 states
  • WinMacSims3WinMacSims3 Posts: 1,610 Member
    You need to be ONLINE when you put Origin in OFFLINE mode, then you can run the game while offline but, you do need to be online to get Origin into Offline mode.

    Yes you do. If I was signed in to Origin, I can put it in offline mode and start The Sims 4 (Result #2). If I wasn't connected and start Origin, I can't put Origin in offline mode so The Sims 4 is unplayable (Result #3). This might be annoying on laptops if you started Windows and you're not connected to the Internet making you unable to play The Sims 4.
    You can create a desktop shortcut as well to bypass Origin after doing what DarkAmaranth1966 states

    I do use the shortcut to start The Sims 4, Origin created it for me. However, I still have to sign in to Origin when I use the shortcut. In TS3, the game does not try to access Origin which is why I can still play it. The Sims Medieval, however, does require you to be signed in to Origin when you start it so I can't start it without an Internet connection if Origin isn't running.

    I did explain this earlier. In Steam, if you are not connected to the Internet, you have the option of running it in Offline Mode but Origin does not. Offline Mode on Origin only works if I was online.
    Origin ID: GothicSimmer, YouTube: GothicSimmer
  • crinrictcrinrict Posts: 18,771 Member
    I find that weird why it doesn't work for some.

    For me, if there's no connection, I'm automatically put in offline mode and can play that way. I do need to sign in but all offline.

    Seen reports from others where it is not working but I don't get why.

    After activating the game once, I have no troubles to be offline all the time (unless I want to update of course) - even if I need to re-enter the password.
    Crinrict's Help Blogs -- Twitter
    Please do not send me PMs/post on my wall if you're looking for help. I can't attend to those. You can find me at AnswerHQ.
    How to report bugs at AnswersHQ
    AHQ Tutorial

  • MorpharMorphar Posts: 140 Member
    I pulled the internet cable and started the game. Runs OK.
  • WinMacSims3WinMacSims3 Posts: 1,610 Member
    crinrict wrote: »
    I find that weird why it doesn't work for some.

    For me, if there's no connection, I'm automatically put in offline mode and can play that way. I do need to sign in but all offline.

    Seen reports from others where it is not working but I don't get why.

    After activating the game once, I have no troubles to be offline all the time (unless I want to update of course) - even if I need to re-enter the password.

    Origin automatically puts me in offline mode if it was running and I was signed in but was disconnected from the Internet, TS4 will start. If I wasn't running it and not connected, I can't put Origin on offline mode and start TS4 because I can't sign in.

    I forgot to mention that Origin puts me on offline mode automatically if it was running. I edited my original post to correct it.
    Origin ID: GothicSimmer, YouTube: GothicSimmer
  • DarkAmaranth1966DarkAmaranth1966 Posts: 13,416 Member
    Ah, I see now, you don't have Origin set to automatically start when you boot up the computer and, to remember your username and password. Try doing that while online, then see if it's okay offline.
    Life is what you make it so, make it good.
  • crinrictcrinrict Posts: 18,771 Member
    Does it give you an error when you try to log in without Internet ? Cause as mentioned in my post, that works well for me too.
    Crinrict's Help Blogs -- Twitter
    Please do not send me PMs/post on my wall if you're looking for help. I can't attend to those. You can find me at AnswerHQ.
    How to report bugs at AnswersHQ
    AHQ Tutorial

  • WinMacSims3WinMacSims3 Posts: 1,610 Member
    Ah, I see now, you don't have Origin set to automatically start when you boot up the computer and, to remember your username and password. Try doing that while online, then see if it's okay offline.
    I have Origin set to not start with Windows although I do have Origin remember me so it logs me in when I start it although sometimes it prompts me to sign in.
    crinrict wrote: »
    Does it give you an error when you try to log in without Internet ? Cause as mentioned in my post, that works well for me too.

    Yes. When I start Origin, it says "Online login is currently unavailable." and when I try to sign in, I get "You must be online when logging in for the first time.".

    Although I'm used to EA and The Sims (I've been a member since Aug 2009), I'm used to Steam. I don't know much how Origin works such as the offline mode.
    Origin ID: GothicSimmer, YouTube: GothicSimmer
  • crinrictcrinrict Posts: 18,771 Member
    Ah, that message. Not sure what it means in offline mode since obviously the online troubleshooting does not apply.

    I'll ask anyways if you have proxies turned on by chance ?
    Crinrict's Help Blogs -- Twitter
    Please do not send me PMs/post on my wall if you're looking for help. I can't attend to those. You can find me at AnswerHQ.
    How to report bugs at AnswersHQ
    AHQ Tutorial

  • WinMacSims3WinMacSims3 Posts: 1,610 Member
    crinrict wrote: »
    Ah, that message. Not sure what it means in offline mode since obviously the online troubleshooting does not apply.

    I'll ask anyways if you have proxies turned on by chance ?

    I don't think I have proxies enabled on my desktop.
    Origin ID: GothicSimmer, YouTube: GothicSimmer
  • WinMacSims3WinMacSims3 Posts: 1,610 Member
    It seems the issue if you have to sign in to Origin and there are downsides. @DarkAmaranth1966 and @crinrict are right about Origin such as having to be online to use offline mode and being offline after getting disconnected. If Origin wasn't running, it will not sign in. This can be an issue if you started Windows without an Internet connection making you unable to play The Sims 4. The Sims 3 doesn't have this issue.
    Ah, I see now, you don't have Origin set to automatically start when you boot up the computer and, to remember your username and password. Try doing that while online, then see if it's okay offline.

    I tried setting Origin to auto start and remember me, I disconnected my computer from the Internet and then restarted Windows 7 and it didn't work.
    You need to be ONLINE when you put Origin in OFFLINE mode, then you can run the game while offline but, you do need to be online to get Origin into Offline mode.

    True, I have to be online in order to put Origin in Offline Mode. If Origin is running and there's no Internet, I'm in Offline Mode like @crinrict said. If it isn't running, I can't sign in to Origin and start The Sims 4. Steam did not require me to be online to use Offline Mode.
    crinrict wrote: »
    I find that weird why it doesn't work for some.

    For me, if there's no connection, I'm automatically put in offline mode and can play that way. I do need to sign in but all offline.

    Seen reports from others where it is not working but I don't get why.

    After activating the game once, I have no troubles to be offline all the time (unless I want to update of course) - even if I need to re-enter the password.

    I logged in to Origin and disconnected my Ethernet cable and this happened.
    Origin ID: GothicSimmer, YouTube: GothicSimmer
  • crinrictcrinrict Posts: 18,771 Member
    I think the problem lies within Origin that you can't sign in when it's offline. That should not be happening.

    There's a Origin forum over at AnswerHQ. Maybe you could ask the Origin specialists there.
    Crinrict's Help Blogs -- Twitter
    Please do not send me PMs/post on my wall if you're looking for help. I can't attend to those. You can find me at AnswerHQ.
    How to report bugs at AnswersHQ
    AHQ Tutorial

  • WinMacSims3WinMacSims3 Posts: 1,610 Member
    I have finally made a thread at Answer HQ explaining the problems of Origin and no Internet.
    Origin ID: GothicSimmer, YouTube: GothicSimmer
  • MsPhyMsPhy Posts: 5,055 Member
    edited January 2015
    When I don't want to risk patching, I disconnect completely from the internet before starting Origin. Then I start origin. I have to log in (it will not do so automatically, as it does when I'm online), which starts up in Offline mode. Then I start Sims 4. No problems. I hope a solution is found for you; it's very mysterious to me.
Sign In or Register to comment.
Return to top