How to Legally Obtain The Sims 4 + All DLC without Torrenting (Idiot-Proof)

So, I just realized I had put together this doc for some friends and I hadn't shared it with anyone else! I think a lot of others here enjoy the Sims and would appreciate this tutorial if y'all aren't already hip, so here you go. Note that this is for WINDOWS OS ONLY; I might be compelled to make a guide for Linux and/or Mac if enough folks ask. With that said, let's get started!

First thing’s first, you need to have either WinRAR or 7zip installed. I recommend 7zip, but if you are more comfortable with WinRAR, use that.

Download Links:

7zip x64 download

WinRAR x64 download (ignore the buy button, just download it)

You’re going to want to download the free Sims 4 base game from the EA App. I have seen people get it to work with the Steam version, but in my experience, it has resulted in nothing but extra headaches. In this guide, I will assume you have downloaded the game through the EA app.

Once downloaded, locate your legal file. The path should look like this:

C:\Program Files\EA Games\The Sims 4

Keep this file location in mind.

This method has two primary steps: Downloading and running a DLC Unlocker, then direct downloading all DLC manually. The Unlocker is going to gaslight your copy of TS4 into believing that you own all the DLC, but it does not do more than that. That is why we have to direct download all DLC afterwards.

Also worth noting, before we really begin: This method ensures that your game does not register as a cracked version. Meaning you will still be able to update through the EA App, and will still have access to the gallery. It will also play nice with mods. Best of all, you will not get a scary email from your ISP. Yippee!

Download the Anadius Updater.

Extract with Winrar/7zip.
Run the Updater by clicking Sims-4-Updater.
Browse to your legal folder (don’t open it, just select it).
The Updater will show you the missing DLCs.
Select the DLCs.
When prompted about your legal folder, click Yes.
Click Update.

Do not use any other system to update, as they will overwrite your Legal Game folder and you will lose access to the Gallery, thus rendering your copy of The Sims 4 as cracked.

Download the EA DLC Unlocker v2.

Extract with Winrar/7zip.
Right click on Setup and run it.
As this is a small .bat file, you can’t use the mouse.
Type 1 and hit enter.
Type 2 and hit enter.
Type 19 for the Sims 4 (this can change in newer versions, so check the number for the Sims 4).
Type Q to exit.

Upon opening The Sims 4, you should see that all of your DLCs are unlocked. However, when hovered over, they will say “Download to Use”. This is where we have to download the DLC ourselves. Things may become a bit confusing here, so read carefully.

Click this link. This will take you to an encrypted Google Drive folder containing all current Sims 4 DLC. There will also be a pop-up explaining the steps you need to follow to access the server, so I will not retype that all here. It is fairly straightforward. I will reiterate, though:

USE A DUMMY ACCOUNT!! DO NOT USE YOUR MAIN GMAIL ACCOUNT, OR ANY ACCOUNT YOU CARE EVEN MODERATELY ABOUT!!

This server is not harmful in any way. HOWEVER!! It still has full access to the Google account you use to access the server for ONE HOUR, the lifespan of the token granting you access. The default decryption server code doesn't store anything, but all it takes is one malicious person with a modified decryption server to wipe out your Google Drive or worse, steal your data.

Once you have accessed the encrypted folder, simply select the DLC you’d like to use and click Copy. This will copy the file to your Google Drive. Note that all available DLCs are ~34 gigs of data in total, so with a free Google Drive account, you will have to do this in segments.

After copying the files you’d like to use, click Download. This will redirect you to a Google Drive file, click Download there as well. Ignore the prompt about Google’s virus scan; The files are not malicious, they are simply too large for Google to scan.

While your shiny new DLC is downloading, navigate back to your Sims 4 folder ( C:\Program Files\EA Games\The Sims 4). Create a new folder here, name it dlc. Once your DLC finishes downloading, you are going to use Winrar or 7zip to extract it to the dlc folder you created.

Open your game, check that your game registers your DLC as having been installed. If it does not, run the updater again.

Your copy of Sims 4, being a legit copy, will update as normally scheduled. When this happens, your game may stop realizing that you "own" all of the DLC, but don't worry! All you need to do is run the Unlocker, then the Updater again just as you did the first time. Everything should run smoothly from there.

Congratulations! You are now the proud owner of definitely completely legal Sims 4 DLC! Enjoy.

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