The Sims 4 lag issue is one of the most prevalent issues in the game besides crashing. The fact that The Sims 4 has been with us since 2014 shows its enduring appeal. But while lag is certainly enduring, it is most definitely not appealing.
Anyone who has suffered from lag on The Sims 4 will be all too familiar with how it affects the game: there are issues such as simulation lag, where Sims freeze up and don't complete the interactions you've put in their queue. And there is client lag, where your FPS slows way down.
In either scenario, it can render the game virtually unplayable. The good news is that you don't need to suffer alone. Help is available. And we intend to provide it. Here's how you can address the lag in The Sims 4.
How To Fix Lag In The Sims 4
There are several measures available to you to try and reduce or remove lag from your gameplay experience. But before we get into those, we'd urge you to ensure that your computer meets the minimum system requirements for the game.
If you're attempting to play The Sims 4 on a computer that can't cope with those demands, then no amount of troubleshooting is going to fix your woes. Better yet if your computer exceeds the recommended specs:
MINIMUM SPECS:
- OS: 64 Bit Required. Windows 7 (SP1), Windows 8, Windows 8.1, or Windows 10
- CPU: 1.8 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, AMD Athlon 64 Dual-Core 4000+ or equivalent (For computers using built-in graphics chipsets, the game requires 2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2.0 GHz AMD Turion 64 X2 TL-62 or equivalent)
- RAM: At least 4 GB of RAM
- DISC DRIVE: DVD ROM Drive required for installation only
- HARD DRIVE: At least 15 GB of free space with at least 1 GB additional space for custom content and saved games
- VIDEO: 128 MB of Video RAM and support for Pixel Shader 3.0. Supported Video Cards: NVIDIA GeForce 6600 or better, ATI Radeon X1300 or better, Intel GMA X4500 or better
- DIRECTX: DirectX 9.0,10 and 11 Compatible
- INPUT: Keyboard and Mouse
- ONLINE REQUIREMENTS: Internet connection required for product activation.
RECOMMENDED SPECS:
- OS: 64 Bit Windows 7, 8, 8.1, or 10
- PROCESSOR: Intel core i5 or faster, AMD Athlon X4
- VIDEO CARD: NVIDIA GTX 650 or better
- MEMORY: 4 GB RAM
- HARD DRIVE: 18 GB of Hard Drive space
Assuming you've confirmed that your computer meets these demands, here are some other fixes you can try.
Read More: Is the Sims On Nintendo?
Check For Updates
We'll start with the obvious, but checking for any pending updates is a key part of troubleshooting issues such as lag.
The Sims 4 regularly delivers patches and other game updates, so if there is one pending, then download and install it as soon as you can.
But as well as checking for game updates, it's also important to check for any pending system updates for whatever device you are using. And if you are on PC, then check for any updates for your graphics drivers as well.
If you use AMD, go here. For NVIDIA, go here. And for Intel, it's here.
Verify The Integrity Of The Game Files
Another fix specifically for PC gamers, but verifying the integrity of your game files checks for any damaged or corrupted files, and repairs them. And it's simple to do, whether you are using Steam or Origin to play The Sims 4.
On Steam:
- Restart your computer and launch Steam
- Next, you can either right-click the game in your Library, or click the gear icon from the game's Library page on the far right
- From the drop-down menu, select Properties...
- Select the Local Files tab and click the Verify integrity of game files... button
- Wait for the process to complete - it usually takes several minutes.
On Origin:
- Select My Game Library in Origin.
- Right-click on the game tile.
- Select Repair Game.
Get comfortable, because the file check can take up to an hour to complete depending on your computer's hardware.
Close Background Applications
A common cause of lag is when there are too many applications competing for resources. So it makes sense to try to shut down as many other processes as you can, before you start playing. To do this:
- Right-click on an empty part of your taskbar and select Task Manager.
- Identify any resource-intensive applications that you won't need. Right-click on them and select End Task.
If you aren't sure what they are, then it's advisable to leave them alone. They could be system critical. But obvious ones would be for software programs such as your search engine, or office-type applications.
Change Graphics Settings
If you are running everything on its maximum settings, this could be putting a strain on your computer. Especially if your computer only just meets the minimum system requirements we outlined earlier.
One way to reduce lag is by reducing the load on your system, and adjusting your graphics settings is an easy way to do this:
- Open the game, and click on the three dots in the top-right corner to open the menu.
- Click on Game Options.
- Go to Graphics. Change the display type to Windowed.
- You can also change Graphics Quality to Medium or Low.
- Click on Apply Changes.
If you've got this far and you're still having trouble, then we'd suggest contacting the Support Team at EA, for further help and advice.
What Causes The Sims 4 Lag Problem?
There are myriad reasons for lag on The Sims 4. But they do tend to boil down to either hardware issues, or software issues.
So work your way through our suggested fixes, and hopefully, you'll find that they make a significant difference to lag, and improve your gameplay experience as a result.