You can play Sims 4 on a MacBook, and it won’t ruin your Mac. Previous versions of Sims were only available for PC, but there have been Mac versions available for the last few years. The Mac version is only available as a digital release.
This post will explore if you can play Sims 4 on a MacBook. I’ll explain how this is possible and why it won’t ruin your Mac. I’ll also provide some other relevant information to help you get good gameplay on a MacBook.
Let’s dive in.
Contents
Key Takeaways
- You can play Sims 4 on a MacBook without any issues, and doing so poses no risk of ruining your Mac.
- Previous versions of Sims were only available for PC, so there were workarounds to get it to run on a Mac that could cause issues.
- The Mac version of Sims 4 is available as a digital release only, but you can also redeem a download code if you purchased the physical version and want to run it on your MacBook.
Can You Play Sims 4 on a MacBook?
You can play Sims 4 on a MacBook, as this version of the game has an official macOS version. This is different from previous versions of the game that were only available for PC. You don’t need to worry about this game ruining your Mac.
This question comes up a lot from people who used workaround methods to install previous versions of Sims on a Mac. There were no official versions for Mac until the Sims 4 option became available.
Some of these workaround methods could cause performance and other issues with a MacBook or other types of Mac, so there are still some people out there who believe this might be an issue when they want to play the game.
But as long as you download the official macOS version of Sims 4, you shouldn’t run into any issues, and downloading and playing the game won’t lead to any problems on your computer.
You still want to ensure that you have enough storage space and RAM to get optimal performance, which could be an issue if you are running a very old MacBook. But these will be issues related to gameplay and aren’t bad for your computer.
How Do I Get Sims 4 on My MacBook?
If you haven’t played Sims 4 yet or just bought a new MacBook and want access to the game, the process is easy. You basically just need to download the macOS version of the game and install it on your computer.
You need to install Origin from EA games onto your Mac to get started. This is the official game provider, and Origin is the app that allows you to play any of the games that EA offers on your Mac.
If you already have a Sims 4 account from playing the game on a PC, you need to log in with that account information next. If you don’t have an account, you can create one and then purchase the game to start.
Then you should look for Sims 4 from the game library if you already downloaded it on a PC or download it for the first time using the new login information you just created.
Depending on your internet connection, the game might take a little while to download. But once it is finished, just locate the Sims 4 from your Origin library and play it anytime you want to now or down the road.
You can check out some other tips for transferring game files from a PC to a Mac and additional related information from EA here.
Is a MacBook Good for The Sims 4?
A MacBook is a good option for playing The Sims 4. This is a very capable laptop computer with all the specs you need to run this game or any other well. You shouldn’t run into any issues if you want to play Sims 4 on your MacBook.
But if you have an older MacBook that doesn’t have as good performance specs as newer models, you could potentially run into some gameplay issues. This is related to graphics and operating memory and is typical of any older machine.
Depending on what year or model of MacBook you have, you could experience better or worse performance playing Sims 4 than on other versions. But as long as you have a fairly new MacBook, there isn’t much to worry about.
If you have a MacBook that is five years old or more, there is a chance that you won’t be able to update the laptop to the most current macOS. Apple doesn’t provide updates to older machines, and this can be annoying, but it’s common.
Can You Play Sims 4 on MacBook Air?
You can play Sims 4 on a MacBook Air. The same advice applies, as I just mentioned in the section above. If you have a newer MacBook Air, you should have solid gameplay experience and shouldn’t run into any issues.
If you have an older MacBook Air, then you might run into issues with performance or face the situation of not being able to update the laptop to the latest macOS. But most MacBook Airs won’t have any issues relating to playing Sims 4.
How to Download Sims 4 on MacBook Air
The process for downloading Sims 4 on a MacBook Air is the same as for other Macs. You just need to download the digital version of the game and get an Origin account with EA games.
Follow the instructions in the section above on how to get Sims 4 on a MacBook for more detailed guidance.
What Macs Can Run Sims 4?
To give you a better idea of what Macs can reliably run Sims 4 without experiencing any performance issues, let’s take a look at the technical specs from EA. These are the recommended system requirements from the maker of the game.
First off, Sims 4 is no longer supported on macOS Lion. If you are running the game on this operating system, you should not download an update to the game. Doing so will lead to incompatibility with that macOS.
The minimum requirements for running Sims 4 on Mac are:
- macOS X for the operating system
- Intel Core I3 -3225 3.5Ghz (2 cores, 4 threads) or better
- At least 4GB RAM
- At least 25GB of free space on the hard drive
- An Intel HD 400 or better graphics card
- 256 MB or better for video RAM
The recommended system requirements for optimal gameplay are:
- macOS X 10.11 or later
- Intel Core i5 (4 cores) or better for the processor
- At least 50GB of free hard drive space and another 1GB for custom content and saved games
- Intel HD and Iris Graphics (HD 4000 series or newer)
You can find out more details about the system requirements here.
How to Choose a Good Laptop for Sims 4
There are a few factors to consider before purchasing a Sims 4 laptop.
Graphics Card
Any laptop running Sims 4 needs a good graphics card. It helps the game run smoother and cuts down on lag. Typically, the Sims 4 game can run on any modern GPU, but you have to be aware of your laptop’s performance level.
To play the base game, you’ll need to have a Core i3 with an Intel HD 620 and 1366×768. You can also use a system with a Core i7 with Intel HD 520. However, we recommend you go for a system with a dedicated graphics card. NVIDIA-based laptops are the best for that end.
CPU
You also want a laptop with a lot of processors and cores. It is to choose systems that come with HQ label (quad cores) over those that have the U label. The Sims 4 will crash more often with dual-core laptops. For that reason, go with the quad-core system.
Storage
The Sims 4 game requires up to 10GB space to run effectively. Plus, adding CCs, mods, and expansion packs will quickly take up a small hard drive. A lot of memory is important to avoid lag or spikes.
If you’re going to play the Sims 4 alone, then using a 256GB is fine. However, if you plan to run other high-end games, you should consider getting a 512GB storage hard drive.
We also recommend you get a laptop that comes with an SSD hard drive as opposed to the regular HDD drive. If you have a lot of mods or expansion packs you plan to install, it is wise to get an SSD hard drive because they load faster than HDD hard drive.
Using an SSD will make a big difference when you play the game as the images and videos will load at a faster rate.
RAM
To run the Sims 4 effectively, you need to have at least 4G RAM for the base game. That then quickly goes up as you add expansion packs, saved games, and other content.
For that reason, we suggest a laptop with 8GB RAM. If your system is upgradeable, you can add an extra 4GB to your existing 4GB RAM laptop.
Final Thoughts
A MacBook will allow you to play Sims 4 without running into issues most of the time. As long as your MacBook meets the minimum system requirements to run Sims 4, you shouldn’t experience any problems with gameplay.
Have you played Sims 4 on a MacBook or MacBook Air? Did you run into any issues? Let me know in the comments below.
