How to Delete Sims 4: A Complete Guide for Every Platform

The Sims 4 is one of the most popular life simulation games ever made, but there are plenty of valid reasons to remove it — freeing up storage space, troubleshooting a broken installation, or simply moving on. The process isn't always as straightforward as dragging an app to the trash, though. Depending on where you got the game, what platform you're on, and what you actually want to delete, the steps differ meaningfully.

Why Deleting Sims 4 Is More Complicated Than It Looks

The Sims 4 doesn't live in just one place on your system. A typical installation spreads files across multiple folders:

• The game files themselves (installed via EA App, Steam, or the Mac App Store)
• Save data, which is stored separately in your user documents folder
• Mods and custom content (CC), usually stored in a dedicated Mods subfolder
• Cache files and temporary data that accumulate over time

If you only uninstall the game through a launcher, the save files and mods usually stay behind. That's intentional — so you don't lose your saved families if you reinstall — but it also means a true clean removal requires a few extra steps.

How to Uninstall Sims 4 on PC (Windows)

Through the EA App

The EA App is the current default launcher for Sims 4 on Windows.

1. Open the EA App
2. Go to My Collection
3. Find The Sims 4, click the three-dot menu icon
4. Select Uninstall

This removes the core game files but leaves your saves and mods intact.

Through Steam

If you purchased or play through Steam:

1. Open Steam and go to your Library
2. Right-click The Sims 4
3. Select Manage → Uninstall
4. Confirm the uninstall

Again, this only removes the game installation — not your personal data.

Removing Leftover Files on Windows

After uninstalling, leftover files typically live here:

• Save files and mods:DocumentsElectronic ArtsThe Sims 4
• EA App cache:%AppData%EA or %LocalAppData%EA

You can navigate to these folders using File Explorer or by pasting the paths into the Windows Run dialog (Win + R). Delete these folders manually if you want a complete wipe. ⚠️ Back up your saves first if there's any chance you'll want them later.

How to Uninstall Sims 4 on Mac

Through the EA App (Mac)

1. Open the EA App
2. Navigate to your game library
3. Select The Sims 4 and choose Uninstall

Manual Removal on Mac

Mac installations scatter files across several locations:

• Game install folder: Usually in /Applications/ or an EA-specified directory
• Save files and mods:~/Documents/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/
• App support data:~/Library/Application Support/EA/
• Caches:~/Library/Caches/

To access the Library folder on Mac, hold Option and click Go in the Finder menu bar — it's hidden by default. Delete the relevant EA folders if you want to clear everything completely.

How to Delete Sims 4 on Console (PlayStation & Xbox)

Console uninstalls are more straightforward because mods and custom content aren't part of the equation.

PlayStation 4 / PlayStation 5

1. Go to your Game Library or home screen
2. Highlight The Sims 4
3. Press Options on your controller
4. Select Delete (PS4) or Delete Game (PS5)

Note: On PS5, you may be prompted to keep or delete save data separately.

Xbox One / Xbox Series X|S

1. Press the Xbox button and go to My Games & Apps
2. Highlight The Sims 4
3. Press Menu (the three-line button)
4. Select Uninstall

Cloud saves through Xbox may persist even after uninstalling, which is worth keeping in mind if storage is your goal.

What Happens to Packs, DLC, and Your EA Account

Uninstalling The Sims 4 does not remove your ownership of expansion packs, game packs, or stuff packs. Those are tied to your EA account, not the local installation. If you reinstall the game later, your purchased content will still be available to download.

The same applies to the base game — The Sims 4 went free-to-play in 2022, so reinstalling costs nothing.

The Difference Between Partial and Full Removal 🗂️

Understanding what you actually want to remove shapes how far you need to go:

• Freeing up space quickly: Uninstall through the launcher. Fast, reversible, saves intact.
• Fixing a broken or corrupted install: Uninstall, manually delete leftover folders, then reinstall fresh. This is the standard troubleshooting approach.
• Removing mods and CC only: You don't need to uninstall the game at all — just delete the contents of the Mods folder inside the Sims 4 documents directory.
• Complete wipe with no trace: Uninstall through the launcher, then manually delete all associated folders across your system.

Variables That Affect Your Process

A few factors determine exactly which steps apply to you:

• Where you bought the game (EA App, Steam, or console store) determines which launcher you use
• Your operating system affects where files are stored and how to access hidden directories
• Whether you have mods or custom content adds steps if you want them gone
• Whether cloud saves are enabled affects whether your game data persists after local deletion

The scale of a Sims 4 installation varies too. A base-game-only install is relatively compact, but a fully-loaded setup with multiple expansion packs and years of CC can occupy considerably more space — and more scattered folders across your system.

How thorough you need to be with the cleanup depends on your reason for removing the game in the first place.