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How to disable The Sims 3 Launcher

By toobad

Why would you want to do this? Frankly, the launcher is horrible. It's always in the background and it can use up to 40% of your CPU.
Using this method all Steam features like overlay, screenshots etc will work and your hours of play will count.

Award

Created by

toobad
Offline

Category: Gameplay Basics, Modding or Configuration, Secrets

Languages: English

Posted

Updated

29 Mar, 2019 @ 8:06am

27 Sep, 2019 @ 8:51am

38,185	Unique Visitors
1,377	Current Favorites

Guide Index

Overview

Disabling The Sims 3 Launcher

Installing .Sim3Pack files

Using The Sims 3 Store

Comments

Disabling The Sims 3 Launcher

Your CPU usage may vary

0. You may skip this step
Go to "C:\Steam\steamapps\common\The Sims 3\Game\Bin"
and copy Sims3Launcher.exe and TS3.exe somewhere so you have a backup just in case.
1. Go to this folder "C:\Steam\steamapps\common\The Sims 3\Game\Bin"
look for Sims3Launcher.exe and give it any name you want (e.g.Sims3LauncherOld.exe).
You can launch it manually in the future if you want to (just open Sims3LauncherOld.exe).
2. Find TS3.exe in the same folder and call it Sims3Launcher.exe

That's it! Now Steam will skip the launcher.

Installing .Sim3Pack files

If you're using Sim3Pack files to install content like clothes, furniture etc you can do it this way:

1. Copy your .Sim3Pack file and paste it to
"C:\Users\(username)\Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Downloads".
2. Launch previously renamed launcher (e.g. Sims3LauncherOld.exe). Go to Downloads section.
3. Your package should show up now install it.

Using The Sims 3 Store

The Sims 3 Store also works

If you want to download items from the official store do the following:

1. Find your item on The Sims 3 web Store and press "Download" button.
2. Browser should ask what application to use. Instead of "Sims 3Launcher Starter Application" press "choose application" and find your Sims3LauncherOld.exe.
3. Log in and install items.

If this guide helped you don't forget to rate it. Cheers!

111 Comments

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N*rd 1 Aug @ 12:34am

any of you get endless closing loop from this ?

TaikaJamppa 1 Jul @ 3:39am

@toobad I wonder, does this trick work for Origin too? Or any other shop you could have bought TS3 from?

toobad [author] 30 Jun @ 10:45pm

@ItsMoon_Shadow, no just the launcher that steam uses.

ItsMoon_Shadow 30 Jun @ 6:42pm

Don't you also have to do this with the W ones if you want this to work with expansions? (TS3W.exe and Sims3LauncherW.exe)

starhorder 5 Jun @ 6:08pm

worked flawlessly for me!

TaikaJamppa 30 Mar @ 1:02am

@DAMNED, NOT DOOMED your method only works if you never shutdown your PC, the OP's method makes it permanent...

DAMNED, NOT DOOMED 25 Mar @ 2:46pm

I got you guys covered who don't want to do this:
minimize Sims 3
task manager
close the launcher
return to game
5 seconds, max
it'll even stay off the next time you start up Sims 3, as long as you didn't restart computer/switch users.

GorbleBorble 23 Mar @ 3:41pm

Doesn't work on my machine; PC

Xegethra 7 Mar @ 10:56am

@PROFILE NAME Yeah I do this as well. That way I can use downloads as normal. It's no hassle to kill it in task manager.

Aesina 18 Feb @ 12:36am

Not working, as soon as I change its name to the launcher's name, when I played it, Steam just updating and continue to use the Launcher. Am I missing something?

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