Game codes and numbers

In order to carry out manual patching ie via the direct download files you need to understand how EA has categorized the games and their versions for each patch level. You need to read this mostly once to understand the concept.

Patching via Launcher

Run the launcher. It will pick up the version automatically and you should be able to update it just fine. If the downloads cuts out before completing or you are not prompted to update, check if you had disabled Automatic Updates and also check your EADM aka Origin program's connection to the Internet and if necessary, uninstall & reinstall EADM.

Also ensure that your Firewall & AntiVirus application(s) do not block the EADM (aka Origin), Launcher programs to run or block access to the thesims3.com site .

If the process is halted or interrupted, check that you're running the latest version of EADM (aka Origin). See Common Errors for some suggestions to fix the most common error messages encountered. Or you can just choose to use the direct download method as outlined below.

Downloading an executable/archived file

Alternatively, if your computer playing Sims 3 does not have internet access, choose one of the following based on:

1. what Operating System (i.e. Windows or Mac) you're running,
2. what region/language your DVD is and
3. a choice between
   • incremental patches (small filesize) - need to know what your previous patch version is (these have "xxx-from-xxx" in their filename and contain changes from the last version indicated), or
   • SuperPatches (huge filesize) - can be from any previous patch or any region code (these have just the patch number in the filename and contain changes from the very first patch ie 1.1 (OS X) / 1.2 (PC)).

Downloading for Windows Systems

Remember : if you have CAW, this tool usually need to be uninstalled and reinstalled if the level number changes. Always use current patches, most mods/hacks work on the latest updates only

Current

Archived

Downloading for OS X

Current

EA have a lovely habit of removing the OS X patches once the next one is available, leaving OS X users with no way to roll back to an earlier version when they find out that the current one doesn't work as expected. So here's how to find and back up a patch once you've upgraded your game via the Launcher: How to back up a game patch under OS X.