Missing Sims and/or User Interface

There isn't much known for a fix or workaround, though it does seem to plague many players. While many are affected by World Adventures and Sims going to or returning from vacation, it has also affected those without World Adventures, making it extremely difficult to pinpoint the cause.

How You can Help

We have posted a Sticky for this issue to collect information, you can find it at the top of the Help Forum. If you have or have had issues with Missing Sims and/or the User Interface, we welcome you to post your details in the thread.

How to Avoid Issues

While a fix or workaround are still being sought, there are some things you can do to help prevent the issue from occurring in the first place:

Make sure your system meets the Minimum Requirements as well as the slightly higher recommendations from MTS
Make sure your Graphic and Audio Drivers are up to date, DirectX is up to date, and close all unnecessary programs running in the background (some even disconnect from the internet)
Run the game from admin user account or with admin privileges, doing so helps eliminate many user related issues.
Those that tend to stick with one family (don't switch active households) tend to have less issues and problems.
Do NOT use EA Story Progression especially if you have World Adventures. EA Story Progression is the default when you install your game. Even if you uncheck the box to disable it, it may still be running and corrupting your game. Try NRaas Story Progression, or AwesomeStory
If you find Sim(s) missing during gameplay, "Quit Without Saving" Yes, you will lose progress, but the alternative is losing the game entirely.
If you have World Adventures and plan on sending your sims on vacation, make extra backups of the save using "Save As" to save the game. Save often, and rename each appropriately so you know which is which. Doing so can minimize loss, if you experience game issues, computer crash, power outages, etc. Save the game before going on vacation, during vacation, and just before returning, etc. This will help you tremendously, should the Traveling Glitch make your sims or user interface corrupt or invisible.
by default, the game allows teens, young adults, adults, and elders to travel to Vacation worlds. In contrast, children are permitted to return to the home world as well as the other age groups. Neither of which allow babies or toddlers to travel. While this may be changed in a tuning file, doing so may cause your game to have issues.
Also note at what day of their life cycle each sim is on, before traveling. There were several reports of sims showing up with an incorrect age appearance, even though they were in the correct age cycle.

Already Have the Issue?

As noted earlier, there isn't much in the way of fixes or workarounds once the issues occur and especially if you save the game once the issue has occurred. You can try the steps below to see if it solves your issue, but there are no guarantees. It should also be noted, there are various reasons for sims to become invisible and or the user interface to become corrupt and each is treated differently. Some can be solved, others can't.

You made sure you had not accidentally pressed the TAB key or F10 key to hide the User Interface
Try using Twallan's mods available @NRaas Industries
- Debug Enabler mod: it has the option to fix invisible sims,
- Error Trap mod: other users have reported this has helped them, and
- Overwatch mod: proven effective with removing items during gameplay which can cause lag and other issues.
Try removing All Custom Content Remove Sims3 Custom CC Wizard
Refresh/Delete the Cache Files especially when you add or remove custom content.
If possible, try using the cheat: resetsim (first name) (last name)
If possible, save the current family to the library. Evict and delete the existing family, then place the saved family in the same house. Choose them as your default family in live mode. NOTE: doing this may allow you to play the family, but outside relationships, dreams and wishes, careers, etc will be lost.
At the first sign of an invisible sim/missing sim or missing UI Panel, quit the game without saving. Then follow the Restoring Backup Saves Guide and attempt to load the backup save to see if you can continue with the backup. This, also, may not work as the backup may also be corrupted.
Uninstall and Reinstall. Completely Uninstall the game, move or rename the User Files (Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3 folder). Once you have completely uninstalled and removed all traces of The Sims 3, then reinstall and patch your game. From a Guru on Sims 3 Forum "The reason uninstall/reinstall is often suggested, especially manual uninstall, is that with the wide variants of systems, hardware, mods/no mods, exchange content, store content, etc. It is possible that somewhere along the way a file was changed or modified in a way that was not intended. Doing a completely clean install updating directly from install to the newest versions, and playing a new game or a for sure 100% clean save are the best ways to be certain that there aren't any additional outside programs/changes effecting the game and causing errors to pop up. "

References

The following threads helped provide information for this article, you may find additional information in these threads that was not included or may have been added after this article was posted. As more information is learned, it will be added and the link provided.

MTS Help Threads

Links to Help Threads with Missing Sims or User Interface, various reasons:

Sims 3 Forum Threads

Posts/Threads from TheSims3.com Forums

Game Help:UI and Sim Issues

Contents

Missing Sims and/or User Interface

How You can Help

How to Avoid Issues

Already Have the Issue?

References

MTS Help Threads

Sims 3 Forum Threads

Personal tools

Namespaces

Variants

Views

Actions

Search

Navigation

game select

Toolbox