Can you play Sims 4 on Apple Mac?

First of all, make sure your Mac meets the minimum requirements:

• Minimum OS – macOS El Capitan (10.11) Metal compatible*
• CPU – Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4Ghz or better
• RAM – At least 4Gb RAM
• Hard Drive – At least 15Gb of free space with at least 1Gb additional space for custom content
• Video – NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT, ATI Radeon HD 2600 Pro or better. Video RAM (VRAM) of 256 MB or better
• Input – Keyboard and Mouse
• Online Requirements: Internet Connection required for product activation

However, these are the recommended requirements which are more relevant when you start adding in Expansion Packs, Stuff Packs and Game Packs:

• Minimum OS -macOS El Capitan (10.11) Metal compatible*
• CPU – Intel Core i5 or better
• RAM – 8Gb RAM
• Hard Drive – 18Gb Hard Drive space
• Video – NVIDIA GTX 650 or better
• Input – Keyboard and Mouse
• Online Requirements: Internet Connection required for product activation

*If your Mac is a 2011 or earlier model it is not Metal compatible. You will need to run the Legacy Edition of the game. YOU DO NOT NEED TO DOWNLOAD THE LEGACY EDITION IF YOUR MAC IS A 2012 MODEL OR LATER.

You should also read the specific system requirements for each pack before purchasing as some packs have higher requirements than others. I keep an up to date list of individual pack requirements here.

The only way to get The Sims 4 for Mac is to download it through Origin.  If you already have the PC version through Origin the Mac version will also be available to you at no extra cost. If you have bought the PC version on disc no problem, simply install Origin, enter your product code and the Mac version will be available to you to download (more detailed instructions can be found here).

Installing Origin and The Sims 4:

• Download and install Origin from here. If your Mac tells you it can’t install it because it’s from an unidentified developer follow these steps from Apple to bypass Gatekeeper.
• Open Origin and log in with your EA username and password. If you would like to keep any game installers that you download (so you don’t have to re-download them in the event of having to uninstall and reinstall your game), click on Origin > Preferences in the top menu bar then click on Installs & Saves in the Origin window. Make sure that Keep legacy game installers is turned on in the options. This is advisable because the game installer for The Sims 4 is nearly 9Gb, that’s a big download! You can also change the file path if you want to save it in a different location. 
  
  
• Next find The Sims 4, pay for it and download it. Please note that Origin Access is not available for Mac users, you must buy the game outright. The trial version is also for Windows users only. Once purchased it should automatically install itself, if not you can click the Install button. The game will now always be in your Games Library in Origin.
• If you have bought the PC disc version you can register the product code on your Origin account. Please follow the instructions here on how to do so.
  
• If you are running macOS 10.15 Catalina or later and are prompted to allow access for Origin and the Sims 4 during the installation process make sure you allow it. The game must have permission and access to certain folders to properly run and load your data, this includes your Documents folder.

Once installed you don’t need to open Origin every time you want to play the game. Just double click The Sims 4 icon in your Applications folder. Origin will automatically open to validate the game.

If you have been previously playing the game in Windows, and you want to move your saves over to your Mac installation, simply copy and paste the Windows Sims 4 Saves folder (Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 4 > saves) into the Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 4 folder on your Mac. Do the same with the Tray folder for all your Library items (houses, Sims etc.)