How to Resolve Save Game Error 12 in The Sims 3
If you’ve ever played The Sims 3 for hours, poured your soul into building a dream home, and just when you try to save the game—BAM!—you get an error called Error Code 12, you’re not alone. It’s one of the most frustrating things that can happen to a simmer. But don’t worry. In this fun and simple guide, we’ll break down what Error Code 12 means, why it happens, and the best ways to fix it, so you can get back to watching Sims set their kitchens on fire.
What Is Save Game Error 12?
Error 12 happens when you try to save your game but the game says, “Nope!” It prevents your progress from being saved and usually pops up with a scary message like: “A serious error has occurred while saving.”
This isn’t because your Sims are cursed. It’s usually because the game has run out of memory. The Sims 3 is an older game, and it doesn’t always play well with modern computers, especially after hours of gameplay or when lots of custom content is involved.
Why Does Error 12 Happen?
The main reason is memory. Even if your computer has a fancy 16GB of RAM, The Sims 3 can only use about 2–3GB of it because of how it’s programmed. If your game loads too much stuff—like big worlds, lots of Sims, or custom content (CC)—your game can get overwhelmed.
Here are a few other culprits:
- Big households and long gameplay sessions
- Too much custom content
- Mods that conflict or use too many resources
- Lack of free space on your hard drive
How Can We Fix It?
Let’s break it down step by step. This isn’t just technical jargon—we’ll keep it light and easy. Think of these steps like a spa day for your game.
1. Save With a New Name
When you see Error 12, the first thing to do is NOT panic. Don’t overwrite your old save. Instead, try this:
- Open the Sims 3 menu.
- Click “Save As…” instead of “Save.”
- Give your save a NEW name, like FamilyName1 or SafeSave.
This sometimes tricks the game into saving properly. If it still fails, move to the next step.
2. Restart the Game
This is like a nap for your game. Close everything and restart:
- Save your game screenshots or notes if needed.
- Exit the game completely.
- Open it again and load your last working save.
Try saving again after just a few minutes of gameplay to test it.
3. Make Sure You Have Enough Memory
Let’s talk RAM. The Sims 3 only uses a small portion of it, but it still helps to reduce extra load.
- Close background apps (Chrome, Spotify, Discord, etc.).
- Use Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) to shut them down.
- Keep your desktop clean to reduce clutter for memory management.
Less running stuff = more room for Sims.
4. Install NRaas Saver and ErrorTrap Mods
These mods are like tiny game guardians. They fix a ton of things behind the scenes.
NRaas Saver: Reminds you to save and reduces error chances.
NRaas ErrorTrap: Cleans up errors as your game plays.
You can download them from the official NRaas website. Install them in your Mods/Packages folder and relaunch the game.
These mods are lifesavers—it’s almost magic.
5. Clean Up Your Save File
Sometimes your save gets bloated, like a Sim who’s had too many cupcakes.
Use “Save As” every few days and delete old saves you don’t use anymore. In your The Sims 3/Saves folder, remove:
- Backup files you don’t need
- Corrupt saves (the ones you know have problems)
Bonus Tip: Rename your Autosave and treat it as a backup.
6. Switch to Windowed Mode
Full-screen mode can cause memory issues sometimes. Try windowed mode for less strain on your system:
- Go to Game Options
- Select Display
- Tick “Run in Windowed Mode”
It may help free up memory and reduce errors.
7. Don’t Go CC Crazy
We love custom content. Hair, clothes, furniture, unicorns on roller skates… it’s all great!
But using too much can crash your game. Be selective and clean out CC you don’t use anymore.
Use tools like Sims 3 Dashboard Tool to find corrupted or conflicting content. Less CC = less sadness.
8. Keep Your Game Updated
Make sure you’ve got the latest game patch. Older versions of the game are more prone to this error. You can update your game through Origin or the game launcher.
Also, update mods! An old mod can ruin a perfectly good save.
Extra Pro Tips
Feeling pro? Here are some bonus steps to supercharge your save game stability:
- Add more RAM (if you have a 64-bit OS). It helps even if Sims 3 doesn’t fully use it.
- Install the 4GB Patch mod for Sims 3. It lets the game use up to 4GB of memory instead of being stuck with less.
- Defragment your hard drive if you’re still using HDD (not SSD).
What If Nothing Works?
If you’ve tried everything and Error 12 is still haunting you, here’s what you can do:
- Go to your Sims 3/Saves folder
- Look for yourgame.sims3.backup
- Rename it to remove “.backup” at the end
- Try loading it in-game
This should give you the last automatically saved version before things went wrong. It might not be perfect, but it’ll save the day.
How to Prevent Error 12 in the Future
Once you’ve had Error 12, you want to avoid it forever. Believe me!
Here’s your anti-error checklist:
- Save often using “Save As”
- Restart the game every few hours
- Use NRaas mods
- Clean up custom content regularly
- Keep only a few saves at a time
One Last Tip!
Celebrate each save that works! It means your little Sim family gets to continue cooking, woohooing, and accidentally flooding the bathroom another day.
So, the next time Error 12 tries to crash your party, just smile and say: “Nice try, but I’ve read the guide.” Now go out there and make your Sim’s life amazing—with fewer crashes!