Bought Sims 3 on Steam but Can't Find CD Key

[GlintOnGlass]

Final Update: You CAN find the CD Keys after starting the installation process on a PC! However, there isn't any way to get them using a Mac; you MUST borrow someone's PC. After saving the game codes, you then go to thesims3 dot com and register them there in order to download them through Origin on your Mac. I love how Steam support said there's no way to do this! Good to know that this is still an option in late 2017.

Here's all the info:
- I'm on a Mac

- I bought Sims 3 from Steam but can't install the game because I'm on Mac

- I'm trying to get the CD Keys so I can register them online and then download the game through my Origin account

- I contacted Steam support and got a reply saying I didn't need the Keys if I'd be using it on Steam, which I don't intend to (I'm trying to install it on Origin). So far, basically useless.

- I know about right-clicking the game to find the Key, but it doesn't show it for me because I can't install the game

I know that this has been done before, but I'm having trouble doing this. Any help would be appreciated!

Update: Steam support said the following (but I'm still going to try to download it on PC to see if I can find the Code)

"While it is true the some Steam Games come with Legacy CD Keys when purchased, "The Sims 3" it not one of those games. If a CD Key is required to enable your game to be accessible through Origins, you won't be able to register the Steam Version of "The Sims 3", due to the fact that it does not come with a Legacy CD Key to register.You'll have to purchase the Origin's version of "The Sims 3" in order to access this product through Origins."

[シャドウ]

You should not of installed it using steam then, you should of used Origin. Also try this:

-go to your steam library.

-right click on Sims 3 found on your game list.

-scroll over the menu that appears.

-left click the thing saying CD Keys.

-Find the code for the game and type it into the origin launcher.

and that should be about it, though truthfully if you wanted it on origin you should of just bought it off that launcher instead of on steam. If this step by step did not help, welp then sorry, you will have to wait for another reply.

[Haeloth]

I believe you do not need to complete the installation progress to view the CD keys. You just need to be able to start the download progress, and then while it is still downloading, CD key menu should also appear. With this I believe you can find a temporary PC just to start the progress of installing the game, get the CD keys, and then cancel the installation afterwards.

Though I am not sure if this will work or not, I used to do this when I bought a new expansion on Steam . Back then my game was installed on Origin and I was able to get the CD keys on Steam with this method without completely redownloading it for Steam. (This worked about 1 year ago, not sure if it'll now but it is better than nothing I suppose)

And you can try again to contact the Steam support to hope for a more *understanding* person. Other than these I have no idea how you can do this. Wishing you the best and good luck :)

[Haeloth]

Found something different, I have the option to show CD keys available without installing that game. Check out the "CD Key" option on the right side of the game panel, under the "LINKS" section. The buttons location: https://i.imgur.com/0rYoWXX.png

I know it is a different game, but it still an EA one, it is not installed, and I believe this should be the same for all games. Though I use the Windows version of the Steam, it might be different for macOS

[GlintOnGlass]

引用自 Haeloth：

Found something different, I have the option to show CD keys available without installing that game. Check out the "CD Key" option on the right side of the game panel, under the "LINKS" section. The buttons location: https://i.imgur.com/0rYoWXX.png

I know it is a different game, but it still an EA one, it is not installed, and I believe this should be the same for all games. Though I use the Windows version of the Steam, it might be different for macOS

I looked but there's no option for CD Key under the links. I think it's just because the game is for another OS than the one I've installed it on. Thanks for trying!

[GlintOnGlass]

引用自 Haeloth：

I believe you do not need to complete the installation progress to view the CD keys. You just need to be able to start the download progress, and then while it is still downloading, CD key menu should also appear. With this I believe you can find a temporary PC just to start the progress of installing the game, get the CD keys, and then cancel the installation afterwards.

Though I am not sure if this will work or not, I used to do this when I bought a new expansion on Steam . Back then my game was installed on Origin and I was able to get the CD keys on Steam with this method without completely redownloading it for Steam. (This worked about 1 year ago, not sure if it'll now but it is better than nothing I suppose)

And you can try again to contact the Steam support to hope for a more *understanding* person. Other than these I have no idea how you can do this. Wishing you the best and good luck :)

Seems like I'm going to have to try it using someone else's PC. I was trying to avoid that and see if there was any way I could get it on my Mac. Hopefully, it will work! Thanks for your help. I'll update this thread after I try it so others know if it works in 2017.

[GlintOnGlass]

引用自 KuraiNekoMT13：

You should not of installed it using steam then, you should of used Origin. Also try this:

-go to your steam library.

-right click on Sims 3 found on your game list.

-scroll over the menu that appears.

-left click the thing saying CD Keys.

-Find the code for the game and type it into the origin launcher.

and that should be about it, though truthfully if you wanted it on origin you should of just bought it off that launcher instead of on steam. If this step by step did not help, welp then sorry, you will have to wait for another reply.

I installed it on Steam because Origin's prices are ridiculous. There was no other way I'd purchase this game unless it was on sale, hence Steam.

Also, this doesn't work. Tried it before and mentioned it in my description.

[Tratos]

It should be the same for The Sims 3 but here you go. https://pasteboard.co/GUSatAL.png

[chloe_the_villain]

One other note -- if you have a compatibility program (to run PC games on Mac) like Crossover, and you have Steam installed inside the program, then you will be able to see the CD keys when you view the game inside your compatibility-version of Steam.

[marstinson]

To clarify somewhat.

Steam's version of TS3 is Windows only; Mac version is Origin-only unless you can scrape up a physical media copy, which would still end up being Origin-only once patched.

Support is right that keys are not needed to play the game on Steam, but mistaken in claiming that there are none. Steam does not serve up the product keys until the game has been downloaded and installed once, though, which is kind of problematic when you're on a Mac.

My usual advice in these kinds of situations is to find a friend with a PC and decently high bandwidth who will let you download onto their machine in order to get the keys. Bribery with beverages or other goodies is not required, but would at least be courteous. You'll need to log in to Steam with your account, and you'd need to uninstall the game afterward. The keys will now show in your library on the Mac, so you can register them at thesims3.com or through the Origin client and grab the Mac version from there.

[igazor]

You do not need to install the game on a PC running Windows to get the key codes. You do have to access your library of purchases using Steam for Windows (so you might need to install that if the owner of the PC doesn't already have it) and then write them down or copy them somehow; Steam for Mac won't give them up.