Suggestion, Don't Buy the Sims from Steam.

[jaclynb731]

I've tried almost everything to retrieve my serial key/code for The Sims 3 and no platform will help me to retrieve the code or refund me. I've seen all the forums, reached out to EA, installed Origin and I can't find any tutorial to simply add my Steam game to Origin. I will never buy from Steam again. If you are going to purchase any Sim game, rethink buying it from Steam.

[Hennix]

poor valve will go bankrupt because of you

[( ( < < <🤖> > > ) )]

if you purchased it from steam and it doesnt work you can get a refund...

[Haruspex]

Go to the game in your list, right click, select "manage" then "CD Keys". A list of all keys will come up for the game and each DLC you have.

[HiFive]

Originally posted by 8bitbeard:

Go to the game in your list, right click, select "manage" then "CD Keys". A list of all keys will come up for the game and each DLC you have.

No, not ALL of them. For a while now, Steam and EA have been hiding the CD keys for the base game and for Pets. People were reselling the keys, so they started hiding them. The advice we've been giving people is to contact EA support and give proof that you own the game, and explain why you need the key and they will give you the key(s). It seems this may not be working anymore, since a few people are now saying that EA won't give them the key. Perhaps there is some new staffer at EA who doesn't know what they are doing when responding to these requests. I recommend putting up a bigger fuss with EA.

[hal2003]

You can try luck with searrching registers for TestApp47890 if you will be lucky you will get your sims3 key for Origin.

[cruinne]

Holy cow, there it is.

So the instructions for those who didn't grok that:

1. Press the Windows key and type: regedit
   
2. Run the "Registry Editor" program it finds.
   
3. Hit: control + f
   
4. Type in: TestApp47890
   
5. There should be a line it finds reading "SteamKey" - the Data value for that will be your key.

I tested this and the key matches the registry key I'd written down for my game several years ago.

Many thanks for sharing this, hal2003!

[HiFive]

I forgot to mention that some people have reported that they can get Origin to download an Origin copy of the game by registering one of the other Sims 3 products with Origin. So, if you bought Seasons, for instance, you should be able to find the CD key for that. Make an Origin account and then register the CD key for Seasons on the Origin site and it should download a copy of the base game for you. This has worked for others.