To "exit" Sims 4 without actually quitting the game means to minimize it to your desktop or taskbar, allowing you to pause your gameplay and access other applications while keeping your game session active in the background. This is a common and efficient practice for many PC gamers, preserving your game state and allowing for a quick return.
Minimizing Sims 4 on Windows
The most straightforward and frequently used method to suspend your Sims 4 gameplay session without fully closing the application involves a simple keyboard shortcut.
Steps to Temporarily Leave Your Game
To quickly move from your active Sims 4 session to your desktop and access other applications, follow these simple steps:
- Press the Windows Key: While Sims 4 is running, simply press the
Windows key
(often found between the Ctrl and Alt keys) on your keyboard. - Access Desktop: The game window will immediately minimize, taking you back to your Windows desktop. You can now use other programs, browse the internet, or handle other tasks.
- Return to Game: To seamlessly return to your Sims 4 session exactly where you left off, locate The Sims 4 icon on your taskbar and click it. The game window will reappear, allowing you to resume playing without any loading screens or loss of progress.
Quick Guide: Suspending Sims 4 Gameplay
Action | Key Press | Outcome |
---|---|---|
Minimize Game | Windows key |
Sims 4 window hides, desktop becomes active. Game continues to run in background. |
Resume Game Session | Click taskbar icon | Sims 4 window restores, gameplay resumes instantly. |
This method ensures that your game remains open and ready to play, saving you from the time-consuming process of fully quitting and then reloading the game from scratch. It's particularly useful when you need to quickly check something online, respond to a message, or switch to another application for a short period without interrupting your Sims' lives.
For more information on general Windows keyboard shortcuts, you can refer to Microsoft's official guide on keyboard shortcuts.