OneDrive File Issues

How to Stop Random Sims 3 and Sims 4 Images Appearing in OneDrive

Guest Writer Sep 28, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to identify the source of thousands of unwanted Sims 3 and Sims 4 game assets appearing in OneDrive and wants to remove them without disabling their game backups.

How to Stop Random Sims 3 and Sims 4 Images Appearing in OneDrive

Product: OneDrive
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Managing OneDrive cloud storage space and troubleshooting unwanted game file synchronization.
Observed behavior: Thousands of Sims characters, clothing, furniture, and lot images are automatically syncing to OneDrive, cluttering storage despite not being user-created screenshots or saved games.

Before you start

Ensure your OneDrive client is actively running and fully synced before you begin deleting files to avoid synchronization conflicts.

Solution 1Recommended

Locate and Delete Game Cache Folders in OneDrive

Identify the specific Sims 4 generated-content folders syncing to OneDrive and remove them to free up cloud storage space safely.

These images are typically generated by the game to load thumbnails faster and are stored in specific cache folders rather than your standard screenshots or saved-games directories.

Navigate to the Sims 4 directory

Open File Explorer and go to Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 4 on your local drive.

Identify the cache folders

Look for the folders named 'Pictures', 'Cache', 'Cachestr', and 'Custom Content', as these are the main sources of generated game images.

Delete the synced files in OneDrive

Open your OneDrive folder from the system tray, navigate to the mirrored Electronic Arts folder, and delete the unwanted image files located in the cache directories.

Empty the OneDrive Recycle Bin

Go to the OneDrive website, log into your Microsoft account, open the Recycle Bin from the left sidebar, and click 'Empty recycle bin' to permanently free up your storage.

Locate and Delete Game Cache Folders in OneDrive

Do Not Disable Full Backup: Do not completely disable your Sims 4 folder backup in OneDrive unless these cache files are stored in a protected directory you cannot selectively unsync.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does The Sims 4 generate so many images in my Documents folder?

The game automatically creates thumbnail images for custom content, downloaded gallery lots, and character models. These cache files help the game load faster without having to render the assets every time you open the game.

Will deleting these cache files break my Sims 4 saved games?

No. Deleting files from the Cache, Cachestr, or thumb-cache folders is perfectly safe. The game will simply regenerate any necessary thumbnails the next time you launch it, although initial loading might take slightly longer.

How can I prevent OneDrive from syncing game cache folders in the future?

You can manage folder backups in your OneDrive settings. Right-click the OneDrive icon in your system tray, go to Settings > Sync and backup > Manage backup, and toggle off the Documents folder. Keep in mind this will stop cloud backups for all files within the Documents directory.

Document & File Issues