[INFO] How to Use Mods and CC
Introduction
The Answers HQ Sims 4 Mod/CC Issues forum is here for your fellow Simmers to help you get playing again when, inevitably, a game update “breaks” some mods and CC. And even though Maxis...
Forum Discussion
Finding and Downloading Mods/CC
Index
- "What are some good mods?"
- Where Creators Are
- Safe Simming 1: What to Avoid:
- Safe Simming 2: Things to Check Before You Download
- Best Practices for Content Creators: Helping Us Trust You
“Where do I find mods?” and “What are some good mods?” are questions new Simmers often ask. Sims 4 does not have one dominant place mods are found, which makes the first question more complicated. Below, however, you’ll find lists of the most common common places creators post their mods and some places not to get mods (and why).
My tips for finding mods/CC to add to your game:
- Looking for a specific type of mod or CC? Post a WCIF (= “where can I find”) request! Be specific: Your idea of “that enhances gameplay” or “looks good” will be different from someone else’s.
- Search a mod-hosting site (such as Curseforge), sorting by date updated or date added. Why by date? To reduce the chance of ending up with broken mods.
- Use the Broken/Updated Mods list to find creators who are actively supporting their mods, then look at what those creators make.
- Check new articles on “best mods” and “best CC”. Don’t use old articles: They’re more likely to recommend content that’s no longer compatible with the game.
- Check what streamers are playing with. Don’t download the mods/CC from the streamers, though (more on why here).
- Check what’s being used in new Simblr (= Sims-related accounts on Tumblr) gameplay posts. Don’t rely on old posts.
These are some common places Sims 4 creators post their own mods/CC:
- Curseforge – Hosting Sims 4 content from many creators, as an EA partner. CF started hosting Sims content only in 2022, so you’ll find fewer outdated mods here than in older site. They can be downloaded individually or using the Curseforge mod manager. A portion of the ad income goes to creators.
- Patreon – Both CC and mod creators use Patreon; some will offer support on Patreon as well, while others use a Discord server for support. Maxis does not support the requirement that you be a patron in order to download content but does permit limited early access and donations, which many creators use Patreon for.
- Tumblr – Lots of CC creators here, but not all are actively supporting their content; check for recency and comments.
- their own website – Many creators have built their own websites for download hosting and/or instructions.
- Mod the Sims (MTS) – This is a longtime site and hosts mods for older Sims games as well. Be cautious using it, as many, many old mods on it are broken and their creators no longer active. NOTE: Mods hosted only on MTS are not currently covered in Broken/Updated news.
- itchio and Nexus – Only a few Sims 4 creators use these sites – especially Nexus – but if you find a Sims creator on these, you’ve not ended up somewhere weird.
Discord is used by many creators who host mods elsewhere for support, announcements, and community building.
X Folders of Mods/CC Collected by Players
This might seem like a really convenient way to get mods/CC, but it’s also a really convenient way to not know what you’re actually downloading, and a really convenient way to end up with broken mods and duplicates. Download your mods from their original creators.
X Third Parties (rehosting sites, YouTubers, streamers)
Sites that rehost mods are typically doing it to make money off of you. You never need to pay for a Sims 4 mod. Maxis policy allows creators to offer early access for a cost or to accept your donations. Rehosting sites often set themselves up to require money or extensive advertising click-throughs in order to download content you can get for free elsewhere, and it still might actually be outdated, broken content.
YouTubers and streamers will sometimes repost files of CC or mods they’re using. This increases the chance that you’ll end up with outdated/broken content. Instead, find the creators’ own posts.
X Merged Files
Want a great way to end up downloading duplicates, broken content, and things that break more than your Sims save? Download someone else’s merged files! Unless it’s a creator’s own merged file of their own content, don’t do this.
Even if it’s a creator’s own merging, you can end up with other issues, like not being able to find a file that’s been listed as broken. If there’s an option to download either a merged or a separated version, consider separated.
X Sites with Adfly and "Click Here" Ads
Being forced to click through advertising on your way to get mods/CC is a great way to end up with issues later, such as from malware or viruses. Avoid these sites if you can. Keep your antivirus software up to date. If you do end up on an ad-plagued site, don’t click on ads and be suspicious of a clickable “download”.
X Mods That Are Just a Text (.txt) or Similar File with a Link
This is never, ever a legitiimate way to post a mod. Do NOT follow these links. If you do, IMMEDIATELY delete the files you ended up with and run a virus scan.
X Shady Requirements for Access
There is no legitimate reason for a creator to need your email address and send you a file. All legitimate mod/CC access is click-to-download.
X Downloading Everything
There are so many amazing mods out there, and so much gorgeous CC. It makes it really tempting to just download everything you might ever want to use.
Someday, though, you’re going to regret that. That day might be when your Mods folder is too big for your computer to run Sims well. It might be when you have over 250 script files and the game starts producing errors because of it. It might be something in that folder is broken and you have to test thousands of files to find it.
Instead, consider downloading only what you’re going to use now and bookmarking things you might come back for later, or keeping a list with links to those mods/CC.
Things to Check Before You Download
Q: Is the mod still compatible with the game?
- Check known broken mods/CC lists. Not all creators are still active to take down their modsCC, plus there are rehosters out there, so known broken mods are still available online.
- Check the comments. Have people been reporting errors? Is the creator responding to questions?
- Check the last update date: Older mods and CC are more likely to be broken.
Q: Can I actually use it?
- Make sure it’s Sims 4 content, not for a different Sims game. Earlier Sims games also use .package files.
- Check that you have all the packs required to use the mod. Read the creator’s full post to find out what the requirements are. If you don’t have the required packs, a mod might not only just not work — it might cause game errors.
- Check for known conflicts listed in the mod description, especially with other mods that you already use or might prefer. TIP: Don’t rely on “mod conflict detectors” for this! All they tell you is if two mods/CC call on the same piece of game code; they don’t tell you if they do that in a way that will ever cause a problem.
Q: Should I use it? Could it be compromised?
- Learn about recent issues with malicious script mods. Be especially suspicious of:
- ts4script mods that come as part of content that doesn't affect gameplay or Live mode menus
- "updates" of files appearing after the creator has cleared that mod
- unannounced updates from creators who normally announce
- creators or their mods showing up on a site they don't normally post their content to
- any folder of mods from various creators
- new creators showing up with a script mod as their first ever mod
- Check if the creator has listed known issues. Those issues might be enough that you don’t want to use the mod.
- Check if the mod can be easily removed without consequences if it becomes outdated or you don’t want it anymore, and decide your own risk level. For example, with some food/cookbook mods, you need to delete plates and food in-game before deleting the mod, or you could end up unable to load a household in gameplay. Removing some custom careers will produce LEs (last exceptions) when you play Sims who used to have those custom careers. Mods that add worlds generally can’t be deleted without completely breaking a save.
- Check if the creator provides support you can access for free. Decide on your risk level for using a mod without creator support.
Best Practices for Content Creators
Your content is most trustworthy, including by people recommending mods to others, if:
- You post to your own custom site or a site that checked uploads and has been responsive to emerging issues
- You announce new mods and updates in places where Simmers can follow and look for notifications (NOTE: non-members can't read through your X posts)
- You explain why and how a mod has been updated
- You have support available to all Simmers
- You respond to Simmers who post issues and questions on your mod pages or support forums
- You announce if you will be unavailable for support or will no longer be supporting your mods
- You follow the Maxis guidelines for creators, especially concerning monetization
Installing Mods and CC
Index
1. Install the Right Files: Creator Instructions
Location of Installation
Most mods don’t come with special instructions for where to install them. For those mods, follow the general instructions above. But some mods come with special instructions about where in the Mods folder its parts should go. Check if yours do.
NOTE: Are you trying to use a non-default location for the whole Mods folder? Support is available at the Sims 4 PC Tech Support and Sims 4 Mac Tech Support.
Picking and Choosing Files
- Some mods have instructions to choose between certain files, not install both “flavors” of them. Leaving both options in will produce errors.
- Some mods have instructions to remove files for packs you don’t own. Leaving those files in will produce errors.
Dependencies
Some mods need other mods to make them work. Instructions for this will always be on the mod’s main page. These are typical gameplay mod dependencies:
- XML Injector and mods called "Injectors". Injector mods sit between a mod and the game code. They’re typically written by someone other than the mod creator. They make modding and your Mods folder more efficient. Injector mods rarely are broken by game updates. You'll often see XML Injector by Scumbumbo (updated by Triplis) required. The updated version of XML Injector is available only on the Scumbumbo memorial website and Curseforge; the version on Mod the Sims is outdated.
- “Core” Mods. These also contain code a mod relies on to make it work. Some, like Lot 51’s Core Mod, are used by many creators. Others are created by individual creators just for their own mods. Core mods, like injector mods, make both modding and your Mods folder more efficient.
- Recipe Enablers. These act as base mod for a creator's recipes, whether those are for food or for crafting.
- ... and similar mods that others rely on. Many mods come with multiple optional parts, but all those optional parts can rely on one or more files that aren't optional.
If you’re testing your gameplay mods and put one in the Mods folder without its dependencies, you aren’t really testing that mod at all. You’ve only partly installed it, so you can’t tell if it’s broken or working.
If you remove an injector or core mod and the game now “works,” it doesn’t mean that that dependency was broken; it means that one of the mods that relies on it was broken.
The current versions of some of the most commonly needed core/injector mods are listed in the current Broken/Updated Mods and CC list.
Meshes are dependencies for some CC. They provide the shape or form for the CC. If you’re missing a mesh, you will generally end up with weird blocky shapes or invisible body parts because there’s nothing to “hang” the CC code on. Sometimes CC is relying on old meshes that are no longer available, unfortunately, and you simply can’t use that CC.
2. Install the Right Files: Handling Download Formats
Mods are downloaded either as individual .package files or as compressed folders (most often Zip files, but also .rar or .7z files). Individual .package files can go straight into Mods or a subfolder. Don’t put Zip, .rar, and .7z files in the Mods folder. Instead, extract the files from them and put the extracted files in the Mods folder, then delete the compressed file.
3. Install in the Right Place: The Mods Folder
NOTE: Having trouble finding your Mods folder? Has it disappeared on your? Are you trying to use a non-default location? For support, head to the Sims 4 PC Tech Support or Sims 4 Mac Tech Support.
The location for all mod and CC files is Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 4 > Mods. This is the only place the game will see your mods or custom content.
To create the Mods folder, start the game and then exit. Don’t create the folder yourself.
On a PC, the default path is This PC > C: > Documents etc.. Below, the installation drive was specified as F: when the game was installed. (For how to move the location of “The Sims 4” and its subfolders, see the links in the first post. Just moving the folder will not work.) NOTE: This folder should not be inside a OneDrive folder. OneDrive causes problems for Sims.
The Mods folder includes a file called resource.cfg. This files is created by the game but can be safely deleted. The game will recreate it. When the game was launched back in 2014, you had to edit the file if you wanted to use subfolders in the Mods folder, and you can still find that advice on the internet; this is no longer the case. Just leave that file alone.
Common folder issues we see from users include:
- Not being able to find the Mods folder. You can use this method to find where the game is storing files. For more support with game installation issues, especially if you’ve been moving installation locations, please go to the Technical Issues forum for PC or Mac.
- Not having a Mods folder in the right place. Just start the game and exit. The folder will now be there, in Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 4.
- Creating your own folder in the game’s program folder. Only use the folder the game creates in Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 4.
- Syncing software, such as OneDrive, creating a second folder that the game can’t see. For this and other OneDrive (and related) problems, plus how to make OneDrive stop messing with The Sims, see this thread.
- Using the wrong folder inside The Sims 4. There's a folder called "content," but it's not for your custom content.
A Note on Tray Files
These file types come with Sims or lots that you save to your Library, download from the Gallery, or download from places other than the Gallery. They go in the Tray folder, not Mods:
- .blueprint
- .bpi
- .hhi
- .householdbinary
- .rmi
- .room
- .sgi
- .trayitem
Often, custom Sims or lots that aren’t on the Gallery will come with CC .package files. Those go in Mods, but test them on a new save first! They might have been on the internet a long time and not be compatible with the game anymore.
4. Install in the Right Place: Script Files and Your Folder Structure
The Mods folder can have up to five levels of subfolders inside it. These levels of subfolders are what we talk about when we talk about how “deep” you can put a mod. You can create these subfolders yourself; the game will not create them for you.
- Script mods — mods that include a .ts4script file — must be no more than one folder deep. For example, a script mod’s files can go in Mods or it can go in Mods > TwistedMexi, but it can’t go in Mods > TwistedMexi > BE. That’s too many folders deep.
- Non-script mods — mods that are only package files — can go up to five folders deep, but no more. This is useful for organizing your Mods folder.
In the folder structure shown below, script mods cannot go in the subfolders “Hair” and lower. They can only go in the first level, such as the folder “LittleMsSam,” which is also shown here, with a complete (two-file) script mod highlighted. That script mod can’t go in a subfolder of Mods > LittleMsSam.
TIP: Make sure not to have a folder named "Mods" inside your Mods folder.
By default, mods and CC are disabled in Options. To enable the game to see your mods and CC, from the Main Menu, go to Game Options > Other and select “Enable Custom Content and Mods”. If you also want to enable script mods (which are typically more complex), you must also tick “Script Mods Allowed”.
One issue we sometimes see is the mod settings turning themselves back off. This can be caused by antivirus/security settings. For more on this, see the topic Anti-Virus blocking User Folder.
NOTE: For support with mods not staying enabled, head to the Sims 4 PC Tech Support or Sims 4 Mac Tech Support.
Best Practices: Backups and Testing
Before enabling mods/CC, consider making a backup of your Saves folder. The game itself keeps five backups for you, but if the way your game has broken becomes apparent to you after you’ve saved that many times, you might be really happy that you have an outside backup that’s older than that. And very occasionally but tragically, save file corruption can actually spread to your whole Saves folder. Back up your Saves.
Things are very wrong? You can’t load a household/lot? Your Sims are missing their hair? it’s okay to exit without saving! If you accidentally save without mods and CC, you can load an older save file by selecting Load Game, clicking on the disk symbol with a back arrow on it, and selecting Recover on an earlier save point. Another method involves renaming files in the Saves folder.
Enabling a Specific Mod
Some mods have specific things you need to do to make the mod active in game. If you don’t do these things, you won’t “see” the mod. For example, Deaderpool’s MC Command Center mod has default settings that are very close to (but not the same as!) the game settings, and you need to do things in the game to change those settings. Toggle-style mods usually default the game setting and have a way to turn them “on” in-game.
Special Issues with Default Replacements and Translations
Some mods need to have priority loading to work right. For the average Mods folder, this doesn't pose a major issue. For people with large folder, though, it can. In those cases, one option is to force the game to see those files.
There are two ways to do this. BUT both these methods can cause problems. I advise doing this only if a particular mod/CC is working perfectly well when you test it alone (including dependencies) and the mod instructions don't tell you to not touch the name or installation location and you're very careful about how what you download, how you update, etc., given the cautions below each method. Some players may end up more comfortable in the end managing smaller collections of mods and CC instead.
Method 1: Rename the file to start with !
CAUTION: Changing filenames can cause problems in at least three cases:
- You don't delete the old !-starting version when you update. You will end up with both old and new versions installed.
- You download that CC or mod again, forgetting you already have it. You will end up with duplicates.
- You change the name of a mod that other mods refer to using the filename and they can't see it anymore. Those other mods now won't work.
Method 2: For Mac users, the first method can fail. Simmer mekelley25 has written up a set of instructions on how to use a subfolders and an edited resource.cfg file as an alternative. For support, head to the Sims 4 Mac Tech Support.
CAUTION: If you refresh your Mods folder or Sims 4 folder, the original resource.cfg will be regenerated by the game and you'll need to replace it again.
Removing and Updating
Index
Modders create new versions of their mods for many reasons. The most important one is that new game code can “break” mods. This isn’t a bad thing. We generally want bugs fixed and new gameplay added and game UI improved. That’s especially the case for console players, who can’t “fix” things or expand the game with mods!
Choosing to use mods/CC means that you’re also choosing to maintain your Mods folder when the game updates. And that will often mean removing files or replacing them with the creator’s new versions.
WHEN to Remove Mods
When a mod is reported here at AHQ or elsewhere as “broken” or “outdated,” or when testing the Mods folder narrows down a problem to that mod, it’s time to delete it, even if you really wish it weren’t broken because you love that mod. Broken mods can do more than just not work as intended (as if they don’t exist) or creating annoying “last exception” reports. They can crash your game when you’re in the middle of playing and haven’t saved all day. They can prevent you from saving. They can corrupt lots, households, worlds, entire saves, or even every file in your Saves folder. Remove these files.
Note: Sometimes mods are listed by a creator as having specific issue but being otherwise okay to use. It’s up to you to decide if you want to keep using that mod. Sometimes broken CC you isolate with testing can be fixed by a batch fix in the tool Sims 4 Studio or you’re just missing a mesh.
HOW to Remove Mods
Deleting mods/CC is, in general, simple: Delete the files from inside the Mods folder and delete the file called localthumbcache.package. This file is located in Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 4. If you don’t delete localthumbcache, the game will NOT necessarily know you deleted mods/CC. The game will make a new localthumbcache file; this is normal and expected. Bonus: You might find some non-mod-related glitching also goes away!
IMPORTANT: If you use a mod manager, learn how it manages deletions. You want to know if a mod manager will put mods back in if you manually delete them from the Mods folder instead of using the mod manager. And you want to know if there are any circumstances in which it will delete a mod without you choosing to.
Special Cases
Some mods come with instructions for their deletion. If you use any complex mods, it’s a good idea to check if they come with instructions to follow before removing them. For example, TwistedMexi’s Better BuildBuy has instructions for the best way to uninstall it. For many food/cookbook mods, first delete plates and food make using that mod; not doing this could prevent you from opening a household. For custom careers, if possible have a Sim first quit the career; this could prevent a lot of last exception (LE) errors.
Some mods cannot be deleted without damaging save files. For example, if you delete a mod that adds a new world, you should assume that you won’t be playing with those save files anymore. A very few mods affecting body parts will leave uneditable body parts behind, though sometimes there’s a workaround using another mod. Most presets, sliders, and default/non-default body mods can be safely removed, though.
When you’re updating mods with new versions, don’t just grab the first one you find and drag it into your Mods folder. Make sure that you’re not creating new problems with these steps:
- Check that the version of the mod you’re find online is the updated version. If a mod is hosted by the creator in multiple places, the Curseforge version might be updated a day or more later than other ones because there’s an approval process, and some modders will just stop updating all the locations they originally posted at. A rehosted mod is likely to be the wrong version.
- Check for new instructions for installation, dependencies, files to choose from, and mod use.
- Delete old versions first. Some creators rename mod files, so just putting the new file in won’t remove the old one. Some mod managers rename mods, so this step becomes important. Note: This is a good time to check for duplicates. They might have been causing glitching or lag.
- Don’t delete .cfg files unless the creator says to. These files hold your settings for that mod.
- DO delete localthumbcache! You need the game to have a fresh look at the Mods folder. Its location is Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 4. The game will create a new one.
- DON’T update mods until you update the game. Mods updated after a given patch might be broken on an older game version. This forum and most creators will offer support only if your game is up to date.
For more on deleting and updating, see Game Updates and Your Mods.
Organizing Your Mods Folder
When it comes time to find the files you need to remove or replace, having an organized Mods folder really helps.
Keeping an organized Mods folder also helps prevent duplicate mods. If you put peacemaker’s files only in a folder called “peacemaker” or put coffee table files only in a folder called “living room furniture” — not sometimes one, sometimes the other — you’re much less likely to end up with two copies of peacemaker’s coffee tables. Duplicate files can cause errors and lag.
There are many ways to organize your Mods folder. I use a lot more gameplay mods than CC, so my mods folder is organized with a subfolder called “Build Buy” for Build/Buy mode CC, a subfolder called “CAS” for CAS CC, and many subfolders named for gameplay modders. If you use a lot of CC, you might want to organize that by function or creator. Just be consistent in your structure.
I temporarily removed a whole lot for this screencap and then cut off the bottom anyway, but you get the idea!
Some creators don’t put their names in their mods’ filenames, which can be frustrating when all of that’s creator’s mods are reported broken or no longer supported or when mod has tested as broken and you want to search for an update. If you tend to run into these, consider organizing your folder by creator name and/or renaming files to include the creator name. Don’t rename files if a creator’s instructions specifically say not to!
Package Merging
Don’t merge your CC. For Sims 4, merging CC files does little to improve game performance compared to the issues it creates. What it does do is increase the likelihood that you'll end up with duplicate files (which cause lag... which you were trying to get rid of), both old and updated versions of files, and broken files you can't find anymore.
If you want to reduce how long it takes the game to load, look at Options to exclude the list of mods/CC on startup. If the quantity of CC in your Mods folder is causing lag, look for duplicates and consider removing CC you're not actually using.
Mod Managers
Many Simmers naturally want to hand some of the responsibility of handling their mods to a mod managing program. This has advantages and disadvantages. If you use a mod manager (for example, Curseforge), learn what it does and what it doesn’t do. Most mod managers will work best if you don’t reorganize the files in them.
