Index Introduction The Cheat Console doesn't open Introduction Cheats are commonly used in the Sims games and as it's a single player game, you can do so at your heart's content. Some cheats are also used to fix issues. To open the Cheat Console, press CTL-SHIFT-C and then type the required cheat into the text console that appears in the upper left corner. There are a few reasons why the cheat console doesn't open as it should. The tips below are for Windows, if you have issues on other platforms, please use the threads below Console: FAQ - Sims 4 Console Cheats Mac: 🛠️ Opening the Sims 4 cheat console on Mac For help with individual cheats, please use this thread: [FAQ] Common Issues with Cheats ↑ The Cheat Console doesn't open A few tips if you can't get the cheat console to open. Please post in the thread if these don't help. Make sure you use the correct key combination (CTL-SHIFT-C). Make sure that no screenshot or other program is running in the back that uses the same key combination like Gyazo. Especially HP computers tend to have pre-installed software that conflict with the cheat shortcut. Make sure to disable those background programs. If you have an AMD graphics Card, check on the settings to check if something else is assigned to the short-cut Make sure that the game is the active window, especially when playing in windowed mode. Try CTL-Shift-(Windows Key)-C instead (Windows Only) When in build/buy mode, make sure your cursor is not in the search field Reset all settings. To do so follow these steps: Close the game. Move this file to the desktop: Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 4\Options(.ini). Start the game. The file will be recreated. Unfortunately this will reset all your graphics settings and similar as well and you need to re-set them. Test if the console appears. ↑

I had this problem. Used the CTRL+SHIFT+(WindowsStartKey)+C .. that did open up the cheats. Now in case you find that more annoying to use like I did, the other thread had the problem listed in the AMD Relive update where it used the CTRL+SHIFT+C for it. If you go to settings, unbind or change that key combo, the regular cheat combo in Sims 4 will work again. To change it like I did, just right click on your desktop, go to AMD settings. From that window, go to relive and find the culprit keybinding and just change it to something you don't use. After that, problem will be fixed.

Thanks for the helpful thread. I couldn't figure out why the cheat console wouldn't open when I was trying to use moveobjects. AMD was using that binding for another function that I never use anyway. I was able to disable the AMD setting so I can build the way I wanted. I appreciate the information.

@pygmichan The correct keys to press to open the cheat console in The Sims 4 is CTRL-SHIFT-C. if that does not work it is likely because you have a screen capture program running in the background hat uses that key combination. You can try to change it in that program or you can try using CTRL-SHIFT-WIN-C and see if that will work.

@YahKaloni Do you have an AMD graphics card ? If so, please follow instructions here: https://answers.ea.com/t5/Technical-Issues-PC/PLEASE-READ-Issues-with-opening-cheat-console/m-p/8719019#M165639If not, there's some more suggestions on the first post of this thread I've merged your post into.

@thekc On some computers it seems the Windows Key is needed. Not sure why.

Forum Discussion

crinrict

Hero+

1 year ago

[READ FIRST] Cheat console doesn't open

Index

Introduction

The Cheat Console doesn't open

Introduction

Cheats are commonly used in the Sims games and as it's a single player game, you can do so at your heart's content. Some cheats are also used to fix issues.

To open the Cheat Console, press CTL-SHIFT-C and then type the required cheat into the text console that appears in the upper left corner.

There are a few reasons why the cheat console doesn't open as it should.

The tips below are for Windows, if you have issues on other platforms, please use the threads below

Console: FAQ - Sims 4 Console Cheats

Mac: 🛠️ Opening the Sims 4 cheat console on Mac

For help with individual cheats, please use this thread: [FAQ] Common Issues with Cheats

↑

The Cheat Console doesn't open

A few tips if you can't get the cheat console to open. Please post in the thread if these don't help.

Make sure you use the correct key combination (CTL-SHIFT-C).
Make sure that no screenshot or other program is running in the back that uses the same key combination like Gyazo. Especially HP computers tend to have pre-installed software that conflict with the cheat shortcut. Make sure to disable those background programs.
If you have an AMD graphics Card, check on the settings to check if something else is assigned to the short-cut
Make sure that the game is the active window, especially when playing in windowed mode.
Try CTL-Shift-(Windows Key)-C instead (Windows Only)
When in build/buy mode, make sure your cursor is not in the search field
Reset all settings. To do so follow these steps:
- Close the game.
- Move this file to the desktop: Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 4\Options(.ini).
- Start the game.
- The file will be recreated.
- Unfortunately this will reset all your graphics settings and similar as well and you need to re-set them.
- Test if the console appears.

↑

guides

286 Replies

MiladyMarion
Seasoned Newcomer
28 days ago
Lately the cheat console won't even come up when pressing ctrl+shift+c. I even double checked with the game instructions for how to activate cheats to make sure I was pressing the correct keys. So many lots require the move objects cheat to place or use properly. That can't be done without being able to activate the cheat console. So, now lots from my library can't be placed without issues.
puzzlezaddict
Hero+
27 days ago
MiladyMarion I've merged your post with the master thread for this issue. Please try the suggestions in the first post.
mischevmav
Rising Newcomer
10 days ago
ctrl+shift+c won't open the cheat console, does nothing. requires restart.
crinrict
Hero+
9 days ago
Hi mischevmav

I merged your post with the main thread for this. Please see first post for suggestions.
BibbleIsaBaddie
Newcomer
8 days ago
The file I need to put into desktop doesn't work, where can I get it/ where do I go to add it to my game on windows.
puzzlezaddict
Hero+
8 days ago
BibbleIsaBaddie Options.ini will be in Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 4 if you've ever started the game on this computer (and haven't deleted this file or the folder it's in since then). If you don't see it, you're not looking in the correct location. Here's how to find the full path to the folder:

https://sims4.crinrict.com/eng/2018/07/how-to-find-your-user-folder/