Sim stands still and pauses for a long time when I command her to do something

@iix_Eliyah

This is a common issue. Some have reported it has to do with outdated custom content.

To test this, move your mods folder to the desktop, clear your game cache and delete the localthumbcache.package from the Sims 4 folder to help with troubleshooting.

How to Delete Cache Files
https://sims4.crinrict.com/en/2014/09/delete-cache-files/

Load the game again to test, try a new save without the mods folder. If it loads okay, it may be that some of the mods/cc have become outdated.

Custom content can become outdated with most new game patches. If the game works when the Mods folder is removed, then one or more of the mods and/or custom content has become outdated and will need to be removed or replaced. EA/Maxis aren't responsible for broken mods/cc. It's up to the creators to fix.

Disabling or turning off both mod/cc options isn't enough of a test.

Try the 50/50 method:

1. Move all the mods and cc out into a temporary folder on the desktop.
2. Move a few files back at a time. Load the game to make sure it loads and everything is good.
3. Delete the localthumbcache.package from the Sims 4 folder.
4. Repeat steps 1 - 3 till there is no more files to check.

** While your testing, don't save the game. If you find any problems, delete the mod or custom content file.

How To Find Problem Mods and CC
http://simswiki.info/wiki.php?title=Game_Help:TS4_Finding_Problem_Custom_Content

This happens to me, too, I have tried everything. It only happens with the boy sim. I've had this family for about a month, they have two toddlers, and the parents are adults. Whenever I command the boy sim to do something, he will not move or do anything at all. The action will just be in his queue. This does not happen to any of the girls. I'm not convinced it is my custom content because I was playing the game for two hours straight today with all my custom content and it was all fine. This has never happened before. The error happened when the male sim went to ask the toddler sim to "Clean Self Off'. Please refer to my "Things I have Tried" list to confirm what the issue could be. (P.S: The male sim can complete interactions, just not anything that involves actively doing something that doesn't involve social activity.)

Things I have Tried 

-Repair the game through Origin

-Reset my TS4 Folder

-Various "The Sims" forum solutions

Please help!

@vedettess

Temporarily remove all Mods and CC then test the game without.

Hi, 

I’ve already tried getting rid of all my cc and mods. But the issue still keeps happening. Cleared my cache too. 

Hi, I fixed the issue by resetting my sim. Thanks for the response, though!

Try this command using the cheat bar:

resetSim firstname lastname

(Replace "firstname" and "lastname" with the first and last name. Example: My sim was named Jamal Rein, I entered "resetSim Jamal Rein" into the cheat bar and it worked.)

Keep in mind you have to have testingcheats true for this to work.

Hope I helped!

@vedettess

Hi,

Resetting my sim only makes for a temporary solution. It does fix it but it takes longer than just pausing and resuming, and they both don’t prevent it from happening in the future. 

@iix_Eliyah

Since you've tried removing mods, deleting game cache and the localthumbcache.package and going through your mods to make sure they're up to date.

Try a factory reset?

Move or rename your current Sims 4 folder to Sims4Backup. Launch the game and play the game.

If it's not working, don't save. However, if everything is playing okay then start putting the files back. (list of files and folders below).

- Options.ini (User game settings)
- Tray Folder (Sims/Houses/Commercial lots and rooms)
- Screenshots/Videos/Custom music
- Rest of the save games, if any.
(leave out slot_00000001.save which is the autosave. It is not used anymore.)
- Custom content like clothing, hair, skins, and makeup
- Mods (Put these back one by one to make sure they all still work)

If that doesn't work, there might be something wrong with the save.

To test that, save both the family and their house to the library and try them out in a new save to see if it works better. If it does, then it may be that the save is corrupt.

@meltron2

There's quite a few troubleshooting tips for relieving game lag. Please forgive any that you've already tried.

1. Deactivate Origin in Game -- Open Origin, Select Origin > Application Settings > Origin In Game and deselect to disable Origin In Game.

2. Try playing the game in "Offline" mode -- In the Origin Client, go to the Origin Menu and select Go Offline.

3. Empty Sims personal and family inventories. Often too many items in the inventories can cause issues. - Also, having a large family and house with a lot of furniture/decor and landscaping will cause lag after awhile.

4. Reset Sim and/or Household - Have them travel

resetsim [firstname lastname]

Have them all travel to another lot, and then send them home. This should reset all family members. -- * Use the M key for map, for fast travel.

5. Repair Game:
In Origin > Games Library, right-click on Sims 4 and select Repair

6. Even if you don't play with mods or custom content installed, it's a good idea to clear game cache and the localthumbcache.package from the Sims 4 folder.

How to Delete Cache Files
https://sims4.crinrict.com/en/2014/09/delete-cache-files/

7. Move the Tray folder to the desktop, as a test. - This helps the game from loading what you have stored in your library.

Your Tray folder should be found using this path: C:\Users\<Username>\Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 4\Tray

8. Move your saves folder to the desktop, and only move back a few current saves, as a test.

C:\Users\<Username>\Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 4\saves

--- Having a lot of older game saves and a lot of files in your Tray folder will cause lag and freezing in-game.

Be careful in removing save games. As the saves may have many .ver files that go along with it. If you delete the main save file, the game can't recognize the save any longer.

Main save game example:
Slot_00000002.save

Save game backup examples:
Slot_00000002.save.ver1
Slot_00000002.save.ver2

9. Move your Screenshots folder to the desktop, as a test.

This may help reduce lag/freezing in the game. - Moving the screenshots folder will not mess up the game. And the folder will be regenerated. This will help lessen the load on the game due to the large size of the screenshots.

10. If you feel the game lag is game related, you may want to report it to the Sims 4 AHQ forum - https://answers.ea.com/t5/Technical-Issues-PC/bd-p/The-Sims-4 and offer to share your game saves and/or crash files with the Sims Team.

[INFORMATION] How to Send User Files to The Sims 4 Team
http://answers.ea.com/t5/The-Sims-4-Bug-Reports/INFORMATION-How-to-Send-User-Files-to-The-Sims-4-Team/td-p/6065302