It can be confusing for Sims 4 players to install custom content and mods. You must know where to place items, as well as how to react when your CC fails. The process can seem daunting to a beginner since there is so much to learn. With this guide, you’ll learn how to download and Install Custom Content and Mods in “The Sims 4”.
Install Custom Content and Mods in “The Sims 4”
A great deal of Sims 4 players enjoy custom content and mods. You may not be aware of what treasures are waiting for those who devour the internet looking for the latest downloads if you’re new to the franchise.
You can download almost as much content for free as in the entire game and all the game packs combined. With this guide, you’ll learn how to install custom content and mods.
What is CC?
Custom Content is simpler than mods. Though sometimes it’s just as difficult to create them as mods. These are textures, clothing, and objects you can download and easily edit in your game using CC. A wide variety of decor items can be found here, including dressers and wall patterns.
Since CC creators don’t have to consider users’ systems in the same way Maxis does, and because they are also able to dedicate more time to each addition, the graphics in the game are greatly enhanced. The players have more options to choose from. CC is all about offering more options to choose from.
What are Mods?
Quite simply, a mod is a modification for Sims 4. Mods are available for almost any moddable game. New features may be added, or existing features may be enhanced.
It is the mod creator’s responsibility to maintain their content. They then share it with the Sims community and add the functionality described.
A mod can radically change the way things work or enhance gameplay. Mods can also fix annoyances which irritate players.
Some mods actually fix bugs before EA ever does. Occasionally, the community’s objective may be more in line with the way things should be done.
The following points are in no way intended to criticize The Sims Studio, which has made an excellent game that’s very moddable.
It’s just natural for there to be more hands working to make improvements and content when there are hundreds or thousands of people that contribute to the development of the game through Mods.
Few Things to Do Before Installing Custom Content in The Sims 4
Make Sure You Have the Latest Patch
Ensure that your game is up-to-date with all the latest patches before you begin downloading and installing custom content.
Make sure you have internet access. Launch Origin. Look in your game library for The Sims 4. Select the Settings tab. Select the Update button.
Origin will automatically update the game if it requires any updates. You will see a notification if your game has been fully updated.
Your “Sims 4” game needs mods turned on
A default setting in The Sims 4 disables mods by default. It is necessary to start your Sims 4 game and turn on mods before you can begin playing with mods and custom content.
Every time there is a patch, you will need to do the same. The default setting will be off and mods will have to be turned on.
Start the game to do this. Select “Menu”. Select “Game Options”. Select “Other”. Then check the box for Custom Content and Mods.
Restart the game when the changes are applied. You will be able to play with mods the next time you start it up with your save settings.
Get a free extraction tool
CC files often end in versions like .zip, .rar, and .7s when you start downloading them. By compressing these files, the custom content creator has made them available for download and integration into games.
You cannot, however, drag and drop the .rar or .zip files directly into Sims 4. To open them, you’ll need an extractor tool.
How to Install CC and Mods
After you’ve patched your game and have a good extraction tool installed, you can begin downloading custom content. You can download content to your game once you have found it on any of the trusted MODS websites.
The item will download at the bottom of the screen if you are using Google Chrome as your Internet browser. Right-click the arrow when the download is complete.
Then choose the location where the download has been saved. On your computer, you will usually find the downloaded items in the Downloads folder.
Installing the Files
You should right-click on the downloaded content in the Downloads folder. You’ll see a stack of books as an icon when you use WinRar. Select the “Extract to (mod name)” option.
You will then be able to extract the file to a new folder with the same name.
Look inside the folder to see what’s inside. In general, you will only see .package files. Mods and custom content for Sims 4 are stored in this type of file.
Other types of files may also exist. CC and .txt files are often included in creators’ works. It is safe to discard these.
Highlight the files ending in .package inside the folder. Select them by right-clicking. Then choose “Cut”. Go to the Sims 4 Mods folder.
Mods can be accessed through Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 4. The .package files you’ve downloaded will appear automatically once you right-click anywhere in that folder and choose “Paste.”
Upon starting your game, you should see that any mods or CC installed are active and working.
Installing Lots
In the game, lots refer to houses or any kind of places where your Sims can go. Sims CC websites also offer custom lots for download. Downloading and installing lots are basically the same. Unless you put these files in your Sims 4 folder.
Following all the above instructions is crucial. You should paste your files into Electronic Arts > The Sims 4 > Tray once they’ve been extracted. You should put any download ending in .bpi, .blueprint, or .tray items only in the Tray folder.
You need to go to the Gallery when you open your game. Choose My Library. Your downloaded lot will appear there.
In the Gallery, make sure you choose Advanced if your lot also included custom content. Be sure to check “Include Custom Content” for the lot to appear.
Your game now includes a lot, which you can move around and place wherever you want.
Installing Scripts
A script mod modifies and enhances the script of a game. The script mods include popular mods, career customizations, and animated and custom careers.
As with the other mods listed above, script mods also need to be installed in the same way. The file’s extension, however, will be .ts4script.
Mods of this kind should still go into the Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 4 > Mods folder. You must also enable Script Mods in the game settings.
Backup saves, mods, and custom content
Mods and CC can be backed up just like files. In a disaster scenario, it makes sense to back them up. Using a USB stick or another drive will keep them safe from drive failures.
To get started, go to the Sims 4 folder in Documents/Electronic Arts. Each of these three folders (Saves, Tray, and Mods) can be accessed by right-clicking.
Just copy and paste them where you know they’ll be. You still have your Sims families if you are forced to uninstall or reinstall the game. CCs and Mods are still there too.
They are valuable since they are difficult to acquire. They can also cause major headaches if they are misplaced.
Sims 4 Mod Manager
Unzipping files does not have to be a problem for those who don’t want to do it. Users would also like to have easy access to mods. Sims 4 Mod Manager gives them that option.
You can do a lot with it. It is a fairly straightforward tool. Additionally, you can find videos explaining how the program works on the website.
Where to Find Sims 4 Custom Content
Mods and custom content for Sims 4 can be downloaded from various sites. Following are a few suggestions:
Modthesims.info: This is an extremely popular site for Sims 4 custom content. It offers what appears to be an endless supply of Sims 4 CC to explore.
The SIMSresource: Another site that offers custom content of all kinds
Sims4downloads.net: This website gathers new content from many different sources, displaying it in a blogroll style. You can find individual content creators using this site.
Tumblr: The Sims community is still thriving on Tumblr. They manage aesthetic photo editing, role-playing, as well as creating customized content. You can find custom content and creators by using tags such as #TS4, #Sims 4, and #TS4CC.
Twitter: Similarly to Tumblr, it’s a great place to discover the work of other creators. Using the hashtags #ts4cc, #thesims4cc, and #sims4cc will help you find the material you need.
Patreon: Several creators of Sims 4 CC use it. From diverse hair and skin colors to fine building lots, it allows them to create it all.
Uninstalling the Sims 4 Custom Content
Simply delete the Mods folder to remove the CCS and Mods. Simply right-click your way through the files you want to remove. Press the Delete option. Your game will no longer have that custom content or mod when you start it up the next time.
Troubleshooting
You should be fine if you have correctly installed the CC or mod. Yet, you may be required to troubleshoot if it does not appear or fails for some reason. In case you run into problems, here are a few things you can try:
Make sure that custom content and script mods are enabled in your game as described above.
Go into Buy Mode if you are unable to find an item in Buy Mode. And select Filter Items. Next, check the box for Custom Content. The list of custom content will appear. There you will find the items that you downloaded.
Click on the View Custom Content button in the Options menu to double-check that your custom content is installed. There should be a list of the files you have downloaded listed in the files section.
You need to open the Mods folder. Check that the CC is placed correctly. The only files you should see in your mods folder are those that end in .package or .ts4script. You cannot use .zip, .rar, or any other file extension in your game.
As soon as you are online, open Origin and fix the game. Click The Sims 4 under your library to do so. Select Settings from the list. Choose Repair Game from the list. A fresh install of the game files will be performed when the game repairs itself and reinstalls the needed game files. There is no risk of your save being damaged.
Delete the .cache files. In order to do this, in the Documents folder, select the Electronic Arts > The Sims 4 folder. There is a file named localthumbscache.package in this directory that can be deleted. There’s also a folder called cache and another named cachestr.
The contents of these folders can be deleted, but not the folders themselves. Additionally, if the onlinethumbnailcache folder exists, you can safely remove it. The game can be fixed in a sense by deleting cache files. This is the first resort to repairing your whole game.
Start over by re-downloading the mod. Occasionally, downloaded files become corrupted after downloading. It is best to delete the first download in case such a situation arises. Check if you can add them to your mods folder again.
Be sure that the mods are up-to-date. A lot of mods break every time an update comes out for Sims 4. The mod’s creator usually knows about this and updates the mod’s website.
Make sure you downloaded it from the right place. If you need to, uninstall the new version and then reinstall it. Incompatible mods and CC after patching are also posted on SimsVIP websites.
Authentic versions of The Sims 4 are required to run game mods and custom content. You cannot guarantee they will work with pirate copies of the game. So if your modified version isn’t working, it may just be due to your pirated version.
Only by purchasing Sims 4 from Origin will this problem be solved. This is a place to ensure that all mods and custom content will be supported regularly and that the game will be patched.
Few Terms to Remember
Mods: A modification can alter how the game and Sims behave. The changes can be small or they can be sweeping. Updates are often required more frequently for these than custom content in order to stay functional. Updates can sometimes break their compatibility.
CC: Short form of custom content.
Mesh: An object’s skeleton. The Sims 4 relies on meshes for everything. Therefore, whenever you download new content containing meshes.
Make sure that the mesh is also downloaded, rather than using an already existing mesh in the game.
Swatches: All items in various colors
Recolour: Custom content made by another creator or a recolour of Maxis’s content. It is again imperative that you download the correct mesh when you recolor your sprite.
Default replacement: An item or colour swatch made by Maxis can be replaced with custom content. In this way, you can override clothing, furniture, or other color values without adding more swatches to your game.
Non-Default: Items or colour swatches that are not overlaid by default content but add to the game.
Alpha CC: The creation of high-quality content designed to look as realistic as possible.
Maxis Match CC: Custom content that matches the Sims 4 art style.
50/50 Method: This is a very popular way of troubleshooting mods and custom content that’s broken.
Final Words
This was all about how to Install Custom Content and Mods in “The Sims 4”. We hope that now you will be able to install whichever mod and custom content you want. Just make sure to download these stuff only from trusted websites.
