How to install Custom Content and Mods in The Sims 4

The Sims 4 is packed with content for both builders and life simmers alike, especially when you take into account all of the optional DLC Expansion Packs, Stuff Packs, and Kits. If you want to get more from your game, you might be tempted by the seemingly bottomless pit of mods and CC. Mods and CC are fan-made content for The Sims 4 that players on PC can use to improve their game or adjust it to their preferences. Sadly, you won’t be able to use Mods or CC if you’re playing on another platform. While Mods are used to improve gameplay, working around the limitations of The Sims 4 as it usually is, CC (Custom Content) is used to add more items into the game for you to use in Create a Sim or Build and Buy mode. Both are equally tempting, not to mention available online, and there’s a whole world of possibilities out there courtesy of more technically minded Simmers. However, before you can even begin to use Mods or CC, you need to know how to install it and make sure it runs when you’re in-game. Here’s how to do that and how to enable or disable them from within The Sims 4. Table of contents Where to install Mods and CC for The Sims 4 How to install Mods and CC for The Sims 4 How to enable or disable Mods in The Sims 4 Where to install Mods and CC for The Sims 4 Image by Destructoid Once you’ve dredged through the thousands of Mods and CC packs available for The Sims 4, you’ll need to know where to put them. This is a process that I had to take a whole refresher course on just recently after reinstalling my game, so I can talk you through it. Wherever your copy of The Sims 4 is installed (mine's on an external hard drive, which caused no end of problems when trying to re-install my CC and Mods), you’ll need to locate your Mods folder. For the most part, it’s located at the following location: “C:\Users\[user]\Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 4\Mods” For clarity, my Mods folder is still located here even though the game itself is installed onto an external drive, so yours will likely be in the same location. It’s best to always install Mods and CC without the game open. Installing Mods or CC while the game is running won’t mess anything up in the game, but you’ll need to restart it after adding anything anyway, so it’s just easier to close it before adding Mods or CC to this folder. If you're planning on going on a CC installation spree, I'd recommend pinning this folder to Quick Access or otherwise creating a shortcut to it on your Desktop. How to install Mods and CC for The Sims 4 Image by Destructoid All CC, regardless of type, will be of a ‘.package’ file type. A lot of CC will be downloaded from their source as ‘.zip’ files, but unzipping these will give you the ‘.package’ files you need to get any bit of CC into The Sims 4. These ‘.package’ files can be placed directly within your Mods folder, or you can create folders within the Mods folder if you want a bit of organization (trust me, it helps). Either way, anything you put into the Mods folder, or folders within it, will appear in a pop-up every time you open The Sims 4, allowing you to see what’s currently appearing within your game. Installing Mods is much the same process, although you’ll need to carefully follow any instructions that accompany the Mod. For instance, if you’re installing the T.O.O.L. Mod, you need to place an entire folder into The Sims 4 Mods folder rather than a single file (shown above). How to enable or disable Mods in The Sims 4 Image by Destructoid If, for any reason, you want to disable your Mods and CC without removing it all from the Mods folder, this can easily be done through the settings menu in The Sims 4 itself. To do this, open up the Game Options menu, then navigate to “Other.” In this menu, you can check or uncheck the “Enable Custom Content and Mods” checkbox, allowing you to turn them on or off without too much hassle. You can also click the “View Custom Content” button and disable the pop-up that appears each time you open the game if you choose to do so. It’s a good idea to disable Mods and CC if you’re planning on installing a new DLC Pack or if the game has recently been updated, especially if you have a lot of Mods running in your game, because Mods sometimes need updating and cause the game to run erratically if they’re not updated. The post How to install Custom Content and Mods in The Sims 4 appeared first on Destructoid.

Mar 15, 2025 - 17:01

How to install Custom Content and Mods in The Sims 4

The Sims 4 is packed with content for both builders and life simmers alike, especially when you take into account all of the optional DLC Expansion Packs, Stuff Packs, and Kits. If you want to get more from your game, you might be tempted by the seemingly bottomless pit of mods and CC.

Mods and CC are fan-made content for The Sims 4 that players on PC can use to improve their game or adjust it to their preferences. Sadly, you won’t be able to use Mods or CC if you’re playing on another platform.

While Mods are used to improve gameplay, working around the limitations of The Sims 4 as it usually is, CC (Custom Content) is used to add more items into the game for you to use in Create a Sim or Build and Buy mode. Both are equally tempting, not to mention available online, and there’s a whole world of possibilities out there courtesy of more technically minded Simmers.

However, before you can even begin to use Mods or CC, you need to know how to install it and make sure it runs when you’re in-game. Here’s how to do that and how to enable or disable them from within The Sims 4.

Where to install Mods and CC for The Sims 4

The Sims 4 Mod location for The Sims 4 — Image by Destructoid

Once you’ve dredged through the thousands of Mods and CC packs available for The Sims 4, you’ll need to know where to put them. This is a process that I had to take a whole refresher course on just recently after reinstalling my game, so I can talk you through it.

Wherever your copy of The Sims 4 is installed (mine's on an external hard drive, which caused no end of problems when trying to re-install my CC and Mods), you’ll need to locate your Mods folder. For the most part, it’s located at the following location:

“C:\Users\[user]\Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 4\Mods”

For clarity, my Mods folder is still located here even though the game itself is installed onto an external drive, so yours will likely be in the same location.

It’s best to always install Mods and CC without the game open. Installing Mods or CC while the game is running won’t mess anything up in the game, but you’ll need to restart it after adding anything anyway, so it’s just easier to close it before adding Mods or CC to this folder.

If you're planning on going on a CC installation spree, I'd recommend pinning this folder to Quick Access or otherwise creating a shortcut to it on your Desktop.

How to install Mods and CC for The Sims 4

A Mod installed in The Sims 4 Mod folder — Image by Destructoid

All CC, regardless of type, will be of a ‘.package’ file type. A lot of CC will be downloaded from their source as ‘.zip’ files, but unzipping these will give you the ‘.package’ files you need to get any bit of CC into The Sims 4.

These ‘.package’ files can be placed directly within your Mods folder, or you can create folders within the Mods folder if you want a bit of organization (trust me, it helps). Either way, anything you put into the Mods folder, or folders within it, will appear in a pop-up every time you open The Sims 4, allowing you to see what’s currently appearing within your game.

Installing Mods is much the same process, although you’ll need to carefully follow any instructions that accompany the Mod. For instance, if you’re installing the T.O.O.L. Mod, you need to place an entire folder into The Sims 4 Mods folder rather than a single file (shown above).

How to enable or disable Mods in The Sims 4

The option to enable or disable Mods or CC within The Sims 4 menu — Image by Destructoid

If, for any reason, you want to disable your Mods and CC without removing it all from the Mods folder, this can easily be done through the settings menu in The Sims 4 itself. To do this, open up the Game Options menu, then navigate to “Other.”

In this menu, you can check or uncheck the “Enable Custom Content and Mods” checkbox, allowing you to turn them on or off without too much hassle. You can also click the “View Custom Content” button and disable the pop-up that appears each time you open the game if you choose to do so.

It’s a good idea to disable Mods and CC if you’re planning on installing a new DLC Pack or if the game has recently been updated, especially if you have a lot of Mods running in your game, because Mods sometimes need updating and cause the game to run erratically if they’re not updated.

The post How to install Custom Content and Mods in The Sims 4 appeared first on Destructoid.