Sims 4: How to Install Mods & Custom Content (CC)

Updated July 20267 min readBy the HowToPlayHub team

Mods and custom content are a huge part of why The Sims 4 stays fresh — new hair, furniture, gameplay overhauls and quality-of-life fixes are all a download away. Installing them is simple once you know the two settings to flip and the one folder everything goes in. This guide walks through it and covers the patch gotcha that trips up most players.

Quick answer

To install Sims 4 mods, first enable them in Game Options → Other → tick Enable Custom Content and Mods plus Script Mods Allowed, then restart the game. Place .package custom-content files and unzipped .ts4script mod files in Documents/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/Mods, no more than five folders deep. Major game patches reset the mods option to off, so re-enable it and update your mods after every update.

01Step 1: Enable Mods in Game Options

Custom content will not load until you switch it on in-game. This is the step most new players miss:

Launch the game and press ESC → Game Options.
Open the Other tab.
Tick Enable Custom Content and Mods.
Tick Script Mods Allowed (needed for any mod with actual scripted behaviour, not just visual CC).
Click Apply Changes and restart the game when prompted.

Both boxes must be ticked for script mods to work; visual CC (clothes, furniture) only needs the first one, but enabling both is simplest.

02Step 2: Find Your Mods Folder

All mods and CC live in one folder, created automatically by the game:

Windows: Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 4\Mods
Mac: Documents/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/Mods
If the Mods folder is not there, launch the game once with mods enabled and it will be created.
You can organise files into subfolders, but the game only reads them up to five folders deep — keep your structure shallow.

03Step 3: Install the Files (.package vs .ts4script)

There are two file types, and both simply go into the Mods folder — no installer required:

.package — used by most custom content (clothing, hair, furniture, builds) and many mods. Drop it straight into the Mods folder or a subfolder.
.ts4script — used by script mods that add behaviour. These usually come zipped with the .package; unzip the download and place the .ts4script directly in Mods (it must not stay inside a deeply nested folder, and it needs Script Mods Allowed enabled).
Do not unzip the .ts4script itself — only unzip the outer download archive; the .ts4script file stays as-is.
Download CC only from trusted sources such as ModTheSims, The Sims Resource, CurseForge, and NexusMods to avoid broken or malicious files.

After copying files in, restart the game (or quit to the main menu and back) so it scans the folder.

04Keeping Mods Working After Patches

The single biggest source of 'my mods broke' is a game update. Whenever The Sims 4 patches:

The Enable Custom Content and Mods option is sometimes reset to off — re-check it in Game Options → Other.
Script mods can break until their creators update them; remove or update outdated script mods after a patch.
Use the in-game 'Remove 50% of mods' troubleshooting approach to find a broken file: halve your Mods folder repeatedly until the problem disappears.
Keep a record of where you got each mod so you can grab updated versions.
Delete the localthumbcache.package file in the The Sims 4 folder if you see graphical glitches after changing CC — it rebuilds safely.

FAQ

How do I install mods in Sims 4?

First enable them: ESC → Game Options → Other → tick Enable Custom Content and Mods and Script Mods Allowed, then Apply and restart. Next, place your .package and unzipped .ts4script files in Documents/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/Mods, keeping the folder structure no more than five levels deep. Restart the game so it scans the folder and your mods load.

Where is the Sims 4 Mods folder?

It is at Documents/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/Mods on both Windows and Mac. If you do not see it, launch the game once with mods enabled and the folder is created automatically. You can use subfolders to organise CC, but the game only reads files up to five folders deep, so keep the structure shallow.

Why are my Sims 4 mods not working?

The most common reasons are that mods are not enabled in Game Options (a patch may have reset the setting), the files are buried more than five folders deep, or a script mod is outdated after an update. Re-tick Enable Custom Content and Mods plus Script Mods Allowed, restart, and remove any script mods that have not been updated for the current patch.

What is the difference between mods and CC in Sims 4?

Custom content (CC) is usually cosmetic — hair, clothing, furniture, and builds in .package files. Mods change gameplay behaviour and often include a .ts4script file that requires Script Mods Allowed to be enabled. Both go in the same Mods folder, but only script mods need that second option ticked. CC visual items work with just the first option on.

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Note: The Sims 4 receives regular patches that can change cheats, mechanics, and lifespan values, and many features come from paid packs — cross-check current details in-game for your version and DLC.

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