To unlock every Build Mode object in The Sims 4, open the cheat console and enter bb.showhiddenobjects for the debug items, bb.showliveeditobjects for the world-building objects, and bb.ignoregameplayunlocksentitlement for career rewards. Then type “debug” into the catalog search box to see what appeared. Below we cover each command, what it actually unlocks, how to find the new objects in the catalog, the differences on console, and the patch changes that affect hidden objects as of the September 22, 2026 update.
Open the Console and Enter the Cheats
Per EA’s official cheats FAQ, the console opens with Ctrl + Shift + C on PC and Mac. On PlayStation and Xbox, hold all four shoulder buttons together (L1, R1, L2 and R2, or LB, RB, LT and RT); press them again to close it. You can enter these commands from Live Mode or Build Mode.
The build cheats begin with bb. and do not need testingcheats true first. That matters on console: EA’s FAQ says only cheats that require testingcheats true disable Achievements and Trophies for the save, so the catalog unlocks below are safe for trophy hunters. Type each line and press Enter:
bb.showhiddenobjectsbb.showliveeditobjectsbb.ignoregameplayunlocksentitlementbb.enablefreebuild
None of them print a confirmation. Open or refresh the catalog and the items are there. The cheats stay on until you quit the game, so re-enter them after every restart.
What Each Cheat Unlocks
bb.showhiddenobjects reveals the debug catalog. EA describes it as showing “all in-game items that aren’t available for purchase”, which in practice means clutter (books, mugs, food plates, toys), collectibles (crystals, fossils, frogs, fish), harvestables and plants, and objects from past events and challenges. This is the cheat builders use for the lived-in look.
bb.showliveeditobjects reveals the objects Maxis used to dress the worlds: full-size trees, rocks, shrubs, fences, street furniture, terrain decals and the like. EA’s FAQ does not list this one, but it has been stable since 2020 and every pack since adds to the pool. The objects are large, often have no swatches, and some have footprints that block routing, so place them outside the house.
bb.ignoregameplayunlocksentitlement makes every career and aspiration reward object buyable, per EA “unlocks all career rewards in Buy mode”. If you want the Doctor career’s exam table or the Astronaut’s rocket without a promotion, this is the line.
bb.enablefreebuild lets you edit locked lots such as the hospital, police station and science lab from Get to Work, and the hidden lots. Our guide to secret areas and hidden lots covers where those are.
How to Find the Unlocked Objects
The unlocked items do not get their own tab. Use the search box at the top of the catalog:
- Enter Build Mode (F3 on PC, or the hammer icon; the Build shortcut on a controller).
- Click the search field and type debug. Every hidden object has “DEBUG” in its name, so this filters to the debug catalog. Add a second word to narrow it (“debug book”, “debug tree”).
- For LiveEdit objects, search the object type instead (“tree”, “rock”, “sign”), then scroll past the normal items.
- Use the room, colour and pack filters to cut the list down; the debug list runs to thousands of entries.
Hidden objects show a plain thumbnail and usually a single swatch. Many cannot be recoloured, resized or slotted, and some have no interactions in Live Mode. If an object needs to overlap something, turn on bb.moveobjects on as well; see how to move objects freely for the placement keys.
Console Differences
The commands and the search box are identical on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series and Xbox One. The differences are in handling: the on-screen keyboard is slow for long commands, so type each line once and leave the console open with the shoulder buttons only when you need it. Scrolling a several-thousand-item debug list with a stick is tedious, so lean on the search terms above. Trophies stay enabled as long as you never enter testingcheats true in that save.
What Changed Since 2025
The cheats themselves are unchanged, but the catalog around them has moved. Verified against official patch notes:
- The March 17, 2026 update moved Pack Select out of Game Options and into My Collection in the new Marketplace, and re-sorted a large number of mis-tagged Build Mode items, so filtering by pack or room is more reliable now.
- The September 2026 patch moved several wall patterns from Paint to Paneling and corrected Tile and Wallpaper tags, and added a set of free children’s Build Mode items (a play table and chair, a mural, clutter and an aquarium) that appear in the normal catalog without any cheat.
- The September 18, 2025 update fixed a music box that showed a debug name on its extra swatches, a reminder that a “DEBUG” label sometimes means a normal object with a broken tag rather than a hidden one.
- Since the June 30, 2026 patch, EA says it adjusted how navmeshes behave to stop placement cheats corrupting lot footprints. If a lot decorated with LiveEdit objects had Sims routing through walls, that was the cause.
For the full command list see our Sims 4 cheats guide, and for turning these objects into a finished home read how to build a perfect house. The Sims guides hub has the rest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need testingcheats true for the bb. cheats? No. The build cheats work on their own, and skipping testingcheats keeps console Achievements and Trophies enabled.
Why can I not see any new objects after entering the cheat? Nothing is added to the tabs. Type “debug” into the catalog search box; if the list is still empty, re-enter the command, because it resets when the game closes.
Can I turn the hidden objects off again? Yes. Enter bb.showhiddenobjects and bb.showliveeditobjects a second time to hide them, or restart the game.
Will lots with debug objects upload to the Gallery? Yes. Other players see the objects without entering any cheat, since the items ship with the base game or the pack they came from.
Do debug objects count toward the lot’s value? Most debug items have a low or zero price, so they add little to the lot value and the bills that come with it.