To install mods and custom content in The Sims 4, download the file, unzip it if it arrived as a .zip or .rar, drop the .package or .ts4script files into Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 4 > Mods, then in the game open Game Options > Other and tick Enable Custom Content and Mods (and Script Mods Allowed for anything with a .ts4script) before restarting. Mods are PC and Mac only: per EA they cannot be downloaded on PlayStation or Xbox, where the paid in-game Marketplace is the only route to outside content. This guide walks through the folder and the options, what to do after every monthly patch, how to find a broken mod, and how the March 2026 Marketplace changes the picture.
The steps are verified against EA’s official installation article and its mods and game updates article, and against the patch notes through the September 22, 2026 update. Once your folder is set up, our list of the 50 best Sims 4 mods is the place to fill it.
Mods versus custom content
EA uses “mods” as the umbrella term for any player-made content. Custom Content (CC) is cosmetic: hair, clothing, furniture, patterns. Game Mods add or change functionality (a new trait, extra cheats, new UI, objects that do something) and may contain script code. That distinction matters because script mods need their own toggle and are far more likely to break when the game updates. EA does not pre-screen or support any of it, so download only from creators you trust and keep the version number of your game handy: it is shown in the lower left of the main menu.
Installing on PC and Mac
- Download the mod. Unzip .zip or .rar archives first; the game only reads .package and .ts4script files.
- Move those files into the Mods folder. On Windows it is Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 4 > Mods; on Mac the same Electronic Arts folder sits in your user Documents. If the Mods folder is missing, create it. EA’s article does not mention subfolders, but the long-standing community rule is that .package files may sit several folders deep while .ts4script files should stay in the Mods folder itself or one subfolder down; we treat that as established practice rather than an official limit.
- Launch the game and open Game Options, then the Other tab.
- Tick Enable Custom Content and Mods. For script mods also tick Script Mods Allowed.
- Apply, then quit and relaunch. A pop-up on load lists every mod the game detected; untick Show at Startup on that pop-up if you would rather not see it each time, which EA says also speeds up loading.
Anything the game could not load will simply be absent, so check your new hair in Create a Sim or your new interaction in Live Mode before playing on. To place a modded object where the grid refuses, our guide to moving objects freely in Sims 4 has the cheat.
What to do after every patch
The Sims 4 patches roughly monthly, and each update automatically disables mods. Per the developer, the routine is:
- Launch with mods disabled, load a save and play a little in Live Mode to confirm the game itself works. Your CC will not appear during this test.
- Exit without saving (Menu in the top right > Exit Game). Saving with mods disabled can strip modded content from that save.
- Check each creator’s page for an updated version and replace any outdated files.
- Re-enable through Game Options > Other > Enable Custom Content and Mods, restart, and test.
The September 22, 2026 patch notes are blunt about why this matters: the developer’s top automated crash report at that point was “stemming from a conflict with outdated mod files”, and the same patch fixed a memory-corruption problem caused by one particular installed mod. EA now points players to a Mods and Game Updates best-practices guide on the EA Forums after every release. Error codes 102, 123, 125, 127, 129 and 131 usually point to a script mod; error 110 usually means an outdated mod after a patch.
Finding the mod that broke your game
EA’s official troubleshooting is the community’s 50/50 method. Empty the Mods folder, add mods back in batches, and launch after each batch. When the problem returns, remove half of that batch and try again until one file is left. Remove Game Mods before Custom Content, because script and tuning mods break far more often than a hairstyle. Floating hats and Sims who eat dinner for 24 hours are EA’s own examples of faults. There is no cap on how many mods you can install, but each one costs memory and CPU.
The Marketplace and Maker Packs
Since the March 17, 2026 update the game has an in-game Marketplace where creators in The Sims Maker Program sell curated Maker Packs of CAS and Build/Buy items for Moola, a virtual currency bought with real money (EA’s announcement lists 200 Moola for $2.49 up to 5,500 for $49.99). Marketplace content installs itself and is managed under My Collection, where Pack Select now lives too; it never touches your Mods folder. Free mods and CC continue exactly as before on PC and Mac, and EA says Makers may still publish free content elsewhere. The Marketplace reached consoles later in 2026, with Quick Buy on Xbox from June 30 and PlayStation from July 21, so console players get official Maker Packs but still no Mods folder. Every other Sims 4 guide we have written is on the Sims hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I install mods on PS5 or Xbox? No. Per EA, mods and custom content are PC and Mac only. Consoles can buy Maker Packs and Kits through the in-game Marketplace instead.
Why did my mods disappear after an update? Every patch disables mods automatically. Re-enable them under Game Options > Other after checking the creators’ pages for updated versions.
What is the difference between .package and .ts4script? .package files hold CC and tuning changes; .ts4script files contain Python script and need the separate Script Mods Allowed toggle.
Do mods disable achievements? The mod toggles themselves do not. On console, cheats that require testingcheats true disable achievements and trophies for that save, but mods are not available there anyway.
Is the Marketplace the same as custom content? No. Maker Packs are official, paid, and installed through the game. Custom content is free, unofficial, and lives in the Mods folder.