Sims 3: How to Reset a Sim

To reset a Sim in The Sims 3, open the cheat console with Ctrl + Shift + C (Cmd + Shift + C on the 64-bit Mac version), type resetSim FirstName LastName with the Sim’s real name, and press Enter. The Sim is sent home with their action queue cleared, which fixes most frozen, stuck or looping Sims. This guide covers the exact syntax, the name traps that make the command fail, resetting everyone at once, and what to try when a reset is not enough.

The command is part of the base game of The Sims 3, so it works on every version, with or without expansions, and it does not need testing cheats.

How to Reset One Sim

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + C on Windows (or on an older 32-bit Mac install). On the current 64-bit Mac version, community documentation says the shortcut is Cmd + Shift + C.
2. In the bar that appears at the top of the screen, type resetSim followed by the Sim’s first and last name, for example resetSim Bella Goth.
3. Press Enter, then Esc to close the console.

According to community documentation, the reset gives the Sim neutral needs, clears their moodlets, cancels whatever they were doing and teleports them back to their home lot. Player reports agree that skills, traits, relationships, inventory and career are left alone, which is why it is the standard first fix.

Getting the Name Right

Most failed resets are a typing problem, not a game problem.

• Use the name exactly as the game shows it, including spelling. Hover over the Sim’s portrait if you are unsure.
• Names with a space need quotation marks. Community documentation notes the console needs quotes or apostrophes around any name part that contains a space, such as a family called De Luca: resetSim FirstName "De Luca".
• Do not add role titles. A tourist or service Sim shown as “Name, Tourist” is reset with just their name.

If the game does not recognise the name, nothing happens. Double-check and try again.

Resetting Every Sim at Once

Per community documentation, the wildcard version resets every Sim in the town:

resetSim *

This is the nuclear option for a save where lots of Sims are stuck, or where lag and crashes have built up. It interrupts everyone at once, so save first and expect Sims all over town to drop what they were doing.

What Resetting Fixes

Try a reset when a Sim:

• stops responding to your commands, or keeps cancelling every action,
• is stuck in a looping animation or stuck inside an object,
• will not leave work, a rabbit hole or a room,
• has need bars that stopped moving,
• died but the Grim Reaper never came. Community documentation notes the reset can undo a death that has not finished processing, which is worth knowing before you run it on a Sim you meant to lose.

For stuck objects rather than Sims, turn on testing cheats (testingCheatsEnabled true) and Shift-click the object; community documentation lists a Delete option that removes it even if the game normally will not let you. Our cheats guide covers the rest of the debug menus.

When a Reset Is Not Enough

If Sims keep freezing, something in the save or the install is usually to blame.

• Save, quit and reload. A fresh load clears a lot of temporary problems.
• Test without custom content. EA’s Sims 3 troubleshooting page recommends selecting Installed Content in the launcher and ticking Run without custom content, then adding items back one by one to find the culprit.
• Update the game. EA’s help says players on version 1.67 or earlier should update to 1.69 through their EA account.
• Community mods. Long-running saves often use the NRaas Overwatch and ErrorTrap mods, which, according to their community documentation, clean up background errors and reset stuck Sims automatically. NRaas MasterController also adds reset tools. These are unofficial, so back up saves first; our mod installation guide and best Sims 3 mods list cover setup.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the reset cheat in The Sims 3? resetSim FirstName LastName, typed into the console opened with Ctrl + Shift + C (Cmd + Shift + C on the 64-bit Mac version).

Do I need testing cheats to use resetSim? No. It works on its own, per community documentation.

Will resetting a Sim delete anything? Player reports say no. It clears their current actions, moodlets and position, not their skills, relationships or inventory.

Can I reset all Sims at once? Community documentation says resetSim * resets every Sim in town. Save before trying it.

Why is resetSim not working? Usually the name. Check the spelling and put quotes around any name that contains a space.

For every other Sims guide, visit our Sims hub.