Sims 4: How to Change Traits

To change a Sim’s traits in The Sims 4 with cheats, open the console, type testingcheats true, then cas.fulleditmode, then Shift-click the Sim and choose Modify in CAS: the full Create a Sim editor opens with traits unlocked. Without cheats, buy the Re-Traiting Potion from the Rewards Store with Satisfaction points and have your Sim drink it to pick new traits.

Once a Sim leaves Create a Sim, players report that the regular mirror and dresser tools keep traits locked, which is why the question comes up so often. Below we cover both methods step by step, the single-trait cheats, how to change an aspiration, and a hidden trait problem worth knowing about. The cheats come from EA’s official cheat list; where a detail rests on community documentation instead, we say so.

Method 1: The Re-Traiting Potion (No Cheats)

1. Earn Satisfaction points. Your Sim gets them by completing aspiration milestones and fulfilling wants.
2. Open the Rewards Store. EA’s aspirations article places it behind the gift icon on the right side of the Aspiration panel.
3. Buy the Re-Traiting Potion. Community documentation lists it at 5,000 Satisfaction points in the base game.
4. Drink it from your Sim’s inventory. A trait picker opens so you can swap their personality traits.

It is expensive, so it suits a single Sim you care about rather than a whole household. If you are short on points, sims.give_satisfaction_points followed by a number (with testing cheats on) is on EA’s official cheat list.

Method 2: cas.fulleditmode (Full Edit)

This is the fastest way and changes everything at once.

1. Open the cheat console: Ctrl + Shift + C on PC and Mac. On PlayStation and Xbox, press all four shoulder buttons together.
2. Type testingcheats true and press Enter.
3. Type cas.fulleditmode and press Enter.
4. Shift-click your Sim and choose Modify in CAS. On console, EA lists the Shift-click equivalent as holding Circle and pressing X on PlayStation, or holding B and pressing A on Xbox.
5. Change the traits (and anything else, including aspiration and physical features), then click the check mark.

Community documentation notes that without cas.fulleditmode, Modify in CAS behaves like a mirror, with traits greyed out. You can switch it back off with cas.fulleditmode false. On console, EA warns that cheats needing testingcheats true disable achievements and trophies for that save.

Method 3: Add or Remove a Single Trait by Cheat

For one trait at a time, players use two commands with testing cheats on:

• traits.equip_trait followed by the trait’s internal name adds a trait.
• traits.remove_trait followed by the trait’s internal name removes one.

Internal names often differ from the display names. EA’s own patch notes have used the full form, for example traits.equip_trait trait_OccultMermaid_TYAE, and community guides say the trait_ prefix makes base game traits more reliable (such as trait_Bookworm). A third command, traits.clear_traits, is widely reported to remove every trait from the selected Sim, but it is not on EA’s official list, so save first. For skill-related shortcuts, our skill cheats cover the rest, and the full console list is in our Sims 4 cheats guide.

The Hidden Trait Problem

Players on EA’s forums and Steam have reported that removing a trait in Create a Sim can leave it working in the background: the icon is gone, but the behavior stays. The community fix is to add the trait back with traits.equip_trait and then remove it again with traits.remove_trait. If a Sim acts out of character after an edit, that is the first thing to try. The same traits.remove_trait command is one of the ways to bring a ghost back to life, since ghosts carry a ghost trait.

How to Change an Aspiration

Aspirations change without cheats. Open the Aspiration panel in Live Mode and pick a new one at any time. One rule from EA is worth knowing: only the bonus trait of the aspiration chosen in Create a Sim is ever awarded, and the Sim keeps it after switching. So a switch will not cost your Sim that trait, and it will not give them a new one either.

Tips Most Players Miss

• Choose with a plan. Our best traits for storytelling and the full Sims 4 traits list help you avoid needing a change later.
• Aging adds a slot. Sims gain trait slots as they age up, so a teen’s personality is not final; our aging guide covers the life stages.
• Reward traits are separate. Traits bought from the Rewards Store sit in their own slots, apart from personality traits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you change traits without cheats? Yes. The Re-Traiting Potion from the Rewards Store lets a Sim choose new traits.

Why are traits greyed out in Modify in CAS? Without cas.fulleditmode, Modify in CAS is limited. Turn the cheat on first.

Does cas.fulleditmode work on console? It is on EA’s official cheat list, and EA gives console button combos for the console and Shift-click. Using it disables achievements and trophies for that save.

Can I change a Sim’s aspiration? Yes, anytime from the Aspiration panel, no cheats needed.

Will changing traits affect relationships? No. Relationships are separate from traits, although new traits change how the Sim reacts from then on. More Sims 4 help lives on our Sims guides hub.