To install XML Injector in The Sims 4, download it from the official XML Injector page, unzip it, and drop both files straight into your Mods folder, not a subfolder. Then turn on Script Mods Allowed in Game Options > Other, restart the game, and click your household’s mailbox: an XML Injector Test option there confirms it is working.
This guide covers what XML Injector actually does and whether you need it, the full install, how to keep it current after patches, and what to check when the test option never appears. Like every mod, it is for PC and Mac only: per EA, mods cannot be installed on PlayStation or Xbox.
What XML Injector Is and Whether You Need It
XML Injector is a library mod. It was written by the late modder Scumbumbo, whose site is now run by a group of mod authors who keep his mods working, and the current version is maintained by Triplis. In Scumbumbo’s own words on the official page, it lets modders make simple changes, such as adding interactions to objects, Sims, the phone or the relationship panel, with a small XML snippet instead of writing and maintaining their own script. The library does the scripting for them.
That means two things for players:
- On its own, it does nothing. The official page says to install it only if another mod tells you it is required.
- Plenty of popular mods do require it. Many of the entries in our best Sims 4 mods list, including several of LittleMsSam’s, name XML Injector as a requirement, and a mod’s own page always lists what it needs.
If a mod you want lists XML Injector, install it first, then add the mod.
How to Install XML Injector Step by Step
- Download from the official page. Use the Download button on scumbumbomods.com. EA’s own mod guidance is to download only from trusted sources, and look-alike “XML Injector” download sites turn up in search results, so skip those.
- Unzip the download. Inside are two files. As of the current release they are XmlInjector_Script_v4.2.ts4script and XmlInjector_Script_Test_Users_v4.2.package.
- Put both files directly in the Mods folder. On Windows and Mac that is Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 4 > Mods. The official page says to use the main Mods folder rather than a subfolder, so you can always find the file and check its version number when it is time to upgrade.
- Enable mods and script mods. Launch the game, open Game Options > Other, and tick Enable Custom Content and Mods and Script Mods Allowed. The official page stresses the second one: although XML Injector lets other mods skip their own scripts, it is itself a script, so nothing works without that box ticked.
- Restart the game. Mod settings only take effect after a relaunch.
- Run the test. Load your household, click the mailbox, and choose XML Injector Test. A notification should say it is working properly.
- Optionally remove the test file. Once it passes, you can delete the Test_Users .package file so the test option stops appearing. Keep the .ts4script file: remove that and every mod that depends on it stops working.
If you have not set up a Mods folder before, our guide to installing mods and custom content walks through it from scratch.
Keeping It Updated After Patches
The Sims 4 patches regularly, and EA’s help article on mods and game updates explains that every update turns mods off, so after each patch you re-tick both options in Game Options > Other. XML Injector itself rarely needs replacing, but a few habits help:
- Check the official page a day or two after a game update. The page asks players to do exactly this in case a fix is posted.
- Watch the version your mods ask for. The official page warns that a mod may one day require a newer XML Injector than the one you have. The version is in the file name, which is why it belongs in the main Mods folder.
- Replace, do not stack. When a new version comes out, remove the old files before adding the new ones, so only one copy of the script is loaded.
- Use the Mod Status page. The same site keeps a status list for each game patch. As of the page for patch 1.128, the current one, XML Injector v4.2 sits in the Status Not Confirmed group, so keep an eye on it after the next update.
The page lists version 4.2 as written for game patch 1.116.202 and newer, and notes an update by Triplis in September 2025.
When the Test Option Does Not Appear
If there is no XML Injector Test on your mailbox, the official page says the injector is not installed properly and will not work for mods that depend on it. Work through these in order:
- Script Mods Allowed is off. This is the most common cause, especially right after a patch.
- The files are too deep. Script mods only load from the Mods folder or one subfolder below it. Move both files to the top of Mods.
- The files are still zipped. The game cannot read a .zip; extract the two files.
- You are looking in the wrong place. Older guides say to check computers and phones too, but the site’s status notes explain that the renamed players’ test package now adds the test interaction only to mailboxes.
- Another mod is failing to load. Broken or outdated mods can stop others from loading. Our MC Command Center guide explains the LastException warnings that usually point to the culprit.
If the test passes but a mod that needs XML Injector still does nothing, the problem is almost always that mod, so check its creator’s page for an update. More Sims 4 help is on our Sims guides hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need XML Injector for The Sims 4? Only if a mod you use says it requires it. On its own, it adds nothing to the game apart from the test option.
Does XML Injector work on PS5 or Xbox? No. Per EA, mods are only available on PC and Mac.
Can XML Injector go in a subfolder? The official page says to install it directly in the Mods folder so you can find it easily when it needs upgrading.
Can I delete the XML Injector test package? Yes, once the test works. Keep the .ts4script file, which other mods rely on.
Why can’t I see XML Injector Test on my computer? Current versions only add the test interaction to your household’s mailbox.