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Install Mods and Custom Content in The Sims 4 (Tutorial)

How to install Mods and Custom Content in The Sims 4

Installing Mods and Custom Content in The Sims 4 is very easy for both PC and Mac, if your aren’t sure how to do it, I wrote a quick but detailed tutorial for you to read. Most of the Mods or Custom Content files you can download are .package or .pyo/.py files that come in a compressed ZIP or RAR format.

Make sure you have a program to extract compressed ZIP or RAR files. I recommend that you download 7-Zip for PC and The Unarchiver for Mac, because it’s very easy to use and can extract both file types. These programs will always work for every compressed file that your download with Mods or Custom Content.

Download 7-Zip for Windows: 7-zip.org
Download The Unarchiver for Mac: itunes.apple.com/en/app/the-unarchiver

Install The Sims 4 .package files (Custom Content)

First you need to extract the .zip or .rar file. Do this by using 7-Zip. Double click on the compressed file and click Extract. If this doesn’t work, right click on the compressed file > Open With > 7-Zip File Manager > Extract. Now you can access the .package file.

Install the .package file in the Mods folder. You can do this by cut and paste the file in here. The Mods folder can be found here:

PC folder location: C:\Users\(User Account)\Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 4\Mods
Mac folder location: Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 4\Mods

There is already one file in the Mods folder, don’t remove this file, this file enables the use of these Custom Content

Install The Sims 4 .pyo/.py files (Mods)

Do not unzip the ZIP or RAR files that contains the .pyo/.py files. Just cut and paste the ZIP or RAR files into the Mods folder. The Mods folder can be found here:

PC folder location: C:\Users\(User Account)\Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 4\Mods
Mac folder location: Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 4\Mods

Organizing your Mods folder

Mods FolderIf you are downloading a lot of Mods or Custom Content for your game it’s recommended to categorize these files into new folders that are placed within the Mods folder.

A good way to do this is naming the sub folders the way it’s sorted in game like; Build, Buy, CAS, Traits etc. You can create more sub folders in these ones if needed. This will be easier to find the right mod if you ever want to delete one.

Remove Mods or Custom Content from your game

If you want to remove Mods or Custom Content from The Sims 4 you need to delete the files from your Mods folder or place them in a different folder outside of the mod folder.


FAQ

I can’t find the Mods folder on the place where it should be, what can I do?
When you open The Sims 4 for the first time, this map will automatically be generated. When the Mods folder still can’t be found here: C:\Users\(User Account)\Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 4\Mods create one yourself. Just make sure you’ll give it the right name: Mods

I accidentally removed the Resource.cfg file from the mods folder. How can I get it back?
If you open The Sims 4 it will be automatically generated and the file will be placed back into the Mods folder.

I downloaded a house and it’s an BPI file, how do I put this in my Sims 4 game?
BPI files can be directly installed in the Tray Folder. You can find this folder here: C:\Users\(User Account)\Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 4\Tray

If you have more questions about installing or removing Mods, leave a reply!

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64 Comments

  1. I download the sims 4 through orgin and it didn’t come with a mod instead but it does have a the resource file and even creating the copy version of mod it still doesn’t work am I out of luck?

  2. On the “My Library” tab on my gallery, under the ADVANCED option, there’s only ‘Include Unknown Content’ but no ‘Include Custom Content’ what should i do? πŸ™

    1. when you download it say “show in folder” then cut and paste it into the mods folder you dont have to open anything

  3. I still can’t get custom content to work. The field are opening up in folders so does that mean that they are already unzipped? Crazy question I know. And then I’ve put houses in mods and other things in trays and I can’t find them.

  4. I’ve installed only 4 CAS mods into my game, and activated them. On startup, the mod menu shows them as being recognized, yet when I enter CAS, the mods aren’t there. Help?

  5. I’m trying to download mods that allow new stuff to happen in your game particularly the sims 4 Get to school mod but it is not working I’ve look at video and everything but nothing is working!!! I have a Mac but all the videos are pc so it is kinda confusing to me if you could help that would be great

    1. Hi Owen,
      It may be the content’s fault (broken file or not compatible with the game version) so be sure to check if everything’s okay with the mod you downloaded. Hope this helps!

  6. Ive downloded some CC but the RAR file ones wont show up. Ive tried to put them in the same folder as my other ones but that didnt work i tried puting them in thier own folder but it still wont work please help

  7. Hi for everyone that has problems with mods even though you extract them and put them in the mods folder but still don’t get recognized.. I found out the .cfg file has a structure path in it how the game should read mods. Open the .cfg file in the mods folder with a code editor (notepad++) and read what the exact path is for scripts.

    example:

    Common Install
    C://username/documents/EA/the sims 4/ Mods/ .package files

    If that doesn’t work open the .cfg file with notepad++ to read the correct script pad the game will recognize e.g Test/Packages or another name.
    When you have seen what the exact script path is make a folder in the Mods folder with that exact name

    C://username/documents/EA/the sims 4/ Mods/Test/ .package files

    Now start up the game. The game should recognize your custom content.

    Cheers

    1. Just another update… If you’re game already recognized the mods and you open the .cfg file you’ll notice that the structure path has been edited. backup all your mods, delete the mods folder and restart and than close the game. The game will automatically regenerate a mods folder with a .cfg file , now open that .cfg file, should have the structure path

      1. hi, my game didnt came with the .cfg file and i dont know what to do because i already restarted the game but it doesnt show…. should i download it online?

  8. Hi! I download mods and did all the things from the instruction, I start the game over but only 1 mods hair showed and the rest didnt show. Please Help!

  9. My sims game updated itself and got rid of all my cc, but their all still in the mod file, but every time I go to play all my cc isn’t there. HELP

  10. I download , for example, an hair and place it in the mods folder. When I do that, the game crashes and it apeers an error. I searched about how to solve that error and the way is to delete the folder The Sims 4 ,which is in the documents. When I go play the game, a new folder will create itself, without my cc. What do I do? Help please πŸ™

  11. The game says the cc I have is installed and in and shows the cc menu when i start the game, but the cc does not appear in-game.

  12. Help please? I’ve done everything and none of the custom content I’ve installed shows up in my game. They’re all package files in the correct Mods folder, and the Resource.cfg thing is still there. This is so frustrating, can anyone help?

  13. When I downloaded EYE mods, checked the “enable scripts” on the Game Options, they eye mods don’t appear when I’m making a sim. Help! πŸ™

    1. That is because the game does not have a scroll bar for eye colors. But the mod is there! You may just have to hit the ‘randomize’ dice a few times until it randomly selects the mod you downloaded. Unfortunately, this means you will have to select the eye color before you do anything with the eye shape, since it will be randomized each time.

  14. I have deleted the recource cfg file, it was a accident. But it dosnt show up again after i started up the sims 4. What is the problem?

  15. I have installed 7-zip but non of my mods are able to be opened. I have tried restarting my computer more than once and every time it says that it cant open as archive. I definetly have 7-zip installed so i dont know what the problem is.

    1. Hi, Misty!
      You can CHOOSE what file you want to sort anything in. Just right click on the thing and rename it to whatever you want, there is no correct way!
      I hope this helps!

  16. Hey my mod didn’t appear in the CAS and the lot that i download cannot be place on the sims lot as it says system error as well as modded sims all the item are gone after i merge it with my current household…anyone know how to fix it??

  17. okay i having problems i did all the steps written by u and it did work until some moment when i opened sims 4 it said its on your caution that u enable mods i said yes but still there is not custom content in the sims 4 game what to do can any one help me ?

    1. In one of the latest updates, The Sims team introduced a feature that automatically disables mods,so you have to go under game settings and deactivate this feature.

  18. im trying to download a cute jacket but I double clicked it and it said “open in ap store?” or something like that so I right clickdd but I didn’t get any of rthose choices πŸ™ ive always wanted cc but I cant figure it out!

  19. I downloaded cc houses and furniture from websites and put them in the Tray folder but they doesn’t appear in the game. Help πŸ™

  20. ok so i have everything in my mods folder my mods and so then when i log in the pop up window doesn’t how up so i go to my game options and everything is checked and when i clicked on the view content button (btw I’m on a mac)nothing is there and the show up at start button is ticked so i start to panick and restart my computer everything you can think of so idk what to do please help me

  21. i try the mod in the sims 4 deluxe edition and then i played the but the game say script is not found,i hope you can help me? (sorry,bad english)

  22. Hello, i am not sure how to download anything onto my sims 4 game. Mostly because I downloaded from origin, so there is no disc. I had the sims 3 and it took me forever to figure out mods lol. But now I dont have a folder and the game isnt on my computer….its in origin. How do I download mods now?

    1. You can always create a folder. If origin’s a problem you can click the cog (settings button) and then click “disable origin”.
      One you click the download button you click “show in folder” and it will show. It will already be in mods, you can press cut and paste it into whatever folder you want.
      I hope this helps!

    1. I think you might have ticked “don’t show this again”. The mod list doesn’t have to show for mods/cc to work.
      I hope this helps!

    1. You don’t get mods from the gallery you get them online. Like if you search custom content on google they’re lots of creators you can download from!
      I hope this helps!

  23. Ive downloaded Unarchiver as you said, and when I try to open the .package download I liked it said that it could not be extracted with this program. What do I do?? Please and thank you! Ive been at this for hours now.

  24. Hi I was just curious if the compressed file extractor is safe for my computer (the PC one), I’m just nervous to download it, I don’t want it to mess up my computer or to give me a virus. Thanks so much πŸ™‚

  25. Yeah, um. I downloaded mine through Origin, so it’s Program Files (x86)/Origin Games/The Sims 4/ and then there’s no “mods” folder in there…

  26. Hi everyone,
    I hope I placed all the downloaded items correctly, but terrain or floor mods are unable to find in game. Anyone has an advice for that please? The in game ones are really terrible .. πŸ˜€
    Thank you πŸ™‚

  27. We just purchased the camping and restaurants mod. It downloaded but now I have no clue how to access them. They do not show up in my mods folder and everything that I read about extracting and zipping is so beyond my knowledge of computers. I need simple steps. I have spent hours on this already for my son. I can’t even figure out how to redownload them or get a refund since we can’t figure out how to use them.

    1. You need to go on origin and use the code from your mode package /CD to download them.
      If you bought them online make sure to download them in origin or you need to GO ON YOUR EMAIL AND USE THE CODE. If you do not know what I mean go to your email and you will understand. I hope this helps!

    1. You need to download a Primary school/Elementary school or Secondary school/high school from the gallery or build your own.
      I hope this helps!

  28. I have the Sims 4 cracked version. I do what is told to do to install Custom Content. But when I open the game, and go into the Mods folder, I cannot see my installed mods listed there. I do have the .cfg file in my Mods folder, but I still cannot get my mods in the actual game. What do you recommend I do?

    1. Try buying the game. πŸ™‚ For starters, it is illegal to crack a game. Next to that, cracked versions have things altered in order for them to work. Mods are not made for these altered versions, but for the proper version. So yeah.. Buy the game.

  29. So the last time I had mods, my game crashed so I deleted all of them. Well now they aren’t opening with the normal software, and don’t show up at all when I open my game even though they are all in the folder. I dunno if I did something lol but I noticed the icon next to the mod name is different. I’d just like to get it back to normal

  30. Hi it says compressed file but I dont have the compressed file I tried to compress it but it says compress and email nothing else anywhere

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