Where to find Sims 4 custom content and how to install it

Custom content for The Sims 4 comes from fan-made creators who share their work on dedicated websites. The most common sources are The Sims Resource, Mod The Sims, and Patreon pages run by individual creators. You download the files to your computer, then move them into a specific folder inside your Sims 4 game directory. The game reads those files when it starts up and adds the custom items, clothes, or gameplay changes to your game.

Installation takes about five minutes once you know where the folder is. Most custom content works immediately after you restart the game, though some types require you to enable a setting first. This guide walks you through finding content, downloading it correctly, and putting it in the right place so your game recognizes it.

Key Takeaways

  • Custom content downloads as a .zip or .rar file that you must extract before moving it into your Sims 4 Mods folder.
  • The Mods folder lives inside your Documents folder under Electronic Arts > The Sims 4 > Mods, and you may need to create it if it does not exist.
  • You must enable custom content in your game settings under Other > Enable Mods and Custom Content before the game will load your files.
  • Most custom content works immediately after restarting the game, but some creators include instructions for specific installation steps that you should read before moving files.

Finding custom content on The Sims Resource and Mod The Sims

The Sims Resource and Mod The Sims are the two largest hosting sites for Sims 4 custom content. Both let you search by category — clothes, furniture, hairstyles, gameplay mods — and sort by newest or most downloaded. You do not need an account to browse, though creating one is free and lets you bookmark favorites and track downloads.

When you find something you want, look for a green download button or link on the item's page. Read the creator's description first, because some content requires other mods or packs to work. For example, a hairstyle might need the Seasons pack installed, or a gameplay mod might need another mod called MCCC to function. The creator always lists these requirements near the top of the page.

Download the file to your computer — it will usually land in your Downloads folder. Do not open it yet. Leave it as a .zip or .rar file for now; you will extract it in the next step.

Extracting downloaded files before installation

Custom content arrives compressed in a .zip or .rar file to make the download faster. You must extract (unzip) it before the game can read it. On Windows, right-click the file and choose Extract All. On Mac, double-click the file and it extracts automatically. A new folder will appear in the same location with the actual content files inside.

Some downloads contain a single file — like a .package file for a piece of furniture. Others contain a folder with multiple files inside. Either way, you are looking for the actual content files, not the compressed folder. Once extracted, you can delete the original .zip or .rar file; you no longer need it.

If you see a folder called CC or Mods inside the extracted folder, open that folder first. Some creators organize their downloads with an extra layer of folders. You want to move the actual .package files or .ts4script files into your game's Mods folder, not the wrapper folders around them.

Creating and locating your Mods folder

The Sims 4 looks for custom content in a specific location: Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 4 > Mods. On Windows, open File Explorer and navigate to your Documents folder. You should see an Electronic Arts folder already there. Open it, then open The Sims 4 folder inside. If you do not see a Mods folder, right-click in the empty space and create a new folder called Mods (capital M).

On Mac, open Finder and click Go in the menu bar, then choose Home. Navigate to Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 4. Create a new folder called Mods if it does not exist. The folder name is case-sensitive, so use a capital M.

Once your Mods folder exists, this is where all your custom content goes. You can organize it into subfolders if you want — for example, a Clothes folder, a Furniture folder, and a Mods folder for gameplay changes. The game will search inside subfolders automatically, so organization is entirely up to you.

Moving files into the Mods folder and enabling them in-game

Drag the extracted content files into your Mods folder (or into a subfolder inside Mods if you have organized them). You can move multiple files at once. Do not move the compressed .zip file itself — only the extracted files. Once the files are in place, close any Sims 4 windows and restart the game completely.

Before your custom content appears in the game, you must enable it in your settings. Start a game or go to the main menu, then click the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner. Choose Game Options, then click the Other tab. Look for a toggle that says Enable Mods and Custom Content and turn it on. You may also see a checkbox for Script Mods — turn that on too if you installed any gameplay mods. Click Apply and then OK.

Restart the game again. Your custom content should now appear in the game. Clothes show up in the Create a Sim menu, furniture appears in Build mode, and gameplay mods take effect immediately. If something does not show up, check that the files are actually in your Mods folder and that you restarted the game after moving them.

Troubleshooting when custom content does not appear

If you moved files into your Mods folder, enabled custom content in settings, and restarted the game but still do not see your content, check these things in order. First, verify that Enable Mods and Custom Content is actually turned on — sometimes the setting reverts if you did not click OK. Second, make sure you extracted the files before moving them; the game cannot read compressed .zip files. Third, confirm the files are in the correct folder path: Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 4 > Mods.

If the files are in the right place and the setting is on, the content may be broken or incompatible with your game version. Check the creator's page to see if they have posted an update or a note about compatibility. Some custom content breaks when The Sims 4 receives a major update. Creators usually fix their mods within a few days, so check back later or look for an updated version.

You can also try moving the content to your desktop temporarily, restarting the game, and then moving it back. This forces the game to rebuild its content cache. If it still does not work, the file itself may be corrupted — try downloading it again from the creator's page.

Understanding file types and what they do

Custom content comes in different file types, and knowing what each one does helps you understand what you are installing. A .package file is the most common type — it contains clothes, furniture, hairstyles, or other visual items. A .ts4script file is a gameplay mod that changes how the game works, like adding new interactions or changing how skills function. Some creators also share .zip files that contain both types together.

You do not need to do anything different based on file type — they all go in the same Mods folder. The only difference is that .ts4script files require Script Mods to be enabled in your game settings, while .package files work with just the basic Enable Mods and Custom Content toggle. If you install a gameplay mod and it does not work, go back to Game Options and make sure Script Mods is turned on.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to restart the game every time I add new custom content?

Yes. The game reads your Mods folder when it starts up, so you must close the game completely and restart it after adding or removing files. If you add content while the game is running, it will not appear until you restart.

Can I use custom content from multiple creators at the same time?

Yes. You can have hundreds of files in your Mods folder from different creators, and they will all load together. The only limit is your computer's memory — if you have too much content, the game may run slowly or crash on startup.

What if a creator's website is down or the download link is broken?

Try searching for the creator's name on another site like Mod The Sims or their personal Patreon page. Many creators post their work in multiple places. If you cannot find it anywhere, the content may have been removed by the creator intentionally.

Will custom content work if I play on a console like PlayStation or Xbox?

No. Custom content only works on PC and Mac versions of The Sims 4. Console versions do not support mods or custom content of any kind.

Can custom content cause my game to crash?

Rarely, but it is possible. Broken or outdated mods can cause crashes, especially after a major game update. If your game crashes after adding new content, try removing the newest files one at a time and restarting until the crashes stop. That tells you which file is causing the problem.