The basic process: download, extract, and place in the mods folder

Installing a Sims 4 mod means downloading a file from a mod site, extracting it if needed, and moving it to a specific folder on your computer where the game looks for mods. The game checks this folder every time it starts, so once the file is in the right place, the mod loads automatically. Most mods take under five minutes to install once you have the file.

The steps are the same whether you are using a Windows PC or a Mac, though the folder location differs slightly. You do not need to restart your computer, but you do need to close and reopen The Sims 4 after placing the mod file in the folder.

Key Takeaways

  • Mods go into a folder called Mods inside your Documents/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4 directory, and the game only reads mods from this exact location.
  • Most mod files come as .zip archives and must be extracted before the game can use them; leaving them zipped is the most common installation mistake.
  • The Sims 4 must be closed completely before you move mod files into the folder, or the game may not recognize them.
  • Script mods and CC (custom content) go in the same Mods folder, but script mods need a specific subfolder structure to work correctly.
  • If a mod does not appear in-game after installation, check that you extracted the file, placed it in the correct folder, and closed and reopened the game.

Finding and downloading a mod file

Mods come from fan sites like The Sims Resource, Mod The Sims, and creator pages on Patreon. When you find a mod you want, look for a download button on the mod's page. The file will usually be a .zip archive — a compressed folder that holds the actual mod file inside.

Save the file to your Downloads folder or anywhere you can find it easily. Do not move it yet; you need to extract it first. Some mod creators also offer the mod as a standalone file without a .zip wrapper, in which case you can move it directly to the Mods folder without extracting.

Locating your Mods folder on Windows

Open File Explorer and navigate to your Documents folder. Inside Documents, look for a folder called Electronic Arts. Open that, then look for The Sims 4 folder inside it. If you see a Mods folder already there, open it — this is where your mods go. If there is no Mods folder, you will need to create one.

To create the Mods folder, right-click inside the The Sims 4 folder, select New, then Folder. Name it exactly Mods (capital M, no spaces). The game is case-sensitive about this folder name on some systems, so match the capitalization.

The full path should look like this: Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 4 > Mods. Bookmark or pin this folder so you can find it quickly when you need to add more mods later.

Locating your Mods folder on Mac

Open Finder and click Go in the menu bar at the top. Select Library from the dropdown. Inside Library, look for a folder called Application Support. Open that, then look for The Sims 4 folder. If you see a Mods folder inside, that is where your mods go. If not, create one by right-clicking inside The Sims 4 folder, selecting New Folder, and naming it Mods.

The full path is: Library > Application Support > The Sims 4 > Mods. On Mac, the Library folder is hidden by default, so using the Go menu is the fastest way to reach it.

Extracting a .zip file and moving it to the Mods folder

If your mod file is a .zip archive, you need to extract it before the game can use it. On Windows, right-click the .zip file and select Extract All. A new folder will appear with the same name as the .zip file. Open that folder and look inside — you should see the actual mod file, which is usually a .package file or a .ts4script file.

Move this extracted file (not the .zip itself, and not the folder it came in) into your Mods folder. If the mod came with a subfolder structure — for example, a folder named after the creator with a .ts4script file inside — move the entire folder structure into Mods. Script mods in particular need their folder structure intact to work.

On Mac, double-clicking a .zip file extracts it automatically. The extracted folder will appear in the same location as the .zip. Open it, find the mod file inside, and move it to your Mods folder using the same process.

Do not leave the .zip file in your Mods folder. The game reads only the extracted files, not the archives themselves.

Closing the game and reloading your mods

Close The Sims 4 completely if it is open. Do not just minimize it — use File > Exit or close the window entirely. Wait a few seconds, then reopen the game. When it starts, it scans the Mods folder and loads any files it finds there.

If you installed a script mod, you may also need to enable script mods in the game settings. Open The Sims 4, go to Options, click Other, and make sure Script Mods are turned on. If this setting is off, the game will ignore all script mods even if they are in the correct folder.

Troubleshooting mods that do not appear in-game

If a mod you installed is not showing up, check these things in order. First, verify that you extracted the .zip file and moved the extracted mod file (not the .zip) into the Mods folder. Second, confirm that the Mods folder is in the correct location: Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 4 > Mods on Windows, or Library > Application Support > The Sims 4 > Mods on Mac. Third, close and reopen the game completely.

If the mod is a script mod and still does not appear, check that Script Mods are enabled in Options > Other. If you installed multiple mods at once and only some are missing, the missing ones may be outdated or incompatible with your current game version. Check the mod's page to see if the creator has posted an update.

If the mod is custom content (clothing, furniture, or objects) and does not show up in the game, it may be in the correct folder but hidden by the game's content filter. In Create a Sim or Build mode, look for a filter icon and make sure custom content is not turned off.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have multiple mods in the same Mods folder?

Yes. You can put as many mods as you want in the Mods folder, and the game will load them all when it starts. If you ever need to disable a mod without deleting it, move it out of the Mods folder temporarily and reopen the game.

What is the difference between a .package file and a .ts4script file?

.package files are usually custom content like clothes or furniture. .ts4script files are script mods that change how the game works. Both go in the Mods folder, but script mods need Script Mods enabled in the game settings to work.

Do I need to extract mods if they come as a folder instead of a .zip?

No. If a mod is already a folder with files inside, you can move the entire folder directly into your Mods folder. Some creators package mods this way to preserve the folder structure that script mods need.

Will installing mods break my save files?

Mods do not damage save files, but removing a mod from an active save can cause problems. If you install a mod and then remove it later, that save may have issues. Keep mods you are using in the Mods folder for as long as you play that save.

How do I know if a mod is outdated?

Check the mod's page on the creator's site or the mod database. Creators usually post when a mod stops working after a game update. If a mod has not been updated in over a year and you just updated your game, it is likely outdated and may cause problems.