Cheats are a useful way of enhancing video games or making life easier for the player. The Sims 4 is no exception, containing a generous number of cheats to play with. Cheats in The Sims 4 can be very powerful, granting you free money or altering your Sim’s Needs, Mood, Skills, Career, and Relationships. Our guide provides a list of all cheats in The Sims 4 base game so you can quickly apply them to your game.
Note: This guide only covers base game cheats. It does not feature cheats that only appear in packs for The Sims 4. These appear in separate guides.
How to Enable Cheats in The Sims 4 (PC & Console)
The first thing you need to know is how to enable cheats in The Sims 4. You need to know where and how you can access them. The first step depends on which platform you’re playing on: PC or console. This step involves bringing up the cheat input box, known as the cheat console, which is where you type in the cheat you want in order to activate it in your game.
How to Open the Cheat Console on PC and Mac
Enabling cheats in The Sims 4 on PC and Mac are the same, except using one different button prompt, depending on whether you have PC or Mac. Here are the full steps to take in opening the cheat console:
- On PC, press Ctrl + Shift + C. On Mac, press Command + Shift + C.
- When done correctly, a white box appears in the top left of your screen.
- Type in the cheat you want to enable into the cheat console, then press Enter to activate the cheat.
- Once you’re finished entering cheats, you can close the cheat console by pressing Ctrl/Command + Shift + C again, or pressing ESC.
You can enter as many cheats as you like into the cheat console. There are no limits.
When enabling cheats, make sure you have written it out correctly. Watch out for lower and uppercase letters, numbers, and symbols. One incorrect letter or symbol can cause the cheat to not activate. Also, be aware that cheats do not have spaces in them, unless specifically stated.
The cheat console appears in the top left corner, ready and waiting for cheats to be entered.
How to Open the Cheat Console on PlayStation 4 | 5
The process of enabling cheats in The Sims 4 on PlayStation and Xbox consoles is similar, but with different button prompts.
On the PlayStation 4 and 5, follow these steps.
- To open the cheat console, press and hold L1, L2, R1, and R2 at the same time.
- Enter the cheat you want to activate.
- To close the cheat console, press and hold L1, L2, R1, and R2 together.
How to Open the Cheat Console on Xbox One | Xbox Series X/S
Opening the cheat console in The Sims 4 on Xbox consoles is similar to PlayStation, by holding all the trigger buttons.
- To open the cheat console, press and hold LT, LB, RT, and RB together.
- Enter the cheat you want to activate.
- To close the cheat console, press and hold LT, LB, RT, and RB at the same time.
(Video by Chad Reddings)
How to Shift-Click Objects in The Sims 4 on PC, Mac, PlayStation, and Xbox
To access some cheats in The Sims 4, you have to shift-click on a Sim or object. How you do this depends on the platform you’re playing on.
- PC and Mac: Shift + Left Mouse Button
- PlayStation: Hold Circle + Press X
- Xbox: Hold B + Press A
Do Cheats Disable Achievements on Console in The Sims 4?
If you’re playing The Sims 4 on PlayStation and Xbox, be aware that some cheats can disable unlocking trophies and achievements. It’s advised that you should use cheats with caution if you play The Sims 4 on console and are working to get trophies and achievements.
How to Enable testingcheats in The Sims 4
Some cheats in The Sims 4 require an extra step in order to unlock them. This is known as testingcheats. It is a toggle cheat, requiring the true or false command after it.
By default, testingcheats is set to false when you load a game. If you want to access certain cheats, you need to declare testingcheats true.
When you’re looking to use a certain cheat in The Sims 4, check first if you need testingcheats true to activate it.
After entering testingcheats true, a message should appear confirming that cheats are enabled.
All Base Game Cheats in The Sims 4 (PC, Mac, PlayStation, and Xbox)
Cheats cover different elements in The Sims 4 and can be found in the three game modes: Create-A-Sim, Build Mode, and Live Mode. Make sure you enable the cheat in the correct mode and have it activated so it’s ready to use.
General Cheats in The Sims 4 (No testingcheats Required)
Some players may be hesitant to use cheats due to them potentially being “unsafe”, such as corrupting a game’s save file. The following cheats are safe to use and do not require testingcheats to be activated first.
| Cheat Name | What It Does |
| casclockspeed [0 – 10] | Used in Create-A-Sim. 0 freezes your Sim, while 10 speeds them up. For normal speed, set to 1. |
| fps [on / off] | Displays the game’s frames-per-second (FPS) in the top corner. Useful for monitoring game’s performance. |
| freerealestate [on / off] | Allows household to move into any property for free, regardless of current funds. Extremely useful for starter Sims with low funds and limited options. |
| fullscreen | Switches between fullscreen and windowed mode. |
| headlineeffects [on / off] | Toggles thought bubbles and Plumbob (the floating gem) above Sims. |
| help | Displays list of general cheats in The Sims 4. |
| hovereffects [on / off] | Removes the glow effect around a Sim or object when hovering over them. |
| quit | Prompts the game to exit. |
| resetsim [Sim’s First Name] [Sim’s Last Name] | Cancels all current and queued actions. Useful for stuck Sims due to routing issues or glitches. |
| sims.get_sim_id_by_name [Sim’s / Pet’s Full Name] | Displays Sim or Pet’s ID required for other cheats. |
| testingcheats [true / false] | Unlocks other cheats when set to true. |
| Version | Displays current version of The Sims 4. |
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- You can get rid of the Plumbob as well as thought bubbles with Headline Effects Off.
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- You can get rid of the outline around Sims, objects, and all interactable items with Hover Effects Off.
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- A Sim’s ID is needed for some cheats, including DLC cheats, so knowing this is useful.
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- Frames-per-second (FPS) on show monitors your computer’s performance while running The Sims 4.
Money Cheats in The Sims 4 Base Game
There are lots of different ways to get money in The Sims 4. If you want money – and a lot of it – fast, cheating is one option.
| Cheat Name | What It Does |
| kaching | Adds §1000 to your current household’s funds. |
| rosebud | Adds §1000 to your current household’s funds. |
| money [set amount] | Sets the current household’s funds to whatever amount you put into the cheat console. You must have testingcheats true enabled to activate this cheat. |
| motherlode | Adds §50,000 to your current household’s funds. |
cas.fulleditmode Cheat
Create-A-Sim in The Sims 4 only has one cheat exclusive to this mode: cas.fulleditmode.
When you access Create-A-Sim from Live Mode (such as the interaction Plan Outfit via a mirror, wardrobe, dresser, etc.), you usually find that you cannot change certain things that you could when creating a new household from the World Map or starting a new game. Activating cas.fulleditmode allows you to change everything about your Sim.
This cheat is also available on non-active Sims (aka Sims not currently in your control). However, you will need to activate testingcheats true, then shift-click the target Sim and select Modify in CAS.
Full Edit Mode allows you to have complete customization control over your Sims.
Build Mode Cheats in The Sims 4
These cheats for The Sims 4 are specifically for Build Mode, unlocking otherwise hidden objects or removing placement restrictions.
| Cheat Name | What It Does |
| bb.ignoregameplayunlocksentitlement | Unlocks all Career Reward objects. Useful if you want an object that can only be unlocked by playing through a specific career track. |
| bb.moveobjects | Removes restriction of object placement. To raise or lower an object, press Ctrl + 9 and Ctrl + 0. |
| bb.showhiddenobjects | Unlocks special objects usually unseen and unavailable in Build Mode catalog. After activating cheat, enter DEBUG in catalog search bar to bring up these objects. testingcheats true must be activated first. |
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- You can access objects locked behind not just careers, but also past events in The Sims 4.
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- You can find all kinds of weird and wonderful stuff under Debug.
Live Mode Cheats in The Sims 4 (No testingcheats Required)
Live Mode is where all the action happens in The Sims 4, where your Sims live out their lives, either autonomously or completely in your control. The following cheats are used in this mode and do not require testingcheats true to be activated.
| Cheat Name | What It Does |
| clock.advance_game_time [hour] [minute] [second] | Sets in-game time to whatever you put in. Use with caution as it can cause issues, such as negatively affecting Sim’s Needs, career, etc. |
| death.toggle [true / false] | Affects mortality of Sims. When set to false, your Sim will not die. |
| objects.consumables_infinite_toggle [true / false] | Stops dishes getting dirty and spoiled. |
Live Mode Cheats in The Sims 4 (testingcheats Required)
The following cheats are used in Live Mode in The Sims 4 and require testingcheats true to be activated first.
How to Shift-Click in The Sims 4 (PC, Mac, PlayStation, Xbox)
First, you need to know how to shift-click in The Sims 4, as some cheats can only be accessed via shift-click on objects and Sims.
- PC/Mac: Shift + Left Mouse Button
- PlayStation: Hold O + X
- Xbox: Hold B + A
Shift Click is available in all platforms for The Sims 4.
Teleport Sims Anywhere
Want to transport your Sim to a particular spot on the Lot or in the neighborhood? You can after taking these simple steps:
- Enable testingcheats true in the cheat console.
- Shift-click where you want to go to on the ground.
- Select Teleport Me Here.
The Teleport cheat is extremely useful if you want to quickly jump to a location, especially as Sims can take forever getting from A to B long distance.
Teleport is probably one of the best cheats to come out of testingcheats.
Reset Bugged Objects (Debug Reset)
If an item is stuck or not functioning correctly, you can shift-click it and select Reset Object (Debug).
Force Objects to Become Clean or Dirty
If you want to make an item dirty or clean (such as a toilet or counter), you can shift-click the item and select Make Dirty or Make Clean.
If you hate cleaning, or want to purposely create a filthy environment, Make Clean/Dirty is a quick shift-click cheat.
Set Any Object as Sim’s Head
You can place a random object of your choice on a Sim’s head by shift-clicking the target object and selecting Set as Head. To remove the item, shift-click on the Sim and select Reset Object (Debug).
You can have a lot of fun with the Set as Head cheat.
Mailbox Cheats (Disable/Enable/Fill Needs)
Some testingcheats true cheats can be found by shift-clicking on the mailbox on your Sim’s property and looking under Alter Needs.
| Cheat Name | What It Does |
| Disable [World / Household] Needs Decay | Sims’ Needs won’t deplete. |
| Enable [World / Household] Needs Decay | Sims’ Needs will deplete. |
| Fill Needs [World / Household] | Fills up the Needs of every Sim, either in the whole neighborhood or just the current playable lot. |
| Schedule Burglar Visit | Prompts a Burglar to visit your Sim’s Lot that night (between 12am – 5am) |
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- The mailbox alters not just one Sim’s Needs, but a whole household or even neighborhood.
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- Want a burglar to drop in but don’t want to wait? Use Schedule Burglar Visit!
Shift-Click Sim Cheats (Needs and Mood)
With testingcheats true activated, you can shift-click on Sims as well as objects. These bring up a host of useful commands not normally accessible without cheats.
The following cheats appear under the tab Cheat Need on Sims (except for Lock All Motive Decay, which instead appears under Cheat Sim Info).
| Cheat Name | What It Does |
| Make Happy | Fills up all Sim’s Motives. This puts them in a good mood. |
| Disable / Enable Need Decay | Need Decay enabled by default. Disable Need Decay stops all Needs from depleting. |
| Lock All Motive Decay | Stops Needs from depleting. |
Make your Sims instantly Happy or halt Need decay with these shift-click Need cheats.
Shift-Click Sim Cheats (Relationships and Household)
These cheats focus on adjusting Relationships and households, appearing under the option Marriage.
| Cheat Name | What It Does |
| Clear Marriages | Wipes out all married statuses on a Sim. |
| Marry [Target Sim] Only | Leaves only the target Sim as the married Sim. |
| Modify in CAS | Edit Sim in Create-A-Sim without using wardrobe or mirror. Can be used on non-active Sims. |
| Remove From Family | Gets rid of a Sim in a household without manually kicking them out or killing them. |
| Add to Family | Add the Sim you desire to your household, bypassing Ask to Join Household action. Not available if household is at maximum 8 Sims. |
These cheats can be used with Sims outside your control as well.
Shift-Click Sim Cheats (CAS and Debug Options)
These cheats fall under Debug and bring up Create-A-Sim. They appear under different options.
| Cheat Name | What It Does |
| Reset Sim (Debug) | Erases action queue for any Sim. Useful for visitors behaving inappropriately while avoiding expelling them. |
| Cheat Sim Info > Add Sim Preferences | Randomly assigns 3 to 4 Likes and Dislikes. |
| Marriage > Make into Plant Sim (DEBUG) | Turns target Sim into a Plant Sim. |
| Marriage > Career Gigs Picker (Debug)… | Regardless of what career your Sim currently has, you can assign specific gigs (such as Freelance Career gigs) with this cheat. |
| Toddler Care > Change Outfit… | Opens Create-A-Sim for the target Toddler. |
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- With the Plant Sim cheat, your Sim will remain a Plant Sim for five days.
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- The gig picker cheat is useful for finding gigs not currently available in the daily Gigs List.
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- Remove From Family immediately removes the Sim from the household.
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- Add Sim Preferences assigns 3 to 4 random Likes and Dislikes.
Build Mode Tools in The Sims 4 (No Cheats Required)
The Sims 4 is a great tool for building properties, especially as it is superior to its predecessors with its flexible and time-saving tools and tricks. Cheats specifically tailored for Build Mode make it even better.
The following aren’t exactly “cheats”, meaning you don’t have to enter anything into the cheat console or have testingcheats enabled. These are nifty little tricks that you may not be aware of. They are very handy if you want to get really creative or open up new building and design possibilities in The Sims 4.
Resizing Objects
You can freely move objects around, whether on the ground, wall, ceiling, or a surface, but the only thing you cannot do is resize an object… normally. If you want to place a certain object but want to make it bigger or smaller, there is a tool that does just that.
Depending on the platform, you need to do the following:
- PC/Mac: Hold Shift + [ (enlarge) or ] (shrink).
- PlayStation: Hold L2 and R2 + Left Button (shrink) or Right Button (enlarge).
- Xbox: Hold LT and RT + Left Button (shrink) or Right Button (enlarge).
Be aware that objects will no longer function if resized, whether made smaller or bigger. Also, resized objects can be difficult to place. For example, if you resize a rug, even if there appears to be enough space to place it, you won’t be able to.
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- With cheats, objects can be made bigger…
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- …or smaller.
Placing Objects and Tiles on Quarter Grids
Usually in The Sims 4, you can place objects on grids or half-grids, but not quarter grids. However, by pressing a certain button (depending on the platform), you can place any object on a quarter tile.
- PC/Mac: F5
- PlayStation: L2 (toggle between full placement, half placement, and free placement)
- Xbox: LT (toggle between full placement, half placement, and free placement)
Quarter tile placement gives more freedom in object placement.
You can also set down quarter floor tiles. However, to access these, you first need to be in single floor tile placement mode (aka have a floor tile selected ready for placement).
- PC/Mac: Ctrl + F
- PlayStation: Square
- Xbox: X Button
You can also place tiles in quarter triangles.
No Fixed Placement or Rotation
If you’re tired of only being able to snap objects on grids or rotate objects by 45 degrees, there’s a tool for that, too. If you hold the key(s) down while the object is selected, you can freely and smoothly rotate it at any angle, as well as set it anywhere regardless of the grid.
- PC/Mac: Hold Alt key
- PlayStation: Hold L1 and R1 + Right Stick
- Xbox: Hold LB and RB + Right Stick
The No Fixed Placement tool gives you complete freedom in object placement and rotation.
Aspiration and Satisfaction Point Cheats in The Sims 4
In The Sims 4, Sims have dreams and goals. Although these are optional, they do allow you to unlock unique and powerful rewards. Achieving Aspiration Goals can be tricky, and you need quite a lot of points to unlock cool and useful rewards.
Two cheats are available; one for leveling up Aspirations, another that provides free Satisfaction Points. You must have testingcheats enabled for these cheats to work.
| Cheat Name | What It Does |
| aspirations_complete_current_milestone | Promotes Sim to the next level up in their current Aspiration. Useful if Aspiration Goals are buggy, making them impossible to fulfil and therefore level up the Aspiration. |
| sims.give_satisfaction_points [enter the amount you want] | Provides the number of Aspiration Points you desire. Handy for getting points required for Rewards Store, including Traits and Potions. |
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- Struggling to progress in an Aspiration? Use the complete current milestone cheat.
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- You can give yourself free Satisfaction Points if you need to buy something in the Rewards Store.
Career Cheats in The Sims 4
Careers play a big role in The Sims 4. Whatever kind of career your Sims go for, whether it’s a full-time job or being self-employed, a job is a good way of making a steady income.
As you work your way up the career ladder, the going can get tough sometimes. Unlike past The Sims games, you don’t need to worry about how many friends you have or pleasing your co-workers and boss. However, it’s still a grind to the top as you find yourself having to max out Skills, which takes a lot of time, hard work, and persistence.
The following cheats are used specifically for careers in The Sims 4. There are a few things to be aware of for these cheats to work:
- You’ll need testingcheats enabled.
- You’ll need to enter the correct name for the chosen career after the cheat command, which is listed below this table.
- The target Sim whose career you wish to edit needs to be in your current control.
| Cheat Name | What It Does |
| careers.add_career [career name] | Signs Sim up to the chosen career. Saves having to enrol the traditional way via the Career panel, phone, or computer. |
| careers.demote [career name] | Knocks Sim down to previous level in current career. |
| careers.promote [career name] | Promotes Sim to next level up in current career. |
| careers.remove_career [career name] | Removes Sim from current career without manually quitting. |
| careers.retire [career name] | Retires Sim from current career. They will still receive a weekly pension with this cheat. |
| sims.modify_career_outfit_in_cas | Enter Create-A-Sim to change work outfit. Only way to modify work clothes in The Sims 4. |
Career cheats can help with promotions, demotions, quitting, and retiring.
Career Cheat Names for The Sims 4 Base Game
To make the career cheats work correctly, you must make sure you enter the right name for the career you want. What you need to put into the cheat console may not exactly match the name of the desired career. The following is what you need to put into the cheat console where it says [career name]:
- Astronaut
- Athletic
- Business
- Criminal
- Culinary
- Entertainer
- Painter
- SecretAgent
- StyleInfluencer
- TechGuru
- adult_Writer
- adult_freelancer_agency_artist
- adult_freelancer_agency_programmer
- adult_freelancer_agency_writer
- highschool
- gradeschool
This also applies to part-time jobs:
- PartTime_Babysitter
- PartTime_Barista
- PartTime_FastFood
- PartTime_Manual
- PartTime_Retail
Watch out for career names in cheats, as they may differ from their official title.
Skill Cheats in The Sims 4 (Adult, Child, Toddler)
Building Skills in The Sims 4 is great for unlocking new actions and passing the time, plus you need skills for getting promotions in Careers and Aspirations. Some Skills can be hard to level up though, particularly higher level. That’s when these cheats come in handy. You need testingcheats enabled to make these cheats work.
Adult Skill Cheats
This cheat and their Skills are available for Sims aged Teen and older. After the cheat command, you need two things in this order:
- The name of the Skill. Most of the Skills are written the same in the cheat command, but not all of them.
- The Skill level. These range from 1 to 10. You need to enter which Skill level you want your Sim to jump to. If level 1 doesn’t work, use level 2 instead.
The name of the adult Skill cheat command in The Sims 4 is the following: stats.set_skill_level Major_[skill name] [skill level]
If you want more cooking recipes and are tired of setting your kitchen on fire, consider bumping up your Cooking Skill via cheats.
Where you enter [skill name], the following Skills in The Sims 4 apply:
- Cooking (HomestyleCooking)
- Charisma
- Comedy
- Fishing
- Gardening
- Gourmet Cooking (GourmetCooking)
- Guitar
- Handiness
- Logic
- Mischief
- Mixology (Bartending)
- Painting
- Photography
- Piano
- Programming
- Rocket Science (RocketScience)
- Video Gaming (VideoGaming)
- Violin
- Writing
For the Fitness Skill, a slightly different command needs to be entered: stats.set_skill_level skill_Fitness [skill level]
Cheats can help you advance in Skills as well, if you want to unlock more interactions and options, for example.
Child Skill Cheats
Child Sims in The Sims 4 have four Skills tied to their age group, as well as their own cheat command. The Skill level for every Child Skill ranges from 1 to 10.
The cheat command for Child Skills is: stats.set_skill_level Skill_Child_[skill name] [skill level]
The following Skills are available for Child Sims in The Sims 4:
- Creativity
- Mental
- Motor
- Social
Toddler Skill Cheats
Toddlers in The Sims 4 have a total of five different Skills. Nearly all of them have a max of 5 levels, except for the Potty Skill, which maxes at 3.
The cheat command for Toddler Skills is: stats.set_skill_level Skill_Toddler_[skill name] [skill level]
The Skills for Toddlers include the following:
- Communication
- Imagination
- Movement
- Potty
- Thinking
You might want to use skill cheats to unlock abilities such as writing songs, for example.
The Sims 4 Cheat Tips, Warnings, and Common Issues
Here are some final notes on using cheats in The Sims 4 so you can make the most of them while also using them safely.
- You should save your game before activating any cheats, as there’s a possibility it might mess it up. If it does, you can quickly exit without saving and re-enter your game.
- If you want to try a cheat out but are unsure what it does, try using it with a test household. This will allow you to play around with unfamiliar cheats in case it goes wrong.
- If a cheat isn’t working, there may be a few reasons for this. You could be in the wrong game mode, haven’t enabled testingcheats, written the cheat incorrectly, or it may require shift-click.
