Disabling Seasions But Keeping its Stuff - Want to disable weather or make plants in season year-round? You can do so with my new Seasons Tuner Mod
Improving Sims 4: The past month, I've spent every day tinkering The Sims 4, making quality of life improvements, gameplay changes, and new difficulty settings for the game. If you'd like to learn more about my project, visit the post on Patreon where you can download it now.
The Sims 4 features plenty of keyboard shortcuts to help you do things more efficiently. Remembering them all can be difficult for new players, so this list of the game controls should help you to play more efficiently and maybe do some things you didn't know you could do. You can bookmark this page with Control + D.
Change Camera Type
Note on the controls below: These assume you are using the Sims 3 style Camera. You can change to this camera type by using Control + Shift + Tab or pressing Esc > Game Options > Controls and Camera > Sims 3 Camera. This is easier for Sims veterans as it is the same as The Sims 3. It's MUCH easier to change the angle of the view and rotate the screen. I also suggest you make sure edge scrolling is on, as it's easier to move about the neighborhood, but that is a personal preference. You can still move around by holding right click.
Taking Screenshots and Making Videos of Sims 4
'C' and 'V' will take a Screenshot or record a Video, respectively. These are stored in Documents/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/Screenshots and The Sims 4/Recorded Videos. You can record video and take screenshots while in build mode to show off your skills!
Explore My Mods! Color Picker for Builders, Seasons Tuner, Dine Out Reloaded and a Gameplay Overhaul! Like other modders, I've been working to make The Sims 4 a better game. Check out my many mods here!
| Hotkey | What it Does |
|---|---|
| Home | Walls Up |
| End | Walls Down |
| Page Up | Go up a floor |
| Page Down | Go down a floor |
| Hold Right-Click | Move Around the Neighborhood - better than below |
| W or Up Arrow | Move View Up |
| A or Left Arrow | Move View Left |
| S or Down Arrow | Move View Down |
| D or Right Arrow | Move View Right |
| Shift + Enter | Center on Current Lot |
| Left-click Sim Pic | Select that Sim |
| Left-click Sim Pic | Make Camera Go to |
| Right-Click Sim Pic | Make Camera follow that Sim |
| Hold Mouse Wheel | Rotate View or Tilt Camera Up/Down to change angles. |
| Z, X, or Scroll Mouse Wheel | Zoom In and Out |
| C | Take a Screenshot. In Game Options you may select to include the Game Interface in Pictures. |
| V | Begins/Ends Video Recording. Find Video Settings in the Game Options |
| Hotkey | What it Does |
|---|---|
| Esc | Brings up main menu or cancels something |
| Left Click Object or Sim | Interact with that Object or Sim |
| Left Click on Selected Sim | Go Jogging, Change Outfit and other Possibilities |
| Left Click on Ground | Order Sim to go there if you select Move Here. |
| Enter | Find Active Sim |
| Space or N | Select the next Sim in the Household |
| Left Click Sim Portrait | Select that Sim |
| G | Show Aspiration Window. Click Gift to go to Rewards, Star to Change Aspiration |
| I | Show Sim's Inventory |
| J | Show Career Tab |
| L | Show Skills List |
| R | Show Relationship Panel |
| Y | Show Simology (Traits, Age) you may Click Stats here to see them |
| O | Show Sim's current Need Levels. Clicking a Need Icon Orders the Sim to fill it |
| M | Go to Map Mode |
| ~ (Tilde), 1, 2, 3 | Pause, Speed 1 (normal), Speed 2, Speed 3. P also Pauses the Sims 4. |
| Control + Shift + C | Access Cheat Console |
The Sims 4 November 13, 2018 patch introduced a first person mode to the game. Here are the controls for this mode of play. Click Here to Learn More About First Person Mode and see a Video Demonstration.
| Hotkey | What it Does |
|---|---|
| Shift + Tab | Enters and exits First Person View |
| Left Click | Interacts with objects and Sims, allows you to move. Sims and objects must be in view. |
| Shift (Hold) | Allows you to move the mouse while in first person, letting you click things in the game interface without moving the camera. |
| Right Click | Brings up 'Move Here' to help you to get around doors and walls that you cannot see through. |
| Tab | Removes the interface as it normally does |
| Ctrl | Seems to re-center the camera to where the Sim is looking |
| Mouse Wheel | Adjusts Field of View (FOV) which can let you see more on the screen, while also helping to compensate somewhat for motion sickness. Scroll down to increase FOV (zoom out on Mac) It should come on slower if you are afflicted. You can, of course, reduce FOV by zooming in but it's not recommended unless you specifically need it. |
Build Mode Controls
When you destroy buy mode objects in buy/build mode, you will get some of your money back. This applies whether you are using the sledgehammer or the hand tool with delete. Build mode objects/walls/patterns specifically grant a full refund, as they do not depreciate in value like chairs/electronics/etc.
The Design Tool is super useful for making a room's color scheme match up. By pressing 'R' you can select objects that have already been placed and pick one of the available color schemes for that object. This lets you see how it will match other objects in the room.
Objects removed by placing a room on top of them or by other means may be found in your Household Inventory.
| Hotkey | What it Does |
|---|---|
| F1, F2, F3 | Live Mode (Normal Gameplay), Buy Mode, Build Mode |
| H | Switch to Hand tool, allowing you to grab objects |
| B | Brings up the Wall tool to build... Walls |
| Ctrl (Hold) | While using Wall tool, hold control to delete walls and rooms. |
| Shift (Hold) | While using Wall/Room tool, this will toggle between the two |
| E | Eyedropper. Copy an object quickly |
| K | Sledgehammer - allows you to click to destroy objects |
| R | Design Tool. Recolor Objects to create Color Schemes |
| + (Numpad) | After selecting an object, but before placing it, pressing + on the number pad will cycle through color options for that item, allowing you to find what looks right for that room. |
| Control + Z | Undo last action - it remembers multiple actions so long as you don't leave build/buy mode. |
| G | Toggles the Grid |
| Shift (Hold) | Hold while placing Buy/Build Mode object to place more of the same object without having to select it again |
| Backspace | Press while holding an object to place it in the Household inventory. Great for storing multiple things quickly. |
| , | Rotate selected object left |
| . | Rotate selected object right |
| Hold Alt w/ Object | While holding an object, this allows you to position it anywhere as opposed to on the Grid |
| F5 toggle | This will let you position objects relative to the grid, but at 1/2 to 1/4 the usual distance. Good for precision. |
| Control + F | While laying floor. Do 1/4 of a Tile at a time (little triangle) for artsy Design |
| Hold Alt while Painting | Fills a straight Wall with the selected Wall Pattern |
| Hold Shift: Walls and Floors | Will fill an entire room with the selected Floor or Wall Pattern |
| [ | Make brush size smaller while painting terrain. Also cycles through square/circle brushes. |
| ] | Make brush size larger while painting terrain. Also cycles through square/circle brushes. |
| ; | Makes brush softer when painting terrain |
| ' | Makes brush harder when painting terrain |
| Ctrl | Hold while painting terrain to erase and change terrain to default. |
| Control + Y | Redo last action you undid, should you do something on accident or change your mind. |
| Delete | Use while object is selected to delete/sell it |
| T | Switch to top-down view. You can press it again to go back to your previous view |
| L | Change lighting from Morning to Afternoon, Evening and Night to preview how things look. Does not change actual time. |
| U | Push, then click house to relocate the entire structure on the lot. It may be moved or rotated. |
Other Controls - Gallery and Camera
Pressing F4 will open the Gallery, where you can view other players' creations and add them to your neighborhood. There is a lot to this, and we'll eventually make a guide to inserting homes and Sims from the Gallery, but it's pretty easy.
You should also be aware of the camera controls button in the top right corner.
We now have a Youtube Channel with over 50 guides in video format to go along with the huge site I've already created. Check it out and consider subscribing if you like my style.
The Sims 4 Seasons expansion now has options! Want to disable weather or make plants in season year-round? You can do so with my new Seasons Tuner Mod
The past month, I've spent every day tinkering The Sims 4, making quality of life improvements, gameplay changes, and new difficulty settings for the game. If you'd like to learn more about my project, visit the post on Patreon where you can download it now.
Cottage Living Guide! Here is my guide to new features in the Sims 4 Cottage Living Expansion
You can also find handy Cottage Living Cheats
I have much more to come, since you can actually write a few guides about this pack!
Blender has been incredibly useful in video production, so I made my own Physics and Simulation Improvement Addon that lumps a ton of unique tools into one compact interface.
Snowy Escape Cheats
Lifestyles in Snowy Escape
Climb Mt. Komorebi
Sentiments in Snowy Escape
Rock Climbing
Skiing Skill
Snowboarding Skill
I've released a guide to Sentiments in The Sims 4 & Snowy Escape.
There is a new platform tool in The Sims 4. There's also a new Sentiments system, but it'll take some time to create a guide to that. Players can also use rental lots in any world now by changing lot types of builds in manage worlds.
I've created a massive List of The Best Mods in The Sims 4 that should be very helpful to new players and those who have not yet explored modding and how much it can do for your gameplay.
New - Secrets I have a new guide to secrets in the game. If you prefer, you can also watch a video about secrets in Sims 4.
Nifty Knitting is now available. Learn all about the stuff pack on my guide page here.
NEW - Nifty Knitting CheatsNew features in the Sims 4 June 2020
The Sims 4 Eco Lifestyle Guide
Eco Footprint: How it Works
Neighborhood Action Plans
How to Cheat in Sims 4 Eco Lifestyle
Civil Designer Career
Insect Farms & Bio Fuel
Fabrication Skill in Eco Lifestyle
Juice Fizzing NEW
Traits and Aspirations in DLC
Gameplay Ideas for Sims 4 Eco Lifestyle
Updated
Trait Cheats Updated
Traits List Updated
Aspirations List Updated
Readers who use adblock or those who'd like to thank me for my efforts can now pledge $1/$5 monthly via Patreon. This helps a lot with server costs and provides some stability for my business.
This is inspired by a new series in which I start at toddler and gradually take on the major bonuses. Here's a link to the full playlist!
I now have a guide page to Tiny Living Stuff where you can learn about Murphy Beds, the new death, as well as the lot bonuses you'll receive if you manage to keep the size of your lot down with this new pack's Tiny Home Lot Type.
New I now have a guide to Making Super Sims in The Sims 4. Look for a text version within the next 72h. It won't have THAT much more info but it will help out as a checklist.
This was inspired by a series, "Let's Play a Super Sim" in which I start at toddler and gradually take on the major bonuses. Here's a link to each part for people who are interested. You can also see the Let's Play as a Playlist on Youtube.
The Sims 4 Discover University has been announced for November 15 for PC/Mac and December 17 for Xbox and Playstation 4 consoles. Click to learn more about the pack, see my summary of the livestream or read our FAQs below.
Other Guides to Discover University:
New Lot Traits: Study Spot and University Student Hang Out
New: Discover University FAQ: Gameplay Features
New Video The Sims 4 Discover University Gameplay Tips Video
More videos coming soon!
Disclaimer This site is not endorsed by or affiliated with Electronic Arts, or its licensors. Trademarks are the property of their respective owners. The Sims and The Sims 4 Logo are trademarks of Electronic Arts, Inc. Game content and materials copyright Electronic Arts Inc. and its licensors. All Rights Reserved. All original Guides on this site © Carl's Guides
Comments (83)
I can see my Sim when she is outside, but not inside. I can see the furniture that it is the hous through the windows from the outside, but when when I move the camera inside, everything dissapears. Only the floor and the bottom of the walls remain.
Quit your game then delete the localthumbcache.package file from your The Sims 4 folder. Go back into your game and check if all is normal. If not then if you are using mods and cc repeat the steps above.
You could also do a Game Repair (click)
In Origin > Games Library tab: Right-click on Sims 4 and select Repair.2. Delete Game Cache and localthumbcache.package from the Sims 4 folder, to help with troubleshooting.Delete Game Cache Files (What and How-To)
http://www.carls-sims-4-guide.com/forum/index.php?topic=29288.msg401662#msg4016623. Try resetting your Sims 4 folder. Test with a new save and without mods. If still not working don't save.Sims 4 Factory Reset - (What & Howto)
http://www.carls-sims-4-guide.com/forum/index.php?topic=29292.msg401669#msg401669
End = fn + right arrow
Is there a way to use the "+ (numpad)" hotkey without a numpad? I got a new keyboard and it doesnt have a numpad on it.
You maybe have a '+' to the left of your back space at the top right of your keyboard.
How do you speed up/ slow down? i didnt see it here, but i did skim
~ (Tilde), 1, 2, 3
Pause, Speed 1 (normal), Speed 2, Speed 3. P also Pauses the Sims 4.
zero (0) pauses it too, now!
How do I rotate objects? I know you can just right click, but ive seen people in videos do something where they can rotate objects more precisely by just moving the mouse. What button do I press to do that?
You can rotate objects while still holding them by using the <and> keys or by the scroll wheel on your mouse or by holding down the Alt key and using the mouse scroll wheel. Holding down the Alt key while rotating an object allows you greater finesse of placement and stops the locking to grid snap.
he means moving it like a centimetre at a time I'm wondering to
if you manipulate an item while sims 3 camera is enabled, just moving your mouse will free rotate the object. hope this helps!
The sims 3 controls aren't very useful how do I stop the xbox one version from defaulting to them every time I load the game?
I play on a PC so not sure about this but perhaps this link might help? Console Controls. You may need to select preferred camera style each time you load you game.
Could you add that on mac, fn+right arrow is walls down, fn+left arrow is walls up, fn+up arrow is go up a floor, and fn+down arrow is go down a flooor? Also on mac, Delete while holding an object in build/buy move moves it to the inventory, and to sell it you need to use fn+delete. Also, could you add a note at the top that says that on Mac, the shortcuts that use Control on Windows use Control on Mac too instead of Command, as one might expect. I figured out the first four by playing Sims 3 (they worked there too), and I discovered the last two by experimenting. These all were really hard to figure out, so I'd love to help other Mac players by having this in the guide.
How do I move my objects up and down? Like to make the levitate?
You need to be using the Sims 3 Camera mode, then hold the item and press alt and use +- keys for up/down
to make things go up press 9 to make it go down press 0
Thank you! This was a big help! Had no idea there was a shortcut for placing items in household inventory?! Thanks again!!
When I click Y it doesn't show me the simology. Instead the camera zooms out. what can I do to prevent that?
Not sure, 'Y' is working as expected for me. Try repairing your game... meantime a mouse click will open your Sims UI
how do you bring up mcc in a game on a keyboard?
No idea sorry, you'll have to go ask the modder who made the mod.
It’s a mod (that super hard to download on a mac RIP me
What about putting a selected item into your household inventory while in build mode? Is there a key for that?
Amazing guide man!!
Also if you click 9 it will move the item up one if your in build mode and to move it down click 0.
Is there a possibility to toggle between clothing items via keyboard, cause its kinda unpractical for me to click on every single item while Im going through all of them so I can see broken CC ?
I really wish there was a hotkey for pulling down and dismissing the Notification Wall. No matter what input device you use: standard mouse, trackball, trackpad, it's annoying as all get out to have to drag your mouse away from whatever it is you're doing to have to access your notifications. Especially when everything else has a hotkey in the game.
Not at you, Carl. I love you, you're great, keep it up. I'm just screaming at clouds
i don't know if anyone knows the button for camera lock.. but i found that right clicking the portrait and then moving the mouse out of that area really quickly gives you "true" camera lock in which you can use the mouse. i think the reason is the placement of the sims portrait.. being very close to the edge of the screen (making it think ur unlocking the camera by scrolling down.. ) i dn't know if this makes any sense..
on a side note while camera lock is on.. you can hold scroll button down to rotate the camera around ur sim.. just don't right click as it makes you drag the camera..