The Sims 4 Keyboard Shortcuts

Game Controls & List of Hotkeys to Help you Play

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.

Camera Controls

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!

Camera Controls for Playing in Live Mode or Build Mode

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that Sim, if already selected
HotkeyWhat it Does
HomeWalls Up
EndWalls Down
Page UpGo up a floor
Page DownGo down a floor
Hold Right-ClickMove Around the Neighborhood - better than below
W or Up ArrowMove View Up
A or Left ArrowMove View Left
S or Down ArrowMove View Down
D or Right ArrowMove View Right
Shift + EnterCenter on Current Lot
Left-click Sim PicSelect that Sim
Left-click Sim PicMake Camera Go to
Right-Click Sim PicMake Camera follow that Sim
Hold Mouse WheelRotate View or Tilt Camera Up/Down to change angles.
Z, X, or Scroll Mouse WheelZoom In and Out
CTake a Screenshot. In Game Options you may select to include the Game Interface in Pictures.
VBegins/Ends Video Recording. Find Video Settings in the Game Options
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Live Mode Hotkeys

HotkeyWhat it Does
EscBrings up main menu or cancels something
Left Click Object or SimInteract with that Object or Sim
Left Click on Selected SimGo Jogging, Change Outfit and other Possibilities
Left Click on GroundOrder Sim to go there if you select Move Here.
EnterFind Active Sim
Space or NSelect the next Sim in the Household
Left Click Sim PortraitSelect that Sim
GShow Aspiration Window. Click Gift to go to Rewards, Star to Change Aspiration
IShow Sim's Inventory
JShow Career Tab
LShow Skills List
RShow Relationship Panel
YShow Simology (Traits, Age) you may Click Stats here to see them
OShow Sim's current Need Levels. Clicking a Need Icon Orders the Sim to fill it
MGo to Map Mode
~ (Tilde), 1, 2, 3Pause, Speed 1 (normal), Speed 2, Speed 3. P also Pauses the Sims 4.
Control + Shift + CAccess Cheat Console

First Person Mode Hotkeys

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.

HotkeyWhat it Does
Shift + TabEnters and exits First Person View
Left ClickInteracts 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 ClickBrings up 'Move Here' to help you to get around doors and walls that you cannot see through.
TabRemoves the interface as it normally does
CtrlSeems to re-center the camera to where the Sim is looking
Mouse WheelAdjusts 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.

Buy & Build Mode Hotkeys

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.

HotkeyWhat it Does
F1, F2, F3Live Mode (Normal Gameplay), Buy Mode, Build Mode
HSwitch to Hand tool, allowing you to grab objects
BBrings 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
EEyedropper. Copy an object quickly
KSledgehammer - allows you to click to destroy objects
RDesign 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 + ZUndo last action - it remembers multiple actions so long as you don't leave build/buy mode.
GToggles the Grid
Shift (Hold)Hold while placing Buy/Build Mode object to place more of the same object without having to select it again
BackspacePress 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/ ObjectWhile holding an object, this allows you to position it anywhere as opposed to on the Grid
F5 toggleThis will let you position objects relative to the grid, but at 1/2 to 1/4 the usual distance. Good for precision.
Control + FWhile laying floor. Do 1/4 of a Tile at a time (little triangle) for artsy Design
Hold Alt while PaintingFills a straight Wall with the selected Wall Pattern
Hold Shift: Walls and FloorsWill 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
CtrlHold 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.
DeleteUse while object is selected to delete/sell it
TSwitch to top-down view. You can press it again to go back to your previous view
LChange lighting from Morning to Afternoon, Evening and Night to preview how things look. Does not change actual time.
UPush, 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.

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Comments (83)

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New
manasays...

the delete/sell shortcut aint working can yall help me out thank in advance!

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Admin
Playalotsays...

No idea what might be wrong from your post..so, idk, maybe just drag the stuff to the sell button.

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New
moirasays...

this is so helpful!! I really appreciate it I've been playing Sims even since its first release but I didn't know many shortcut keys to control its other features. So thanks for that! I am actually recording my gameplay with record-screen.com and stream it afterward, I hope you can follow me on my YT channel.

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New
Shelan Richardsonsays...

How do you change swatches in Build Mode?

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New
Callie Dicksays...

does anybody know how to turn things like vixella does

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Admin
Playalotsays...

Haven't watched anything she's done but I assume she's using the T.O.O.L mod by twisted mexi

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New
LadyAofPineapplesays...

you can use the sims 3 camera to free rotate!

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New
LadyAofPineapplesays...

Hi there! pressing "0" will also pause the game! I miss using the space bar, but at least 0 is easier than "p" for us number pad fanatics lol

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New
RosyKsays...

How do you sell things in your household inventory quicker? I saw someone on YouTube doing it

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New
Angelasays...

tyyyy

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New
RoxyLuffersays...

Numpad 0, 1, 2, 3 also change the in game speed.



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