Dealing with bugs and glitches in The Sims games can be frustrating, but debugging your game is an important part of the playing experience. With a few simple tricks, you can get your game running smoothly again in no time.
Quick Tips for Common Sims Issues
Here are some quick answers to common Sims issues you may encounter:
- Game crashes on startup – Try resetting your graphics settings, updating your graphics drivers, closing background programs, or repairing your game through Origin.
- Sims get stuck/can’t move – Reset them by typing “resetsim *” without quotes into the cheat console.
- Weird visual glitches – Try lowering your graphics settings or updating your graphics drivers.
- Sims not listening to commands – Make sure they can access the interaction and aren’t already busy.
- Routing issues (Sims can’t access items/areas) – Move obstructing objects out of the way.
Enabling Cheat and Debug Commands
Many common Sims issues can be quickly fixed using cheat and debug commands. Here’s how to enable them:
- Open the console by pressing CTRL + SHIFT + C on PC/Mac or all 4 shoulder buttons on console.
- Type “testingcheats on” without quotes and press enter to enable cheats.
- Type “bb.showhiddenobjects” and “bb.ignoregameplayunlocksentitlement” to access debug items.
Useful cheat and debug commands include:
- resetsim – Reset stuck sims.
- freerealestate on – Make all lots free.
- motherlode – Get 50,000 simoleons.
- cas.fulleditmode – Full edit mode in CAS.
- bb.moveobjects – Move placed objects anywhere.
Mods to Fix Common Issues
Mods are player-created game modifications that can fix bugs, add content, and expand functionality. Here are some mods that address common Sims issues:
| Mod | What it Fixes |
|---|---|
| MC Command Center | Fixes broken relationships, jobs, pregnancies, and more. |
| UI Cheats Extension | Adds powerful right-click options for debugging. |
| No Uninstalling | Stops townies from uninstalling your placed objects. |
| More Columns in CAS | Adds more outfit tabs in Create-a-Sim. |
| Simulation Unclogger | Resets stuck sims and vehicles. |
Make sure to read the full mod description to understand what issues it fixes. Also check for mod conflicts that could cause new issues!
Repairing Your Game Through Origin
For major glitches or crashes, try repairing your Sims game files through Origin. Here’s how:
- Open Origin and go to My Game Library.
- Right click on The Sims 4 and select Repair.
- Let the repair process finish. This scans and fixes corrupted files.
- Restart your game – many issues should now be fixed!
Repairing scans your game files and downloads any missing or corrupt data. It doesn’t affect your saves and can fix many bugs and glitches.
Updating Graphics Drivers
Outdated or corrupt graphics drivers are a common source of game crashes and visual issues. Here’s how to update them:
- Open Device Manager on Windows or System Information on Mac.
- Expand the Display Adapters section to see your graphics card.
- Note the exact model of your card.
- Go to the AMD or Nvidia website and find the latest drivers for your card model.
- Download and install the new driver package.
- Restart your computer to complete the installation.
Updating to the latest optimized graphics drivers can fix many visual bugs, crashes, and performance issues. Just make sure your card model supports the new driver version.
Adjusting Graphics Settings
If you’re experiencing crashes, lag, or visual issues, try lowering your graphics settings. Here are some tips:
- Reduce resolution scale to 75-100% for smoother performance.
- Turn off edge smoothing and anti-aliasing features.
- Lower shadow, reflection, and lighting quality.
- Disable laptop mode and laptop graphics options if playing on a desktop.
- Close background programs to free up RAM and VRAM.
Start with the basic settings first, like resolution. Then try turning off advanced graphics options. Restart your game after applying new settings.
Removing Custom Content and Mods
If issues started after adding custom content (CC) and mods, try removing them to isolate the problem. Here’s how:
- Browse to Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 4\Mods and delete all files/folders.
- Go to My Library in Origin, right click The Sims 4, and select Game Properties.
- Click Uninstall on the Custom Content tab to remove all CC.
- Restart your game and test if the issues continue.
- If the game is stable, add back mods and CC in small batches to find any incompatible content.
Custom content and mods are common causes of weird glitches, crashes, and lag. Removing them can instantly stabilize your game if they’re the culprit.
Rolling Back Updates
Sometimes game patches introduce new bugs and issues. Try rolling back to a previous patch:
- Open Origin and go to Application Settings.
- Select The Sims 4 in the left sidebar.
- Click the Game Properties button.
- In the Updates tab, select an earlier version.
- Click Apply Changes – your game will update to the chosen version.
Rolling back patches can fix issues introduced in the latest update. Make sure to report any new bugs you encounter!
Contacting EA Support
If all else fails, contact EA Help for further troubleshooting. Here are some tips for contacting support:
- Chat or call them to get real-time help fixing issues.
- Include your system specs, game version, and any error messages.
- Be ready to answer questions about when issues occur.
- Ask about recent patches or known bugs for your problem.
- Request followup via email if needed.
EA’s tech support agents can help diagnose stubborn crashes, lost saves, and account issues. Provide as much detail as possible about the problem.
Conclusion
Debugging Sims issues requires patience but gets easier with experience. Start with quick fixes like repairing files, updating drivers, and adjusting settings. For persisting problems, remove mods, roll back patches, or contact EA support. With the right combination of troubleshooting steps, you’ll have your game running smooth again in no time.
