The most common cause is outdated mods that no longer align with the updated game code, leading to errors and malfunctioning mods. Additional problems can occur if mods aren’t re-enabled in the game settings after an update, or if corrupted cache files interfere with mod functionality.
Solution 1: Check Downloaded Mod Files
Before proceeding with other solutions, first ensure that the mod files placed in the mods folder are correctly formatted. Downloaded mod files typically come in a .zip format. You need to unzip these files before placing them in the game. The game engine cannot process .zip files directly, so extract the contents to ensure the mods function properly. Here, the mod files should be in the following format: Note: You can also try another workaround by placing the entire mods folder in another folder and placing it in the main mod directory. This is a long shot, but it worked for several people due to unknown reasons.
Solution 2: Check Whether Mods Are Enabled In-Game
As mentioned before, Sims 4 rolled out an update where users were given an option in-game that allowed them to enable/disable the mods. Previously, this wasn’t the case, and the game would automatically load all the mods as long as they were in the mods folder. In this solution, we will navigate to the in-game options and make sure that the option is enabled.
Solution 3: Check Mod Type and Compatibility
Sims 1, 2, and 3 also supported mod files and allowed users to customize their gameplay according to their will. However, it should be noted that older version mods are not supported by the newer versions of the game. For example, if you downloaded a mod for Sims 3, it will not be supported and playable with Sims 4. Hence you should navigate to the mod’s website and make sure that the mod you downloaded is indeed for Sims 4 and not for the earlier versions. You can easily check this by seeing the changelog or the category in which they are placed. Identify the incompatible mods and remove them. We came across several different cases where the mod author didn’t update the existing version of the mod to be compatible with the latest version of Sims, which caused the mod to conflict and not work as expected. Navigate to the official mod website and check if the current version of the mod you have been using is working properly in Sims 4. You can also take a look at different forums.
Solution 4: Install the Latest Sims 4 Updates (if applicable)
There was a universal issue in Sims 4 where at a point, the game stopped supporting mods altogether, whether they were enabled or not. This caused a global outrage among players regarding the mod’s functionality, and they were unable to customize their game in any way. Electronic Arts quickly released an update that circumvented the issue. If you have an older version of Sims 4 installed, it is recommended that you follow the method below to update it to the latest build. Launch the Origin game engine and check for any updates available. If there are, don’t delay and update Sims 4 immediately. After updating, restart the game and check if the issue is resolved.
Solution 5: Delete Cache Files
Every game has a cache folder that it uses for its operations and running. Since the cache files are created at runtime and may be left over, there are chances that some of them get corrupt. When this occurs, the game causes unexpected behavior, including the mods not working as required. In this solution, we will navigate to the cache folder and clear it.
Solution 6: Create a New Household
We came across a bizarre situation where existing households used by users were not able to load any of the mods, while the newer ones were. The only logical explanation that follows this behavior is that the current household has some corrupt files/modules in it which are conflicting with the external mods and not letting them load as expected. You should navigate to the main menu of the game and then create a new household. Create a Sim or two and then check whether the mods work as expected. If they do, it confirms that there is a household problem.
Solution 7: Detect Problematic Mods
If all the above methods don’t work, it is possible that your mod list contains a problematic mod that is causing issues. In this solution, we will try to create a new Sims 4 user data folder on your computer and, after copying the major old configurations, test each mod one by one. If there is any problematic mod, we will be able to detect and remove it. This method will require that you analyze each case very carefully and might be tedious, so make sure you have plenty of time. Note: This method is also valid in cases where the Sims 4 game causes bizarre behavior and doesn’t work as expected.
Solution 8: Reinstall/Repair Sims 4
If all the above methods don’t work, there is a chance that your Sims 4 copy has corrupt/incomplete installation files causing the game to malfunction. Games constantly update every once in a while to improve bugs or to add new features. It is possible that while updating the game modules, some of them didn’t get installed correctly or have missing files. We will try repairing the game so all of this can be fixed by the client itself.
