How do you add a Sim to your household in The Sims 4? It’s a classic question that just about every player bumps into—whether you want to expand your family, make room for a surprise roommate, or simply stir up a little neighborhood drama. The answer is this: there are several reliable ways to add a Sim to your household in The Sims 4, from game menus to handy cheat codes, and even using mods if you’re feeling techy. No matter your play style, there’s a method that fits, and in this evergreen guide, we’ll unpack each one in clear, friendly detail. Ready to welcome a brand-new Sim under your digital roof? Let’s dive into all your options—old favorites and secret shortcuts alike.

Creating a Sim from Scratch: The Manage Worlds Approach

If you like to keep things straightforward—and within The Sims 4’s official menus—the Manage Worlds feature is your new best friend. It’s perfect for crafting a Sim from scratch, exploring every trait, outfit, and personality quirk before introducing them to your household. Here’s how it works:

  • From Live Mode, click the Options menu (three dots) and choose Manage Worlds.
  • Select any neighborhood, then choose an empty lot or house.
  • Click Create New Household to Move In. This launches Create-a-Sim, where you can design your newcomer from hairstyle to ambition.
  • Place your Sim on the lot. Now, return to Manage Worlds and find both your original household and your new Sim’s household.
  • Use the Transfer Sims Between Households tool (the icon with two arrows) to merge the new Sim into your existing family.
  • Confirm your changes and jump back into Live Mode to meet your new housemate!

This gets you full creative control and keeps things 100% official—no mods or cheats required. For a helpful step-by-step visual walkthrough, you can check out this YouTube guide:

Move ‘Em In: Using the Manage Households Feature

Maybe you want to shuffle Sims around, reunite families, or set up the perfect house party. The Manage Households menu is your go-to. It lets you move Sims between any played or unplayed families, without a trip to Create-a-Sim. Here’s the drill:

  1. From Map View, click the Manage Households button (icon of two people up top).
  2. Scroll through all available families and pick the one with the Sim you want to add—or the family you want to expand.
  3. Select the Transfer Sims Between Households option, represented by arrows. This lets you move Sims into, out of, or between families as you like.
  4. Once done, hit the checkmark to confirm. Easy!

This method is great for shifting things around without starting over, and it’s built into the core game. For official instructions on this process, see the EA guide on splitting and merging households.

Quick and Easy: Adding Sims with Cheats

Are you looking for instant results—maybe you’ve already run into your dream Sim in the world and want to whisk them into your family pronto? Cheats are your shortcut. Here’s how to pull it off:

  • Press Ctrl + Shift + C to open the cheat console.
  • Type testingcheats true and hit Enter. Cheats are now enabled!
  • Hold Shift and click the Sim you want to add (this works on Sims currently in the world, not random passersby).
  • Look for Add to Family in the pie menu that appears—click it, and boom, the Sim’s now in your household.

This approach is super popular when you want to add a boyfriend, girlfriend, or brand-new friend you’ve met on a whim. It keeps the momentum going with minimum fuss. Want to watch this in action? Check out this concise video guide:

Full Control: Editing Households in Create-a-Sim (CAS)

If you want to add a Sim that’s truly “part of the family”—a sibling, child, or parent—modifying your household in CAS gives you the most flexibility. This is the go-to method if you need a new relative or want to customize a Sim’s looks, backstory, and relationships together. Here’s how:

  1. Use Ctrl + Shift + C to open the cheat console.
  2. Enable cheats by typing testingcheats true.
  3. Type cas.fulleditmode and press Enter. This unlocks the full Create-a-Sim editor.
  4. Shift-click your Sim and pick Modify in CAS from the menu.
  5. Once inside, click the plus-sign icon to Add a Sim to your household. You can create a new Sim from scratch or use genetics to make them related to an existing Sim.
  6. Finalize your choices, save, and return to gameplay. Your new family member is ready to move in!

This method is powerful and flexible—and often the easiest way to build out extended, multi-generational families. For a helpful written tutorial, visit Carl’s Sims 4 Guide.

Mods and Advanced Tools: The Power of MC Command Center

For players who aren’t afraid to tinker, mods like MC Command Center (MCCC) deliver even more options. With MCCC, you can:

  • Move Sims between households directly from their menu with a few clicks.
  • Bypass the normal eight-Sim household limit, if you don’t mind a challenge.
  • Handle household merges, splits, and even mass transfers.

Just a note: while MCCC is widely trusted and used in the community, mods are always “mod at your own risk.” For official MCCC information and download help, visit the EA Answers HQ.

What to Watch Out For: Household Size and Other Limits

It’s tempting to keep adding Sims until your home feels like a bustling sitcom, but The Sims 4 enforces a maximum limit of eight Sims per household. If you hit that ceiling, you’ll need to move someone out or transfer them elsewhere to add more. Game performance can dip if you crowd your house with lots of Sims, pets, and babies, especially on older computers. So, if you’re keen on large, lively families, keep that in mind.

Adding Sims—whatever the method—also means rearranging jobs, family trees, and relationships. It’s worth double-checking these details in CAS so everything lines up the way you want.

If you want more community discussion and troubleshooting tips, stop by the helpful Sims forums like this gameplay help thread for real-world scenarios and advice.

Frequently Asked Questions about Adding Sims in The Sims 4

Can I add a Sim to my household without using cheats or mods?

Absolutely! The Sims 4 gives you several “official” options through the Manage Worlds and Manage Households interfaces. These let you create new Sims, move households, or transfer Sims between families with just a few clicks—no cheats, no third-party tools required. It’s perfect if you want to keep things vanilla and avoid potential mod complications.

What’s the quickest way to add an NPC Sim I meet in the world?

The fastest route is using the Add to Family cheat. With cheats enabled (testingcheats true in the cheat console), just Shift-click the Sim you want to adopt and choose “Add to Family.” They’ll move in instantly, keeping their relationships and traits intact. It’s as simple as inviting your new best friend to crash on your couch!

Do I lose my Sims’ relationships if I transfer households?

Generally, Sims keep their established friendships and romantic relationships when moved between households. However, if you delete or split off a Sim, complicated family trees might break—especially when using mods or heavy editing in CAS. Always save your game before big changes, just in case.

Can I have more than eight Sims with cheats or mods?

By default, eight is the hard limit in The Sims 4. However, with mods like MC Command Center, you can push beyond that and add up to dozens of Sims. That said, be warned: the game might become unstable or glitchy as you surpass the official cap. If you love big, chaotic households, take it slow and back up your saves.

How do I make a new Sim be part of the same family tree (like a sibling or child)?

When adding Sims in CAS (after using the cas.fulleditmode cheat), you can use the plus-sign and genetic features to create brothers, sisters, parents, or children for existing Sims. You’ll get prompts to set their relationships and tweak how they look. This is the best way to expand a family in a lore-friendly way.

Can I move a Sim in from the Gallery or another save?

Yes! Download Sims from the Gallery, or from your own creations, into a household or lot in Manage Worlds. Then, use Transfer Sims Between Households to add them to your main family. Easy and flexible, especially if you want to import friends’ Sims or your own backups.

The Takeaway: More Sims, More Stories

Whether you’re aiming for a sitcom-size household, introducing a mysterious new backstory, or just want your Sim’s soulmate finally living under one roof, The Sims 4 gives you all the tools you need. From official menus to swift cheats and creative mods, there’s an approach for every player. Ready for even more guides and inspiration? Dive deeper with trusted resources like GameRant’s Sims 4 guide or explore fresh community tips at Sims4Life. The next story in your Sims universe is just a Sim (or three) away—enjoy building your dream household!