How do you edit Sims in The Sims 4? Whether you want to give your Sim a quick wardrobe change or perform a complete personality overhaul, The Sims 4 offers several ways to make adjustments to your Sims. The simplest approach allows light tweaks, while cheat-based methods open up nearly unlimited editing power—transforming everything from hairstyles and facial features to age and life aspirations. No matter your play style, there’s a method that fits your needs, and learning the ins and outs of Sim editing can make your game world feel more dynamic and personalized.

Everyday Editing: Quick Changes in The Sims 4

Perhaps your Sim’s look isn’t quite capturing their story, or maybe fashion trends in Willow Creek have moved on—what now? The good news is that standard gameplay lets you adjust certain elements right from your active household. By clicking the Simology panel (the little person icon in your Sim’s lower-right interface) during Live Mode, you can select Change Sim to pop back into Create-a-Sim (CAS) mode for straightforward tweaks.

So, what can you edit this way? Mostly the basics: hairstyles, everyday outfits, accessories, and makeup. However, you’ll quickly notice there are guardrails—traits, aspiration, and many core facial and body features are locked. For instance, deciding your Sim is actually an athletic outdoors enthusiast instead of a couch potato requires more than a trip to the closet. Still, this approach is great for day-to-day tweaks without disrupting gameplay flow.

Unlocking Full Control: The Power of CAS Full Edit Mode

Wondering how players create Sims who look nothing like the originals or even totally alter their personalities? The secret lies in The Sims 4’s cheat-driven “full edit mode.” Here’s where advanced customization magic happens, granting access beyond the default limits and making virtually anything possible.

Step-by-Step: Enabling Full Edit Mode

  1. Open the Cheat Console: On PC, press Ctrl + Shift + C. Console players, hold L1 + L2 + R1 + R2 on PlayStation or LB + LT + RB + RT on Xbox.
  2. Activate Cheats: Type testingcheats on and press Enter.
  3. Enable Full Edit: Next, type cas.fulleditmode and hit Enter.
  4. Modify the Sim: Hold Shift (or the appropriate button combo on console: O + X for PlayStation, B + A for Xbox), click on the Sim, and select Modify in CAS. Now, every customization tool is at your fingertips!

This method lets you transform physical structure, change traits, switch aspirations, or even age a Sim up or down. Want Bob Pancakes to become a rebellious teenager or give Eliza a completely new facial structure? No problem. It’s as close as you’ll get to time travel and plastic surgery rolled into one easy-to-use system.

The Art of Create-a-Sim: Drag, Drop, and Refine

The full CAS system is deceptively deep—think of it as clay sculpting with sliders and drag handles instead of your hands. After entering Full Edit Mode, you can:

  • Click and Drag Face/Body Parts: Want sharper cheekbones or gentler jawlines? Click directly on the feature and drag to adjust. This tactile system works across facial features, torsos, arms, and legs.
  • Fine-Tune Styles: Apply makeup, tattoos, and accessories with a click—mix and match to fit both everyday wear and formal events.
  • Edit Personality: Change traits and aspirations to match your Sim’s new appearance or storyline direction.
  • Adjust Age: Dreamed of seeing how your Sim would look as a child or an elder? You’re in control—just one click away from a new stage of life.

This drag-and-sculpt interface helps you match your Sim’s look to their evolving story or your creative whims—a bit like posing for a photo, then nudging features until they snap just right.

Console Players: Editing Sims from Your Couch

If you’re playing on PlayStation or Xbox, the road to editing Sims is almost as smooth, with a few button differences. Open the cheat bar using L1 + L2 + R1 + R2 on PlayStation or LB + LT + RB + RT on Xbox. The cheat codes themselves—testingcheats on and cas.fulleditmode—are the same. After activating, highlight and select your Sim, then press X + O (PlayStation) or B + A (Xbox) while interacting, which brings up the editing menu.

If you get stuck or want extra tips, EA’s official thread for console support has step-by-step advice tailored to controllers.

Unlocking Every Possibility: Advanced Customization Techniques

Beyond the basics, mastering Sim editing lets you shape your ideal families, rivals, and communities. The Game Rant’s Complete Editing Guide is a must-read for anyone who wants to take things to the next level, with tips on advanced body tweaks, genetics, and more. For detailed instructions about editing Sims who already exist in your world, G2A’s Pre-Existing Sims Guide is packed with practical how-tos.

A few creative uses for editing Sims that you might not have considered:

  • Update your Sim’s style to match new expansions or trends you discover in the gallery.
  • Correct accidental Sim randomizations during in-game events.
  • Give NPC Sims a makeover to enrich the neighborhood’s diversity or tell new stories.
  • Adjust ages if you want to rewind or fast-forward a Sim’s life progress without waiting in real time.

If you’re keen on mastering the full CAS flow, IGN’s Create-a-Sim Guide offers expert walkthroughs, from basic sliders to advanced drag techniques, helping you make the most of every tool available.

Things to Keep in Mind When Editing Sims

While it’s easy to get carried away with your new editing powers, a few caveats are worth considering. Entering full edit mode effectively resets your Sim’s looks and, if you change traits dramatically, their personality “history” as well. Some players prefer to keep changes minimal for the sake of story continuity.

Additionally, editing with cheats is part of the base game—no mods required. That said, always remember to save your game beforehand. In rare instances, heavy edits can cause oddities with aging or family trees, particularly if you’re changing life stages.

Curious about more tips to create outstanding Sims? The following video is a goldmine of tricks:

FAQ: Your Sims 4 Editing Questions Answered

What parts of a Sim can I edit without cheats?

Without cheats, you’re limited to surface-level edits—outfits, hair, makeup, and accessories. You won’t be able to adjust core physical features, personality traits, or age unless you use the cheat console to unlock “full edit mode.”

Can I edit Sims outside my current household?

Using the standard interface, you can only directly manage Sims in the active household. However, with cheats enabled (cas.fulleditmode), you can shift-click on any Sim in your world and choose to edit them in CAS, making cross-household edits possible.

Will activating cheats and editing my Sim break the game?

Generally, no. Sim editing is a vanilla feature and safe for base-game users. Just be aware of potential quirks, such as family tree oddities if you change a Sim’s age too dramatically. As a safety measure, always save your game before big edits.

Can I revert my Sim back to their previous look after editing?

Once you accept the changes and exit CAS, the only way to restore previous looks is to exit without saving or reload an earlier save. Unfortunately, there isn’t an “undo all” button for most edits, so always double-check your creative choices!

Are there restrictions for editing Sims on PlayStation or Xbox?

The main differences are the buttons for opening the cheat bar and shift-clicking. All editing features are available on both console and PC—the process just involves slightly different button combos. For step-by-step help, see EA’s console guide.

Do I need expansion packs or mods to fully edit Sims?

No expansions or mods are required to access full CAS editing—it’s built into the base game through cheats. However, expansion packs and custom content do add extra hairstyles, outfits, and details for more creative variety if that’s your thing.

Ready to Edit? The World Is Your Sim’s Runway

Tweaking a Sim’s look or personality is more than just pressing a few buttons; it’s an open canvas for storytelling and creativity. Whether you’re chasing a perfect family portrait, a new plot twist, or just a fresh outfit for a night on the town, mastering Sim editing unlocks unlimited possibilities within The Sims 4. For even more inspiration and walkthroughs, check out these favorite resources:

Ready to reinvent your Sims’ lives? Load up the game, dive into Create-a-Sim, and let your creativity do the rest!