How do you reset The Sims 4? It’s a question almost every Simmer, new or seasoned, will find themselves asking at some point. The answer: you can reset The Sims 4 quickly and safely by renaming or deleting your “The Sims 4” folder in your Documents library, prompting the game to regenerate a clean set of files the next time you launch it. This method gives you a fresh start without losing your purchased packs or reinstalling the game from scratch. Whether you’re battling bugs, cleaning up after a modding spree gone wrong, or just itching to wipe the slate clean, knowing how to reset your game (and what really happens when you do) is essential. Ready to breathe new life into your Sims’ world? Let’s dive in.

Why Resetting The Sims 4 Works (and What It Actually Does)

Resetting The Sims 4 doesn’t mean uninstalling the whole game from your system. In fact, simply hitting uninstall often leaves your personal files and persistent glitches untouched because your saves, mods, and settings are stored separately from your installation. The real trick? Working directly with your Documents folder, where the magic (and sometimes the chaos) happens.

When you launch The Sims 4, it checks your Documents > Electronic Arts directory for a folder called “The Sims 4”. This little folder holds all your essential user data: saves, mods, library items, screenshots, game options, and more. By renaming or deleting this folder and restarting the game, you force The Sims 4 to spawn a brand new folder, free of lingering bugs, broken files, or questionable mods. The result is a vanilla, clutter-free playground for your Sims and a safer way to pinpoint pesky issues.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Resetting The Sims 4

Let’s walk through the most reliable, recommended method—no advanced technical skills needed. This process works on both Windows and Mac, and you don’t need to worry about losing your expansions or stuff packs, since those are tied to your EA or Steam account.

  1. Close The Sims 4 Completely
    Double-check that the game is not running in the background. You don’t want any files accidentally being written or corrupted mid-way.
  2. Navigate to Your Sims 4 Folder
    Open your Documents folder, then go to Electronic Arts > The Sims 4.
  3. Backup, Don’t Panic
    Right-click on “The Sims 4” and rename it (for example: “The Sims 4_Backup” or “The Sims 4_Old”). This keeps your data safe and lets you restore it if you change your mind or need to retrieve something.
  4. Launch The Sims 4
    Start the game through the EA app or Steam. The Sims 4 will notice your main folder is missing and generate a fresh, empty one with clean settings, no saves, and no mods.
  5. Test Your Game
    Check if your original problems are fixed. If everything’s running smoothly, you can choose what files (if any) to bring back from your backup.

If you prefer watching rather than reading, the video above walks you through starting from scratch—including managing mods.

What Gets Wiped, What Stays Safe

Worried you’ll lose all your carefully curated expansions, or your favorite Sim households? Here’s what a reset affects, and what remains untouched:

  • Gets wiped: Your save games, mods, CC, screenshots, options, and library items (i.e., creations in the Gallery), all of which are user-specific files inside “The Sims 4” folder.
  • Safe from the purge: Your base game, expansions, game/stuff packs, and your Origin/EA or Steam-linked purchases and account settings are all stored externally and will reappear once you’re logged in.

This method is a bit like performing a full spring cleaning: your house stays standing, but all the clutter, dust, and stuck drawer issues vanish. Expansion packs and purchased content remain waiting for you, and you can re-import the things you want back.

Recovering Your Favorite Content After Reset

If you want a truly blank start, skip this part. But if you’re like most players and want to keep your Sims, builds, or certain saves, you can manually copy them back from your backup:

  • Saves: Copy the files from “saves” in your backup folder to “saves” in your new folder.
  • Households & lots: The “Tray” folder holds library items (other than Gallery downloads). Transfer only what you trust and need.
  • Mods & Custom Content: Be picky! Only move over non-script CC that’s up-to-date. Broken or outdated mods are a leading cause of glitches. Pro tip: Add back mods in small batches to quickly pinpoint what’s broken, using the tried-and-true 50/50 method.

Alternative “Quick and Simple” Reset

No interest in backups and folders? There’s a brute-force method too: just delete “The Sims 4” folder entirely (again, from Documents/Electronic Arts) after saving anything sentimental. The next time you launch The Sims 4, it’s born anew. It might feel scary, but it’s clean and effective. For extra assurance, you can also run the “Repair” tool from your launcher (in EA app or Steam) to verify and refresh your game installation files and packs—perfect if you suspect a download issue.

Want a Fresh Start Without Touching Game Files?

If you’re just itching for a clean game with new Sims and a new world—without risk or file juggling—simply create a brand new save from the main menu. Click the plus (+) sign in the upper right corner, and you’re instantly in Create-a-Sim, ready to rewrite your Sims’ destinies. All previous saves and content remain available, safely stored away in your main folder.

When (and Why) a Reset Solves Problems

You might find yourself needing a full reset if your game:

  • Keeps crashing or freezing, even after patches
  • Refuses to load certain saves
  • Displays missing textures, broken gameplay, or inexplicable bugs
  • Acts weird after mods or CC installs
  • Randomly resets settings you’ve changed over and over

This isn’t just “troubleshooting 101.” It’s a time-tested life-saver, recommended by both official support channels and beloved community experts like Crinrict’s Sims 4 Help.

Expert Resources for Sims 4 Reset Guidance

Frequently Asked Questions About Resetting The Sims 4

Will resetting The Sims 4 delete my purchased packs or expansion content?

Absolutely not! All your packs, expansion content, and stuff packs are safely linked to your EA or Steam account. Resetting only removes locally stored user files, not your purchased content. Once you log in, your packs will still be there and ready to install or use.

Can I undo a reset if I want my old saves or Sims back?

Yes, as long as you’ve backed up your “The Sims 4” folder by renaming it or copying it elsewhere, you can always restore the old files. Just delete or move the new folder, then restore your backup to “The Sims 4” and everything will return to its previous state.

How do I deal with broken mods after a reset?

Resetting removes all mods and custom content from the game. To avoid reintroducing errors, always freshly download updated versions of your script mods, and test them in batches. Broken mods are a notorious source of in-game chaos, so introduce them back slowly and check for compatibility at each step.

Does resetting my game fix corrupted saves?

Often, if the corruption is due to underlying game files or conflicting mods, yes. However, if the actual save file is irreparably corrupted, resetting won’t revive that specific save. You might be able to recover from earlier save backups or recoverable versions in your “saves” folder (look for files like Slot_00000001.save.ver0, ver1, etc.).

Is there a way to reset only my Sims or households, not the whole game?

For minor glitches with specific Sims or households, you can use cheat commands in-game—like resetSim [FirstName] [LastName]—to reset a stuck Sim without affecting your saves or game files. This is a quick fix for common “frozen Sim” bugs and doesn’t require touching any folders.

Will resetting help if my game won’t launch at all?

It can! Sometimes, a damaged “The Sims 4” folder prevents the game from loading properly. Using this guide to reset your user data is a solid troubleshooting step. If the issue persists after a reset, consider repairing your game in the EA app or checking your system for hardware/software conflicts.

The Bottom Line: A Reset Without Regret

Learning how to reset The Sims 4 is a vital skill for every player. It’s not just for emergencies – think of it as periodic digital decluttering, keeping your game running at its best. Remember to back up files you can’t live without, be cautious with reintroducing old content, and always check the community for the latest best practices. With just a few clicks, you (and your digital Sims) get a brand new beginning.

For more help or guides, visit Sims4Life for up-to-date tips, troubleshooting, and everything Sims!