To keep your Sims 4 mods safe through a game update: back up your saves and Mods folder, stop the game from updating automatically, move your mods out before you patch, and only put them back once each modder has confirmed a working version. It takes ten minutes and saves you from broken saves, UI errors and endless loading screens. Here is the full routine, step by step.
The next patch is on October 27, 2026. See what is in the October 27 update and which mods are most at risk.
Why patches break mods
Script mods hook into the game’s own code, and tuning mods replace the game’s own files. When EA changes that code or those files, the mod can stop working or, worse, make the game crash. EA itself says many of its top crash reports are linked to outdated or conflicting mods. Custom content like hair and clothes breaks far less often than script mods.
Before the patch
1. Back up your saves and Mods folder
Your files live in Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 4 on Windows and Documents/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4 on Mac. Copy the saves and Mods folders (and Tray if you use the Gallery a lot) to a different place, for example your desktop or a cloud drive.
2. Stop automatic updates
If the game patches itself overnight, you lose the chance to prepare. Turn off automatic game updates in the EA app settings. On Steam, open The Sims 4’s properties, go to Updates and choose to only update the game when you launch it. You can also play in offline mode for a few days after a patch.
3. Write down your script mods
Make a quick list of your script mods (files ending in .ts4script) and where you downloaded each one. These are the ones you will need to check. Big ones like MC Command Center, WickedWhims, Basemental and UI Cheats Extension almost always need an update.
On patch day
4. Move the Mods folder out
Move the whole Mods folder to your desktop before you start the updated game. The game will create a new, empty Mods folder. This lets you test that the patch itself works and that your save loads.
5. Delete the cache
Delete localthumbcache.package in The Sims 4 folder. It is rebuilt automatically and old cache data is a common cause of strange errors after a patch.
6. Update the game and play once without mods
Install the update, load your save without mods and save it under a new name. Now you have a clean save to fall back on.
After the patch
7. Wait for modders to confirm
Check each modder’s own page or Patreon for a new version or a “works with” note for the new game version. Only download updates from the modder’s official page. Our Sims 4 mod status tracker resets on patch day and shows popular mods as they are confirmed.
8. Put mods back in small groups
Start with custom content (CAS and build items), then add updated script mods a few at a time. If something breaks, you know it came from the last group. This is often called the 50/50 method: split your mods in half, test, and keep halving the group that causes the problem.
9. Turn mods back on in Game Options
After a patch, the game usually switches off mods. Go to Game Options, Other, tick “Enable Custom Content and Mods” and “Script Mods Allowed”, then restart the game.
10. Use a crash checker
If you get errors, TwistedMexi’s free Better Exceptions mod reads the game’s error logs and often names the mod that caused the problem. Without it, look for lastException or lastUIException files in The Sims 4 folder: they appear when something goes wrong.
Signs a mod is broken
- The UI is missing parts, for example no needs panel or an empty pie menu.
- The game hangs on the loading screen or the save will not open.
- Sims freeze, reset or stand still.
- A mod’s own menu or notification no longer appears.
FAQ
Do I need to remove custom content before a patch?
Hair, clothes and build items rarely break, but moving the whole Mods folder out is the safest way to test the patch. Put CC back first, since it is the least likely to cause trouble.
How long does it take for mods to update after a patch?
Popular script mods are often updated within a few days, but it depends on the size of the patch and the modder. Some small mods are never updated. Check the modder’s page instead of guessing.
Can I stay on the old version of The Sims 4?
Only for a short time. Delaying the update and playing offline works for a few days, but new packs, kits and online features require the latest version.
Will mods damage my save?
Broken script mods can corrupt a save if you keep playing and saving. That is why you should back up first and keep a clean save from step 6.