The only official mod manager for The Sims 4 is the CurseForge app. EA chose CurseForge (owned by Overwolf) as its mod partner in October 2022, and the free desktop app installs, updates and removes mods for you on Windows and Mac. It has one big limit: it can only manage mods that are on CurseForge. For everything else, you need a checker such as TS4 Mod Hound and a tidy Mods folder. This guide explains what each tool does and which setup makes sense for you.
Your options at a glance
| Tool | What it does | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| CurseForge app | Installs, updates and removes mods from CurseForge. Detects other mods but cannot manage them. | Players who get most mods from CurseForge |
| TS4 Mod Hound by Lumpinou | Scans your Mods folder and reports outdated, duplicate, broken and incompatible files, and missing requirements | Big Mods folders from many sources, and patch days |
| Game Options in The Sims 4 | Turns custom content and script mods on or off | Everyone |
| Your own folder system | Subfolders by creator or type, so you can find and remove mods quickly | Everyone |
The CurseForge app: the official mod manager
In EA’s announcement from 18 October 2022, CurseForge is described as a mod manager and discovery platform for user-generated content. EA also said it will not require modders to move to CurseForge, which is why many popular mods are still only on Patreon or the creator’s own site.
How to set it up
- Download the CurseForge app from curseforge.com.
- Open the app. It should find The Sims 4 by itself. If not, add the game by hand: on Windows, pick the folder that holds
TS4_x64.exe(inside the game’s Bin folder). On Mac, pick the folder that holdsThe Sims 4.app. - The app finds your Mods folder automatically.
- Browse and install mods from inside the app. When a mod has a new version, an orange Update button appears on it. You can update one mod at a time or use Update all.
These steps follow CurseForge’s own getting started guide.
The catch: mods from other sites
CurseForge says it plainly: mods you install by hand from other sites are detected, but they cannot be managed or updated through the app. That matters, because some of the most used mods are not on CurseForge. MC Command Center comes from Deaderpool’s own site, and XML Injector from Scumbumbo’s site. For those you still need to check for updates yourself.
TS4 Mod Hound: a checker for every mod
TS4 Mod Hound is made by Lumpinou, the creator behind mods such as RPO and Club Management. It is not an installer. It is an online platform where you submit your Mods folder (or a Last Exception file), and its Check My Mods scan tells you which files are outdated, duplicated, broken or obsolete, which mods are incompatible, and which are missing a required mod. It also has a searchable list of all the mods it tracks.
This is the tool to use after a patch, when you need to know which of your mods to update or remove. It complements CurseForge instead of replacing it.
Manage mods by hand: the folder rules
Even with a manager, a clean Mods folder saves you hours. The Mods folder is at Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 4\Mods on Windows and Documents/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/Mods on Mac.
- Script mods (.ts4script) can sit at most one subfolder deep. Deeper than that, the game does not load them.
- Package files (.package) can sit up to five subfolders deep.
- Keep each mod’s files together, ideally in a folder named after the creator. When a mod breaks, you delete one folder.
- Never leave .zip or .rar files in the Mods folder. Extract them first.
- Turn mods on in the game: Game Options, Other, then tick Enable Custom Content and Mods and Script Mods Allowed. After every patch the game turns these off again, so check them.
Which setup should you use?
- A few mods, mostly from CurseForge: the CurseForge app does almost everything for you.
- Many mods from Patreon and creator sites: keep a clean folder system, run TS4 Mod Hound after every patch, and follow our Sims 4 mod status page for the big mods.
- Both: use CurseForge for its mods and handle the rest by hand. The app will show the other mods but leave them alone.
Patch day with a mod manager
No manager can fix a mod that its creator has not updated yet. When EA releases a patch, script mods are the ones most likely to break. Back up your Mods folder, update what has new versions, and move the rest out until their creators confirm them. Our guide on how to prepare your Sims 4 mods for a patch walks through it step by step, and Better Exceptions helps you find the mod behind an error.
FAQ
Is there an official Sims 4 mod manager?
Yes. CurseForge is EA’s official mod partner, and its desktop app works as the mod manager for The Sims 4.
Does the CurseForge app work on Mac?
Yes. CurseForge’s setup guide has steps for both Windows and Mac.
Can CurseForge update my Patreon mods?
No. Mods from outside CurseForge are detected, but the app cannot manage or update them.
Do I have to use CurseForge to get mods?
No. EA has said it will not require modders or players to use CurseForge. Downloading from the creator’s official page works just as well.
Can I use mods on PS5 or Xbox?
No. The Sims 4 supports mods only on PC and Mac.