Sims 4 Studio (S4S) is the free tool most creators use to make and fix custom content for The Sims 4. You download it only from the official site, sims4studio.com. The current versions are 3.2.6.5 “Star” for Windows and 1.4.6.2 “Aurora” for Mac, both open betas, last updated on September 28, 2026. This page covers which version to pick, what you need, how to install it and what you can do with it.
Which Sims 4 Studio version should you download?
Sims 4 Studio comes in two tracks. The open beta is the one that gets updates for new packs and kits. The older “community tested” versions have not been updated in years and do not know about recent content.
| Edition | Version | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Windows, Star (open beta) | 3.2.6.5 | Current. Use this one. |
| Mac, Aurora (open beta) | 1.4.6.2 | Current. Use this one. |
| Windows, Wishes (community tested) | 3.1.6.3 | Old. Not updated for new packs. |
| Mac, Apple Blossom (community tested) | 1.3.4.2 | Old. Not updated for new packs. |
Versions and dates from the download boards on sims4studio.com, checked October 30, 2026.
What’s new in 3.2.6.5 and 1.4.6.2
- Support for the Coach RePurposed, Clueless, Mean Girls and Music Den kits.
- Fix for the position and scale of Build/Buy objects.
- Older CAS parts update automatically to support slider values.
- Fix for a World Conditional Data bug.
- The previous releases (3.2.6.4 and 1.4.6.1) added Blender 5.2 support.
Requirements
| Windows (Star) | Mac (Aurora) | |
|---|---|---|
| System | 64 bit Windows only | macOS 10.11 El Capitan or newer. Runs natively on Apple Silicon. |
| Runtime | Microsoft .NET 6 Desktop Runtime (x64) | Included |
| Blender (only for meshes and animation) | 2.76 or 5.2 | 2.78 or 5.2 |
| Game | A PC or Mac copy of The Sims 4. Consoles do not support custom content. | |
Linux players can run the Windows version through Wine 10.0 with .NET 6 installed, according to the official thread. Untick “Disable Hardware Rendering” in the S4S settings, or the 3D previews freeze.
How to install Sims 4 Studio
- Go to sims4studio.com and open the download board for the open beta.
- Open the thread for your system: “Sims 4 Studio for Windows 3.2.6.5 (Star)” or “Sims 4 Studio for Mac 1.4.6.2 (Aurora)”.
- Pick the installer (or the zip on Windows). The thread lists Google Drive as the main link and Mega and MediaFire as backups. Do not download S4S from any other site.
- On Windows, install the .NET 6 Desktop Runtime for x64 if the program does not start. Some users have to add it by hand even though the installer should include it.
- Start Sims 4 Studio, enter your creator name and check that it has found your game and your
Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 4folder.
Since the last versions, S4S keeps its log files in %programdata%\S4Studio instead of Documents, to cut down on antivirus false alarms. You can also open them from the Help menu.
What you can do with Sims 4 Studio
- Recolor CAS items and objects: make new swatches of clothes, hair and furniture from the base game or your packs.
- Make new meshes: export a mesh to Blender, change it and import it again as a new item.
- Edit tuning and overrides: change how objects or traits behave, which is how many small gameplay mods are made.
- Batch fixes: repair many CC files at once after a patch, for example thumbnails or slider support.
- Merge packages: combine many CC files into fewer, which can make the game load faster.
- Work with Gallery and tray files: look inside saved Sims, households and lots.
Script mods (.ts4script) are written in Python and are not made in Sims 4 Studio. For managing the mods you already have, see our Sims 4 mod manager guide. Many tuning mods also rely on XML Injector.
Sims 4 Studio after a game patch
S4S itself does not break when the game updates, but it has to learn about new packs and kits before you can recolor them. The team adds them in new versions, as 3.2.6.5 did for the latest kits. After a patch such as update 1.129, check the Star or Aurora thread for a new version before you work on items from new content. For your mods, see which mods work after patch 1.129 and our mod status tracker.
FAQ
Is Sims 4 Studio free?
Yes. It is free to download from sims4studio.com.
Is Sims 4 Studio safe?
The official download is widely used by the CC community. Only use the links in the official threads on sims4studio.com. Copies on other sites can be old or changed.
Should I use the open beta or the community tested version?
The open beta (Star on Windows, Aurora on Mac). The community tested versions are years old and do not support recent packs.
Does Sims 4 Studio work on Mac?
Yes. The Mac version, Aurora 1.4.6.2, needs macOS 10.11 or newer and runs natively on Apple Silicon.
Do I need Blender?
Only if you want to change meshes or make animations. Recolors, tuning and batch fixes work without it.
Sims 4 Studio will not open on Windows. What do I do?
Install the Microsoft .NET 6 Desktop Runtime for x64 and try again. Check that you use 64 bit Windows. The log files in %programdata%\S4Studio show the error.
