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A Directory of Content from Carl's Sims 4 site

People loved my sitemap for The Sims 3, because it helped them to discover content found throughout that huge site. Because this has been requested a few times in the past year, I'm making the same thing for The Sims 4. This list of guides will also give me a place to share miscellaneous content I write, such as the guide about the talking toilet from City Living. I'd really like to do more content like that, but it's difficult to give it a place within the site structure. So while this will help some readers, it'll also help yours truly to get a bit more creative with content.

List of Main Guides

The list is a hierarchy of directories, much like the main site. If you're looking for the skills list, you'd head toward S based off the top level. If I haven't written a guide yet, it's unlinked but listed in order to help people see what is available with various expansions and stuff packs. Miscellaneous help articles are found at the bottom.

Miscellaneous Articles

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Comments (15)

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New
Mesays...
Hello. Is it okay if I copy the whole The Sims 4 folder? Or there would be some problem?
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Admin
Playlotsays...
If you are meaning to make a back-up, sure. I have one complete back-up on a pen drive like that. There are other ways to make back ups etc so these How-To posts on our forum may be of some use to you: How-To's (click)
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New
Mesays...
Yes i mean back up. Thank you so much
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New
Georgette Cleggsays...
I remember in Sims 3 we could get rid of the blurring when the sims were in the bath or on the toilet. Is something like that available in Sims 4?
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Admin
Playlotsays...
Options Menu>Game Options>Uncheck Post Processing Effects
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New
Nicole Finchsays...
your guides are super helpful thank you
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New
Coolsimsays...
Hi --- I can't sign into Carl's forum Shocked. I tried, but my computer gave me this message when I pressed log in. How do I fix it so I can log in again? Thanks a lot!
The page isn’t redirecting properly

Firefox has detected that the server is redirecting the request for this address in a way that will never complete.

This problem can sometimes be caused by disabling or refusing to accept cookies.
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Admin
Carlsays...
Hey Coolsim. Sounds like you need to reset cookies or clear your browser cache. I'm not aware of any technical problems with the site right now. If it doesn't work, email me at [email protected]
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Michaele Desmondsays...
I'm trying to get into build mode but it won't let me because it says "You cannot do this while a Sim is aging up", but I have no Sim even close to being ready to age up. How do I fix this? I can't even save my game because of it.
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Admin
Playlotsays...
Sadly this is a known bug. There is a huge bug report on it here (click). Sometimes you can work around the bug by saving, quitting then deleting the localthumbcache.package file and then on entering the game again play a family you haven't played before. Bake a cake and click on it to manually age up one of these 'new' sims. This doesn't always work but good luck. If you can't solve the issue you will need to move your current saves folder out onto yr desk top and clear the cache again and then start a brand new game. My advice is to not play any old saves as this bug can transfer to other saves. Tip: always quit the game and never quit to main menu as this is when bugs can spread between save files.
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New
Gamergirlsays...
What do health potions and emotion potions do? There's no article on potions
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Admin
Playlotsays...
They don't seem to do anything at all, which is why there is no guide to them. They are primarily made on the children's science table - The Junior Wizards Starter Set. The Health potion can also caught while fishing and when consumed restores a sims hunger. A sim can get the uncomfortable moodlet or the Smooth Sipping +1 happy 4hrs from it.
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Sarah Schneesays...
Actually, potions made by children will give the emotion they had while creating if it is a good emotion potion. My child sim has to make multiple potions for the wiz kid aspiration and was confident (from completing homework) and drinking it gave a confident +1 for 4 hours from the potion. Another potion was made while the child was focused and drinking gave focused +1 for 4 hours. Otherwise, the sim could get an uncomfortable +1 for 4 hours because it was poorly made. Health potions do give what was mentioned earlier.
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Admin
Playalotsays...
Right, so they don't really do anything unique. Your sim can already access potions for certain emotions which we have covered in our Emotions Section.
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johnny joliesays...
This site is everything!!!!!!
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New
Rondasays...
Was wondering how to find Millie Bobby Brown?
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Rondasays...
Love this site!
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Felicity Fitzpatricksays...
Please write a guide on graduation etc
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Admin
Playalotsays...
There is no graduation in TS4. Sims simply age up and so leave high school and then either get a career or earn money through a skill.
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BrianZsays...
Wondering if there's somewhere showing all locked clothing, and how to unlock it? I recently saw an NPC in a dress that was transparent, except for opaque panels over the important bits. I can't find it in CAS, so my guess is it must be a reward item, but I have no idea for what.
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Senior
Briansays...
Ok, nevermind I found it. There's a dress from Seasons which looks radically different, depending on what swatches you look at.
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New
Sarah Schneesays...
Is there a guide to get all the achievements in game? Some are easy (maxing skills or careers) but I cannot seem to get a couple of these and the description does not help very much. The ones I'm struggling with now are "channel surfer", "basketcase", all the social/social event related ones (3 first kisses in a single social event, get a gold medal on 8 different social events, get a silver medal on 5 different social events, be BFFs with 6 NPCs, and woohoo 50 unique NPCs), and all the "legacy" type ones (10 generations, 10 generations in 10 households, 100 generations, 26 generations, etc) and I can't find a guide on these things.
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New
Sarah Schneesays...
I just got the channel surfer one because my sim upgraded the TV and radio to give more channels and stations. Still need help on all others though
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Admin
Playalotsays...
We don't have a guide on how to do them as the description usually holds enough clues, the Basket Case is have a Sim get in and out of all primary emotional states within 24 Sim hours. So you could use potions for some of them but remember that 'fine' as also needed. You could also use emotional paintings if you have a sim with the ability to craft these unlocked. The others you mention, well, you just need to hold a party for example and have 3 kisses and so on. The legacy ones take a lot of game play, you'll need to play the same household for many generations before they will unlock. So the achievements are very literal, most of them you literally just need to do what the descriptor says. Also the achievement unlocks are per game save...so every time you start a new game save file the achievements will reset. But you can play multiple families (households) within that same game save file to help you with unlocking them all.
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New
Sarah Schneesays...
What are the primary emotional states? I have sims that can do potions and paintings, but I don't know which emotions are the "primary" ones. Also, I've tried to do the social ones but I'm never able to complete before time runs out. The legacy ones are difficult because I'm not entirely sure what is considered a generation as my more active household has (in sim genealogy) 10 generations but the achievement says 8/10 still. This could be because I have 8 sims in my household but idk.
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Admin
Playalotsays...
@Sarah Schnee By Primary states I mean the main emotions, you shouldn't need to trigger their 'Very" state to unlock the achievement. Link to a List of the emotions (click). A generation is a sim, so Sim A has a baby that baby is generation 2 with Sim A being generation 1. As for the parties/social events, I guess you just need to ignore the other party requirements and focus on what you need to get done for the achievement unlock. Here's a forum post about parties, but the goal is for you to unlock achievements, not actually get a Gold at the party but the info might be useful anyway. Parties. If you would like more help try posting on our forum as there is more room for replies, the guide is really just for short, quick answers. On the forum we can help you in more detail Link to Forum
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New
Morescasays...
what hapen if i download resource.cfg in a crack version o Sims 4
Huh
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Admin
Playalotsays...
No idea, try and see if your game explodes.
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New
Bobsays...

sims 4 admirals wreckage, any idea what's in the chest and how to, if there is a quest for it ?

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Admin
Playalotsays...

It's just a decoration piece.



Discover University Expansion

The Sims 4 Discover University Expansion Pack

The Sims 4 Discover University has been announced for November 15 for PC/Mac and December 17 for Xbox and Playstation 4 consoles. Click to learn more about the pack, see my summary of the livestream or read our FAQs below.

New: Discover University FAQ: Gameplay Features

For video info see my Summary of the Sims 4 Discover University Deep Dive Livestream.

Latest News

Realm of Magic

The Sims 4 Realm of Magic comes September 10 for PC/Mac and releases October 15 for Xbox One and Playstation 4. See my Video Guide to Features in Realm of Magic. We've compiled information on upcoming features from developer tweets and used the trailer to try to share everything we know.

The Sims 4 Moschino Stuff Review

The Sims 4 Moschino Stuff Pack

New: The Sims 4 Moschino Stuff Review - My thoughts on the photography improvements, fashion photographer, and build buy additions in The Sims 4 Moschino Stuff which is available today for PC/Mac.

New: A Features of Moschino Stuff Summary Video

The Sims 4 Moschino Stuff Pack is available by 12:30-1PM EST for PC/Mac and September 3 for Xbox One and Playstation 4. Click to learn about the new pack, freelance photography and the new clothing. You can also see my announcement video and the game's trailer within that upload.

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Skill Guides

Support Us

Readers who use adblock or those who'd like to thank us for our efforts can now pledge $1/$5 monthly via Patreon to help us retain the freedom to do what we love to do.

New Videos and Guides

Armageddon Mod (Mod/CC Reviews).

How to Write Songs in The Sims 4Latest in The New How To Section : Learn How to Write Songs and Make Money with Music in The Sims 4. Also, How to Get Abducted by Aliens. We have a guide for using Pregnancy Cheats, Get a Job, Adopting a Kid and How to Cheat.

Alien Abduction in The Sims 4Alien Abduction: I made a Video Guide to Alien Abductions, Alien Babies in The Sims 4 Get to Work.

New How To Section : The new How To's section is updated with How to Get Abducted by Aliens. You can also learn how to use Pregnancy Cheats, Get a Job, Adopting a Kid and How to Cheat. It's meant to help newcomers or those with specific problems and will be greatly expanded over coming months.

New Charisma Video
I've created a fairly detailed Charisma Video Guide to accompany the normal Charisma text guide. My goal is to have every skill covered by the end of the year, if possible.

Video Guides

We now have a Videos page, where I'll list every submission to our Sims 4 Gameplay Guides Channel. I'm taking feedback seriously, improving recording and sound quality and other issues with my video guides. Let me know what you think and subscribe for more like it. If you comment on the videos page with a request I may bump it higher on my to do list (no promises though!). Here is a listing of all videos released to date, in order of release:

Sims 4 February Patch Summary
Get Famous: Celestial Crystal Crown
Visit My Channel to Subscribe!
Get Famous First Impressions
First Person Mode (Sims 4 Update)
Get Famous Acting Livestream
Livestream Summary (Latest Patch News)
Patch News: COMING SOON
The Sims 4 Get Famous Expansion
Archaeology Guide (Jungle Adventure)
Jungle Adventure Gameplay
Nerd Brain and Computer Whiz
Spa Day Review and Gameplay Guide
The Sims 4 Whims & How to Use Them
Ambrosia Ingredients and Raising the Dead
The Sims 4: Making a Super Sim
The Sims 4 Careers (Improved)
Seasons Holiday Decorations Guide
Cool Kitchen Stuff
Patchy (Scarecrow)
Laundry Day
Painting Skill
Pregnancy Cheats
How to Woohoo & Try for Baby
Skill Cheats
Playing a Moocher
Sims 4 Writing Skill
Father Winter's Baby
Flower Shop Seasons/Get to Work Retail
Beekeeping Video