There are a few cheats we can use while building in Sims 4. Usually very easy to use, they can enhance our builds and can help to make them look more realistic.
To use cheats, first you need to open the cheats console by pressing Control + Shift + C. Type the cheat in and press enter. To close the console, press Control + Shift + C again.
A Guide to using The Sims 4's building cheats, which includes controls that are easy to miss that let you resize objects and fine tune placement. Features the new live mode edit objects that were patched into the game in July 2019.
Move Objects Cheat
Possibly one of the most used cheats in building. To activate type bb.moveobjects on and retype to turn the cheat off. With this on, you will be able to place items in places that the game would not normally allow. You can place things closer together or even touching. With this cheat, you could combine two pieces of furniture to make one larger pieces, for example, two Unabashed Sofas at right angles to each other make a nice corner lounge. Join tables together to make larger tables. Be aware though, that combining items can affect your sim's ability to use part or all of the item or can cause strange visuals when they do use it. It's a good idea to test objects placed with this cheat, especially if you intend to share the build.
Click to Enlarge. Use the moveobjects cheat to combine furniture
The move object cheat does have some limitations. While it will allow two windows to be placed on one section of wall, it will cause some strange visuals. Sometimes too, the game will not acknowledge that an item is placed in an unusual place and again, some strange visuals could result when a Sim uses that item.
Click to Enlarge. The game doesn't always recognise when something is placed using a cheat
While the move objects cheat is activated, we can also adjust the height at which something sits. Pick up the item and press the 9 key, every time you press the key, the item will be raised a little. When it's at the desired height, release it and it will stay at that height. To lower something use the 0 key instead. This is useful for placing things on surfaces that the game would not normally allow.
Click to Enlarge. Use moveobjects cheat and raise a second bed to make a set of bunks - unfortunately, they can't be used
Show Hidden Objects
Another well used cheat in building, this one allows us to use items that we normally can't buy. To activate, type bb.showhiddenobjects into the cheat console. For now, there seems to be no way to turn this cheat off other than exiting the game, so be aware, especially if you are playing a competition game where cheats are not allowed.
This cheat lets us select many items that we cannot usually buy, from full grown fruit trees to the little things our Sims use in everyday activities. Included in the hidden objects are lights. The hidden lights are particularly useful as they can make a room lighter without adding more conventional lights.
Click to Enlarge. Use hidden lights to add extra light to a room
Enlarging an item
Not really a cheat, the enlarging feature is still useful when decorating a house. In Build mode, pick up an item and press the ] key and the item will be enlarged a little. With each key stroke, the item will be made slightly bigger. While items can be made larger, they cannot be made smaller than the original size. To reduce the size of something that has been enlarged, hit the [ key until the required size is reached. While most items can be made bigger, a few do not enlarge well. While window and door frames will enlarge, the hole in the wall will remain the original size. Likewise mirrors do not enlarge well.
Click to Enlarge. Some things like plants enlarge well - others like windows and mirrors do not
Free Placement and Rotation of Objects
Another trick that is not really a cheat is free placement and rotation of objects. Normally when you place an item, it will be locked to the grid. Pick up an item and go to place it somewhere. You will see it has a footprint. This footprint shows how many grid squares the item will need and when you place it the footprint will automatically lock to the grid on the floor.
By holding the ALT key when you place something, the grid will be ignored and you will be free to place it anywhere. Things moved this way will still have the footprint that says how many squares of floor space is needed. Unless you also use the moveobjects cheat, items cannot share the same space. Combining the moveobjects cheat and holding the ALT key will give more placement options.
Click to Enlarge. Normally, objects snap to the grid. By holding the alt key they can be placed anywhere
Free rotation is similar to free placement in that we are not restricted in how we rotate an item. This trick is dependent on you using the Sims 3 camera mode. To switch into Sims 3 camera mode, select the Options menu in the top right hand corner of the screen. From there select Game Options and then Controls & Camera. Check the box that says The Sims 3 Camera. Apply the change and return to the game. Alternately, you can switch between the Sims 3 camera and the Sims 4 camera by holding CTRL + Shift + tab. With the Sims 3 camera, you will be able to rotate an item you are holding simply by dragging it instead of having to use the < or > keys. Rotating something this way, you will still be restricted to 45 degree rotations but by holding the ALT key as you drag, you will be able to rotate an item freely.
Click to Enlarge. By holding the alt key and using the Sims 3 camera mode, we can freely rotate objects
Sharing houses and rooms built with cheats If you share a house or room you have built using some or all of the cheats, there are a few things to consider. Not all things placed with the showhiddenobjects cheat will transfer through the gallery, some are just not designed that way. The invisible lights will only transfer if you save and share an entire lot. If you only share a room, hidden lights will not be included. Objects placed using the moveobjects cheat may transfer correctly, but there is a chance that they will not. Items transferring could also depend on individual games being up to date. In earlier versions of the game, some items did not transfer through the gallery the way they were intended to by the builder.
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Hey ! In regaurds to your problem the move object cheat definatly works in sims 4 but for sims 3 the cheat has a different code: moveobjects on. Whereas with sims 4 you need bb.moveobjects on make sure you do a space between objects and on ! Hopeit helps :)
That's right, you don't need to type 'on' at the end of bb.moveobjects . If moo is on and you type bb.moveobjects it turns it off. There is no need to type 'on' or 'off'.
In live mode pause your game and press Control-Shift-C altogether to open up the cheats console. Next type or copy testingcheats on and press enter. Next type or copy bb.moveobjects on and press enter. If you want to also freely rotate an object hold down the alt key while you are still holding the object and either use the mouse wheel down and pivot or the direction arrows.
I don't think in the newest patch that it shows up that you successfully turned it on. I tried multiply but i did it right once and all the other times it said that it failed to do the cheats.
Are there spawners using this cheat? I couldn't find them
Admin: I don't remember seeing them either. The closest are the plants, which I think come in wild variants.. but as for making dig site spawners, I don't recall them being there.
have you enabled the cheats yet? remember it's testingcheats true, not testingcheatsenabled true... I had that problem before, my mind still mixed up with sims 3
This really helped, now my Sims can have a sectional couch by joining 2 couches with the move objects cheats on, and I just used most of the cheats. I didn't use all of them because I didn't really wanna, but I appreciate your help. One other cheat is, to rotate objects like beds and ottomans, use the keys , and . to rotate. Press either one of those keys during build mode until you have the object rotated in the way you want.
My only thing is this: Back in Sims3, when you put something in the ground, whether it was a hot tub, a fountain, or a pool, it wasted a single square on all sides, forcing the ground to buckle downward toward what you put into it. You had to cover it up with a foundation, a deck, or shrubs, etc.. In the Sims 4 it doesn't do that.. It's a straight wall, when you go down a layer. No wasted 'perimeter' around the pool or fountain.. SO... When I couldn't put a pool on the deck, and a fountain around it in Sims 3, to make it look like one cascaded into the other - I got it.. But in Sims 4, we don't have that wasted space, yet we're still not allowed to place one sunken object next to another (no fountain directly next to a pool).. I'd love... And I do mean LOVE to find a cheat that would let me overcome THAT.
hey, is there any cheats that let's you custom the things you're not supposed to? like fence, foundation, etc? and I can't figure out how to customise the clothes like on sims 3, or is it not a viable option? Thanks for all the cheats by the way!
There are various modders who have unlocked certain world items. I'll link you to one and let you search for more along the lines that you personally want. Unlocked lawn Parts Carl's Guide to Using Mods and CC
To find the pond, first use the cheat bb.showhiddenobjects then in build mode, go to the right hand side of the catalogue and click filter items. From there select content and then check the box that says debug. Only debug iitems will now be displayed. I would suggest starting at the bottom of the catalogue and look for what appears to be just the greenery around the edge of the pond (no visible water) it's not named so mousing overit won't show what it is. In my game, it is between a fishing sign and a drink in a green stemmed glass.
The only way I know is through a mod. Be aware that if you try to use a out of date Mod it can corrupt your file. Make sure all mods are up dated! Here's the link... I haven't checked if this mod has been updated recently so user be ware! http://modthesims.info/d/552579 Carl's Guide to Using Mods
I don't know what I pressed but now in build mode I can only see my windows if im buying them. I am trying to delete one but I cant see it to click on it!!! Help please!
Hi! Any idea how to get a window to not snap to the grid? Can only move it up and down but i want a two tile window to fit evenly in a 3 tile wall! Thanks! Oh and i have tried move objects and ALT. All it does is still move up and down! Ok thanks!
Those lights that turn on whenever we get new stuff into the game: I think theu are annoying, and have tried to remove them by unlock entitlements and show hidden objects, but there are still some lights left in the activity section. Do you know where I can find them (to remove those lights)?
I wonder too about how you do if your ] and 9 key is the same! I really want to try and enlarge some items but all that happens is that they hover in the air!
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Let's Play Playlist
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Comments (97)
I've done that but still doesn't work
If you don't add the "on" then it won't work
testingcheats true
before you use
bb.moveobjects
Next type or copy testingcheats on and press enter.
Next type or copy bb.moveobjects on and press enter.
If you want to also freely rotate an object hold down the alt key while you are still holding the object and either use the mouse wheel down and pivot or the direction arrows.
bb.ignoregameplayunlocksentitlement
Unlocked lawn Parts
Carl's Guide to Using Mods and CC
Carl's Guide to Cheats
Your cheats section is very well written. Thank you for helping so many of us. You must be an infinitely patient person hehe
Here's the link... I haven't checked if this mod has been updated recently so user be ware!
http://modthesims.info/d/552579
Carl's Guide to Using Mods
I don't know what I pressed but now in build mode I can only see my windows if im buying them. I am trying to delete one but I cant see it to click on it!!! Help please!
Using Mods and CC Guide by Carl
All beds The Same Energy Mod