The Sims 4 Building Tutorials:

Using Building Cheats to Enhance a Project

by Norma Blackburn

Sims 4 Building How-To's: enhancing builds with build mode cheats

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.

The Sims 4 Building Cheats for PC, Xbox and PS4

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.

The Sims 4 Video

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.

--> Sims 4 Building How-To's: moveobjects cheat
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.

Sims 4 Building How-To's: game doesn't recognize when something is placed using a cheat
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.

Sims 4 Building How-To's: make cosmetic bunk beds
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.

Sims 4 Building How-To's: Add extra lights with hidden 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.

Sims 4 Building How-To's: plants enlarge well, other objects do not
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.

Sims 4 Building How-To's: stop grid snap when making a lot
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.

Sims 4 Building How-To's: hold alt and use the sims 3 camera mode to freely rotate objects.
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.

Other Building Guides

Sims 4 House Building
Building Cheats
Counters and Islands
Decorating Inside Homes
Decorating Outside/Landscaping
Island Living (Stilt Foundation, Glass Floors)
Roofs
Split Levels and Lofts
Stairs and Basements
Terrain Tools
Platform Tool


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Comments (113)

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New
Lizziesays...
This page is super helpful being that I just got Sims 4 Cool
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New
Lizziesays...
I Have one hundred problems but here is one. In sims 3 you could be creative and use the colour mixer and in sims 4 they got rid of that feature! I wish it came backCrying
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New
minecraftsimmersays...
Anyone know how to undo?
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New
akssays...
If you look at the top of your screen where the strip with the delete and copy buttons are there should be two arrows near the middle facing right and left. The right facing one is the undo button.
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New
akssays...
Sorry, the left facing one is undo. I'm awful at directions :\
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New
Petersays...
The item enlargement doesn't work for me. Sad
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Admin
Playalotsays...
Pick the object up while in build mode. Hold Shift and press ]
Sometimes you need to release the object to see the size increase.
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New
Ninasays...
For bb.moveobjects on, is there a way to make it move freely side to side on a wall? I'm trying to center a window and it won't work. Sad
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Admin
Playalotsays...
Windows will still snap into alignment sideways but you can freely move them up or down using alt.
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New
HELPsays...
How to make windows visible when im on 2. floor!? HELP PLEASE Crying
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Admin
Playalotsays...
Just by placing a window in build mode on the second floor it should be visible! If you have the MOO cheat on, pick up the window and replace it where you want it. Sometimes they glitch out.
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New
lauren lsays...
do you know if you can add multiple base foundations? I've turned on moveobjects but it only allows it on the first floor. Since they took away the terrain leveling and lifting feature in this sims, I used the first foundation as sort of a lifted grass platform and I was wondering if there was a way to ignore the floor levels!
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Admin
Playalotsays...
All buildings will have the same foundation level across the lot. There is no way to build say a house with a foundation and a garage with no foundation on the same lot.
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New
meggysays...
The bigger/smaller doesn't work
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Admin
Playalotsays...
Not sure what you are doing wrong but I've just tested it again to make sure and the enlargement 'cheat' is still working. Make sure you have picked up the item in build mode and press the ] a few times. Release the item if you can't see it increasing size while holding it.
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New
Liviesays...
Unsure don't know where to find the cheat tht unlocks all of the items.
Admin: bb.ignoregameplayunlocksentitlement
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Peepssays...
There are not enough cheats!!!
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Llamasays...
THANK YOU SOOO MUCH!!! These are the first cheats that actually worked
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Eeveesays...
alt isn't working??
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Regular
Normasays...
You will need to be a little more specific Eevee. What exactly isn't working?
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Adisasays...
I really cant do the bb. Of Everything. I tried put on behind that too. Restarting the game. Clear the cache. Anything. God I just wanna do the moving objects like please? :(((((((
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Admin
Playalotsays...
When in playing hit pause. Press Control+Shift+C all at once. This will open up the 'cheats console' which looks like a small white dialogue box at the top left of your screen. In there type:
testingcheats on
You will get the message saying cheats are enabled.
Next type in:
bb.moveobjects on
Now you can place items from the build/buy category anyway you want. Holding the 'alt' key as you place items will allow for off-grid placement.
Still having problems, try posting in the forum for some more ideas.
Misc. Help
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Nhansays...
I can't seem to work the enlarge cheat to work.
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Maybeesays...
How do you make all the furniture and stuff in build mode free? (Huhusing a cheat)
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Regular
Normasays...
I'm not sure there is a cheat for that. I think the closest you would get, is to use the money cheat so your builder has plenty of money to build and buy furniture.
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Rhyssays...
hi I was just wondering if there was a cheat to build as many floors/levels in your house as you like, as id really like to go deeper in the ground and higher. someone please help!!
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New
SunshinyBethsays...
I am seeking this answer as well. I hope that we get an answer soon!
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New
hisays...
There is also one more cheat, which is bb.ignoregameplayunlocksentitlement This will unlock all of the things you haven't unlock due to skill level etc in build mode.
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New
Suziesays...
The cheat code: bb.moveobjects on doesn't work! I do open the cheat console, typed testingcheats true and it enabled, then typed bb. moveobjects on while holding ALT but it still doesn't work! -__-
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Admin
Playalotsays...
When typing 'bb.moveobjects on' do not hold the alt key.
After you have typed the cheat in and you get the notification that the cheat is active... click on an object and hold alt then to rotate it and free place it.
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New
Aurorasays...
The cheat bb.moveobjects on works for me, but I still can't place objects in the same space... How do I do that?
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Admin
Playalotsays...
Try holding the Alt key down as you are placing items.
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Regular
Megansays...
Show hidden objects cheat wont work it says command failed what do I do Unsure
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Admin
Playalotsays...
Sounds like a typo. Try copying and pasting after you have enabled 'testingcheats on'
bb.showhiddenobjects
Also some mods may conflict with this so if you are still having issues take out all mods and cc and try again.
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New
Mikaylasays...
for some reason items do not enlarge in my game anymore. I just started having this problem today. Anyone else having this issue? Any idea how to fix it? Huh
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Regular
Jensays...
Hi, when I'm building in free build, none of the cheats work. I type in testingcheats true, but there is no response. Neither do any other cheats. I do have the cheats shortcuts mod, so that may be the problem.
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Admin
Playalotsays...
I suggest you remove your mods and try again as all the cheats are working fine in my vanilla game. Smile
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New
Cheysays...
Does bb.moveobjects affect staircases? Can't seem to get them to place in any other way besides 45 degree increments
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Senior
Playalotsays...
Stairs are locked to grid placement and can't be placed diagonally.
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New
Cheysays...
Well that sucks.... thank you :)
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New
NAYsays...
I have the same problems as most, had typed "testingobjects on" and then "bb.moveobjects" or "bb.moveobjects on" even "moveobjects on", none worked Sad
Oh, right after I typed "testingobjects on" there's a notif appeared that it had activated, but not for the "moveobjects cheat"
Can someone please explain what should I do? So darn confused
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Admin
Playalotsays...
Once you have enabled 'testingcheats on' you'll get a notice telling you they are active. Then enter bb.moveobjects on and then just simple grab an item hold down alt while placing and away you go.
Mods can and do conflict with cheats so if you are still having troubles check that all your mods are up to date and/or remove them and check the cheat again.
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New
SunshinyBethsays...
Hello, I am wanting to build walls and rooms above the fourth floor. Are there any known cheats to help with this? Thank you.


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