You can edit your Sims mid-game through the mirror or dresser, or pause and use the full Create a Sim tool

The Sims 4 gives you two ways to change how your Sims look after you've started playing. The quickest method is to have your Sim use a mirror or dresser in their home — this lets you change clothes, hairstyles, and makeup without leaving the game. For bigger changes like body shape, facial features, or name, you'll pause the game and open the full Create a Sim editor, which works the same way it does when you first make a Sim.

Both methods are free and built into the game. You don't need mods or special packs to use them, though some expansions and kits add new clothing and hairstyle options to choose from.

Key Takeaways

  • Mirrors and dressers let your Sim change clothes and hairstyles without pausing, which is the fastest way to update their look during normal play.
  • The full Create a Sim editor opens when you pause and click on your Sim, letting you change body shape, face, name, and traits that you can't adjust through mirrors.
  • Changes made through mirrors happen when ready in the game world, while pausing to use Create a Sim takes you out of gameplay temporarily.
  • Expansion packs and kits add new clothing, hairstyles, and makeup options that appear in both the mirror and the full editor.

Using a mirror or dresser for quick outfit changes

The mirror and dresser are the fastest way to change your Sim's appearance during gameplay. Click on any mirror or dresser in your Sim's home and select "Change Outfit" or "Change Appearance" from the menu. Your Sim will open a clothing rack and you can pick from any outfit category — everyday clothes, formal wear, athletic wear, sleepwear, and party clothes. You can also change hairstyle and makeup from this menu without leaving the game world.

This method works while other Sims are still moving around and time is passing, so you can make quick changes without interrupting your game. The changes show up on your Sim when ready. If you don't have a mirror or dresser in the lot, you can buy one from the build/buy catalog — mirrors cost between 50 and 500 Simoleons depending on the style, and dressers are furniture pieces that serve the same purpose.

Opening Create a Sim to change body, face, and name

To change things that the mirror won't let you adjust — like body shape, facial features, skin tone, or your Sim's name — pause the game and click on your Sim's portrait in the top left corner of the screen. Select "Edit Sim" from the menu. This opens the full Create a Sim editor, the same tool you used when you first made your Sim.

In Create a Sim, you can modify your Sim's body type, facial structure, skin tone, eye color, and name. You can also change traits, though changing traits mid-game may affect your Sim's behavior and relationships. Once you've made your changes, click the checkmark to save and return to gameplay. The game will pause while you're in Create a Sim, so time won't pass and your other Sims won't do anything until you're done.

What you can and cannot change after starting

Most appearance details can be changed at any point in the game. Clothes, hairstyles, makeup, body shape, and facial features are all editable through either mirrors or Create a Sim. You can also change your Sim's name, age, and traits using the full editor.

The one major limit is that you cannot change your Sim's gender presentation or voice after you've started playing — these are locked in when you first create the Sim. If you want to change these details, you would need to start a new game with a different Sim or use mods, which are player-made additions that modify the game.

How expansion packs and kits add new appearance options

When you buy an expansion pack or kit for The Sims 4, new clothing, hairstyles, makeup, and sometimes body customization options are added to the game. These new items appear in both the mirror menu and the full Create a Sim editor, so you can use them on any Sim whether you're in the middle of playing or creating a new one.

For example, The Sims 4: High School Expansion Pack adds new hairstyles and clothing tied to school life, and these show up in your mirror when ready after you install the pack. You don't have to do anything special to access them — they're just part of the game after installation. If you don't own a particular pack, the items from that pack won't appear in your menus.

Editing Sims in other households and save files

You can edit any Sim in your current save file, not just the active household. If you want to change a Sim who lives in a different house, you can either switch to that household first or use the full Create a Sim editor to find them. Open Create a Sim while paused, and you'll see an option to browse all Sims in your save file — click on any of them to edit their appearance without having to move them into your active household.

This is useful if you want to update a Sim's look without playing as them. You can also save edited Sims to your library, which stores them separately so you can use them in other save files or share them with other players through the Gallery, The Sims 4's built-in sharing feature.

Common issues when editing Sims mid-game

If you change your Sim's appearance and they look different than expected, the issue is usually related to lighting or the camera angle. The Create a Sim editor shows your Sim under bright, neutral lighting, but in the game world the lighting changes based on time of day and location. A hairstyle or makeup color might look different in your Sim's home than it did in the editor.

If a new hairstyle or clothing item from a pack doesn't show up in your mirror menu, try restarting the game. Sometimes newly installed content doesn't load until you close and reopen The Sims 4. If the item still doesn't appear, check that you actually own the pack it came from — items are only available if you've purchased and installed the expansion pack or kit that includes them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my Sim's age after I start playing?

Yes. Pause the game, click your Sim's portrait, select "Edit Sim," and you'll see the age slider in Create a Sim. You can move your Sim between life stages — baby, toddler, child, teen, young adult, adult, and elder — at any time. Changing age may affect your Sim's relationships and job status depending on what stage you move them to.

Do I lose progress if I edit my Sim?

No. Editing your Sim's appearance or traits doesn't affect their money, relationships, job, or any other progress in the game. The only thing that changes is what you edited. Your Sim will keep their job, their relationships with other Sims, and their home exactly as it was.

Can I undo changes I made to my Sim?

The game doesn't have an undo button for edits, but you can always edit your Sim again to change them back. If you want to keep multiple versions of the same Sim, save them to your library before making big changes — you can then load an older version if you change your mind.

What happens if I edit a Sim that other Sims have relationships with?

Their relationships stay the same. If your Sim is married or has friends, changing their appearance won't affect those relationships. The other Sims will recognize them as the same person even if they look completely different.

Do mods let me edit things I can't normally change?

Yes. Mods can unlock features like changing gender presentation or voice mid-game, and they can add new body customization options that aren't in the base game. You can find mods on sites like ModTheSims and Nexus Mods, though installing mods is optional and the base game works fine without them.