The cheat menu opens with a keyboard shortcut, and what you can do with it depends on your platform

The Sims 4 cheat menu is a text box where you type commands to change what happens in your game — add money, unlock items, speed up time, or remove a Sim's needs. You open it by pressing Ctrl + Shift + C on Windows or Command + Shift + C on Mac. A white text box appears at the top of your screen. Type a cheat code, press Enter, and the game responds. Close the menu the same way you opened it.

The cheat menu only works in single-player mode, not in multiplayer games. If you are playing on console — PlayStation or Xbox — cheats are not available through this method; console versions have different limitations on what you can change mid-game.

Key Takeaways

  • Press Ctrl + Shift + C (Windows) or Command + Shift + C (Mac) to open the white text box at the top of your screen.
  • Type a cheat code like money 50000 to add funds, or testingcheats on to unlock advanced options.
  • Close the menu by pressing the same key combination again, or press Escape.
  • Cheats work only in single-player games, not in multiplayer or on console versions of the game.
  • Typing help in the cheat menu shows a list of available commands you can use.

Common cheat codes and what they do

The most useful cheat for new players is testingcheats on, which unlocks a second layer of cheats. Type it, press Enter, and the menu stays open. After you turn testing cheats on, you can use commands like money [amount] to add a specific sum to your household funds — for example, money 50000 adds 50,000 Simoleons. You can also use motherlode as a shortcut, which adds 50,000 Simoleons each time you type it.

Other common cheats include cas.fulleditmode, which lets you edit any Sim in the game (not just your household), and bb.showhiddenobjects, which reveals build-mode items that are normally locked behind career or skill requirements. The speed cheat lets you change game speed — type speed 0 for pause, speed 1 for normal, or speed 3 for triple speed.

If you want to remove a Sim's hunger, energy, or bladder needs, you can shift-click on the Sim (after turning testing cheats on) and select options from a menu. This is faster than typing individual cheats for each need.

Turning testing cheats on and off

Testing cheats unlock more powerful commands, but they can also cause problems if you use them carelessly — for example, editing a Sim's traits mid-game can break their career or relationships. You turn testing cheats on by typing testingcheats on in the cheat menu. You turn them off by typing testingcheats off.

While testing cheats are on, you can shift-click on Sims, objects, and the ground to see extra options. Shift-clicking a Sim lets you edit them, reset them, or change their needs. Shift-clicking the ground lets you teleport your Sim there. These options disappear when you turn testing cheats off.

Why cheats might stop working

If you type a cheat and nothing happens, the most common reason is that you have not turned testing cheats on first. Some cheats require testingcheats on to work. Check that you typed the cheat exactly — spaces and spelling matter, and the game will not correct you if you make a typo.

Cheats also stop working if you are in build mode or buy mode. Exit to the main neighborhood view, then try again. If you are playing a multiplayer game, cheats do not work at all — you have to play single-player to use them.

If you have mods installed, some mods can interfere with cheats or disable them entirely. If cheats suddenly stop working after you added a mod, try removing the mod and restarting the game.

Resetting your game if a cheat causes a problem

If you use a cheat and your game breaks — a Sim gets stuck, a career stops working, or something looks wrong — you have a few options. The simplest is to reload a save file from before you used the cheat. The Sims 4 saves your game automatically, and you can also save manually by pressing Ctrl + S (Windows) or Command + S (Mac).

If you want to reset a single Sim without reloading, type testingcheats on, then shift-click the Sim and select "Reset Object" from the menu. This clears the Sim's current action and can fix some stuck states. For bigger problems, reloading a save is safer than trying to fix it with more cheats.

Cheats that change how the game plays

Beyond money and needs, cheats can change core game mechanics. bb.enablefreebuild lets you build and decorate without needing money, which is useful if you want to focus on design. cas.fulleditmode lets you edit any Sim in the world, including townies and NPCs, which is powerful but can break their stories if you change them too much.

The fps cheat shows your frame rate in the corner of the screen, which is useful if your game is running slowly and you want to see whether it is a performance problem. The resetsim cheat resets all Sims in your household, which clears stuck animations and broken states — type resetsim * to reset everyone at once.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do cheats disable achievements or trophies?

Using cheats does not disable achievements on PC. On console versions, achievements may be disabled if you use cheats, but console versions do not have a cheat menu anyway. If you care about earning achievements, you can always reload a save file before you used cheats.

Can I use cheats in a multiplayer game?

No. Cheats only work in single-player mode. If you are playing with other people, the cheat menu will not respond to commands. You have to play alone to use cheats.

What happens if I type a cheat wrong?

Nothing happens. The game does not correct typos or give you an error message. If a cheat does not work, check that you spelled it correctly and that testing cheats are on (if the cheat requires it). Try typing help to see a list of valid commands.

Can I undo a cheat after I use it?

Not directly. If a cheat causes a problem, reload a save file from before you used it. You can also use opposite cheats — for example, if you added too much money, you can use money -[amount] to subtract it, or just reload and start over.

Do I need to turn testing cheats on for every cheat?

No. Some cheats work without it — like money 50000 or motherlode. Others require it — like shift-click options or cas.fulleditmode. If a cheat does not work, try turning testing cheats on first.