You open The Sims 4 to play “just one more hour.” Then the game takes so long to load that you have time to get some water, reply to messages, and reflect on every decision that led you to download 8 GB of hair, lamps, and couches.
But are mods really to blame? The short answer is: they can be.
Mods and custom content, also called CC, can increase the game’s loading time—especially at startup, in Create-a-Sim (CAS), and in Build Mode. But quantity isn’t everything: one outdated, incompatible, or conflicting mod can cause more problems than hundreds of simple CC items.
The good news is that you don’t need to delete your entire Mods folder and condemn your Sims to a furniture-free life. With a few tests and some basic organization, you can identify what’s weighing the game down and improve performance.
Can Mods Really Make The Sims 4 Run Slower?
Yes, but in different ways.
When starting up, the game has to locate and read the files in the Mods folder. The more CC you have and the more separate files there are, the longer the wait is likely to be. During gameplay, though, the biggest factors are usually very old saves, gameplay mods, compatibility issues, and your computer’s limitations.
Common symptoms include:
- taking a long time to open the game or load lots;
- slower CAS and Build Mode;
- menus that take a while to respond;
- Sims taking longer to follow commands;
- freezing during gameplay;
- unexpected game crashes;
- poor performance in only one save.
EA also notes that mods and CC can affect performance because they are community-made content and do not go through the same testing process as the game’s official files.
Slow loading and in-game freezing are not the same problem
If the game takes a long time to open or enter a lot, the main suspects are the number of files, storage speed, and how the Mods folder is organized. In this situation, CC can have a significant impact.
Freezing during gameplay, on the other hand, is more often related to the save file, RAM, the processor, and mods that change gameplay. Simple CC, such as clothing, hair, and decorative objects, is rarely the main culprit.
In short: CC usually increases loading times and memory usage. If the game freezes in the middle of a session, deleting custom hair and furniture without testing is unlikely to solve the real cause.
The exception is poorly optimized CC. Very large textures and objects with overly detailed meshes can affect performance in CAS and Build Mode when many items appear on screen at the same time.
If the problem is slow startup
Follow this order and stop once the loading time becomes acceptable.
1. Prioritize storage
If the game or your Documents folder is on a mechanical hard drive (HDD), moving them to an SSD is often the most noticeable improvement.
It’s not enough to check only where the game is installed. The Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 4 folder—where saves, mods, and cache files are stored—also affects loading times. For the greatest benefit, keep both the game and this folder on an SSD.
Based on players’ real-world experiences, switching from an HDD to an SSD can significantly reduce waiting time—in some cases, by half. However, the results depend on the size of your Mods folder, your save file, and the rest of your computer.
2. Reduce the number of loose files
During startup, the game has to process every .package file in the Mods folder. Because of that, thousands of small files can increase loading times more than a few larger packages containing the same content.
Merging CC files can help, especially for large collections of hair, clothing, makeup, flooring, and decorative objects. However, this approach requires organization.
Before merging files, keep these points in mind:
- removing an individual item becomes more difficult;
- if an item causes issues after an update, you will need to investigate the merged package;
- updating merged content requires extra care.
The safest approach is to merge by category: hair with hair, flooring with flooring, and objects with objects. Keep the original files in a folder outside Mods, and do not merge script mods, .ts4script files, gameplay mods, or content that is updated frequently.
For this, the most recommended tool is Sims 4 Studio. In the Content Management menu, select Merge Packages, choose .package files from the same category, and save the new package in a separate folder. The program also offers an option to unmerge packages created with it.a também oferece a opção de desfazer merges feitos por ele.
3. Archive CC you don’t use
It may be the least exciting advice, but it is one of the most effective. If you don’t recognize an item or never use it in CAS or Build Mode, it is only adding to the game’s workload during startup.
Instead of deleting it right away, move the content to an archive folder outside Mods. This lets you test performance without losing anything and restore items if you miss them.
4. Review script mods
Script mods add behaviors to the game and deserve special attention after updates. They are not automatically a problem simply because they exist, but they are more likely to cause errors when they are outdated or conflict with another mod.
Keep only the mods you actually use, download updates directly from their creators’ official sources, and follow the installation instructions for each one. Also, avoid burying them in too many subfolders: some script mods have specific folder-depth limitations.
5. Clear the cache after significant changes
Clearing the cache can help after removing, updating, or reorganizing many mods. It removes temporary data that may cause the game to keep displaying outdated information.
However, don’t treat cache clearing as weekly maintenance: it does not speed up the game on its own. The first launch after clearing it may even take longer because the game needs to rebuild temporary files.
If the problem is freezing during gameplay
When slowdowns happen in the middle of a session, start with these areas.
1. Test the save file
Older saves accumulate generations of Sims, automatically generated residents, relationships, inventories, modified lots, and history. Over time, all that data can affect how smoothly the game runs.
Test a new save using the same mods and settings. If the game runs more smoothly, the issue is likely with the older save.
Keep important backups, but archive or delete only the ones you are sure you will not need. Removing old backups frees up disk space and organizes the folder, but it does not make your current save faster.
2. Test gameplay mods
Unlike custom hair or a custom couch, gameplay mods can run processes while you are playing.
If the freezing started after installing a large mod, temporarily remove it and test the same save. If performance improves, look for an update, check for known conflicts, or consider using a lighter alternative.
3. Look for outdated or conflicting mods
An incompatible mod can generate repeated errors and affect the game’s stability. Exception files in the The Sims 4 folder are a sign that something may be failing.
After every major update, review script mods and gameplay mods first. Remove older versions before installing newer ones, and prioritize downloads from the creators’ official pages.
4. Check your settings and computer
On laptops with a dedicated graphics card, make sure the game is using that card and that Windows is not set to power-saving mode.
Graphics settings mainly affect visual quality and how smoothly the game runs during gameplay. Lowering them can help if the issue is poor performance on demanding lots, but it usually will not solve slow startup caused by thousands of CC files.
Your processor and RAM also make a difference, especially with large saves, many active Sims, and several gameplay mods. A more powerful graphics card helps with graphics, but it will not, by itself, solve simulation issues, insufficient memory, or mod conflicts.
What usually doesn’t work
- Lowering graphics settings to speed up startup: this can improve smoothness during gameplay, but it usually has little effect on the time it takes to read mod files and load a save.
- Clearing the cache every week: do this after significant changes or when there are signs of problematic temporary data.
- Reinstalling the game before testing the Mods folder: reinstalling may repair game files, but it does not fix incompatible mods, problematic saves, or an overly large Mods folder.
- Deleting all CC to fix freezing: before removing content, test the save, update gameplay mods, and identify any conflicting files.
Mods and CC can make The Sims 4 run more slowly, but they don’t have to ruin the fun. The key is to keep the folder organized, update important content, and test changes gradually.