What Happens During Sims 4 Patch Updates
Sims 4 patch updates are often exciting, but they can be confusing if you use mods or custom content. A new patch may add bug fixes, new features, or get the game ready for an expansion pack. However, it can also make some parts of your game stop working until your mods are updated.
In this guide, I’ll explain what usually happens during Sims 4 patch updates, why mods can break, and what you should do before and after updating your game.
What is a Sims 4 patch update?
A patch update is an official game update from EA and Maxis. These updates can improve game performance, fix bugs, or adjust existing features. They can also prepare the game for a new pack, add new content or gameplay systems, or change how the game reads certain files or interactions. Some patches are small and mostly fix minor issues. Others are much bigger and make changes behind the scenes, which can affect how mods work. Even if a patch seems small, it can still affect mods if it changes the game files they depend on.
Over the past year, EA has released patches more often to focus on fixing long-standing bugs reported by the Sims 4 community.
Why do mods break after patch updates?
Mods are designed to work with the current version of the game. When EA updates The Sims 4, parts of the game code, tuning, UI, or interactions might change. If a mod depends on any of those, it might not work as intended anymore. This doesn’t mean the mod is badly made. It usually just means the game changed and the mod needs to catch up. Once that happens, a mod may need to be updated by its creator so it matches the new version of the game.
Are all mods affected by patch updates?
Not always. Some mods work fine after a patch, while others break right away. In general, script mods are more likely to be affected by patches because they use Python scripts and depend on deeper game systems. Mods that change the user interface can also be vulnerable after updates.
Package mods are sometimes more stable, but they are not completely safe. A package mod can still break if it changes tuning or game resources that the patch also changed. Custom content like hair, clothes, furniture, and makeup is usually less affected than gameplay mods. However, even CC can sometimes break, especially if the patch changes textures, mesh behavior, or categories.
Why does the game disable mods after an update?
After many patch updates, The Sims 4 automatically turns off mods and script mods in the game settings. This is a built-in safety measure.
The game does this because EA knows that mods made for the previous version might not be safe to use right after a patch. Turning them off gives players a chance to check for updates first. This is why, after patching, many players open the game and think all their mods are gone. Usually they are still in the Mods folder. They just need to be re-enabled in settings once you have checked that it is safe to do so.
What should you do before updating?
The best thing you can do before a Sims 4 patch update is to prepare ahead of time.
- Back up your save files so you have a safe copy in case something goes wrong.
- Back up your Mods folder if you use a lot of mods. This gives you a clean restore point.
- Turn off automatic updates if you want to wait until mod creators have checked compatibility.
- Make a note of which major mods you use, especially script mods, UI mods, and big gameplay overhauls.
This is especially important if your game has a lot of mods. The more mods you use, the more likely it is that at least one will need attention after a patch.
What should you do after updating?
Once the game has updated, don’t jump right into your main save with all your mods turned back on.
A safer approach is to take things step by step:
- Open the game once and let it complete the update process.
- Check that mods and script mods are disabled.
- Do not immediately re enable everything without checking for mod updates.
- Visit the pages, Discord servers, or Patreons of the creators whose mods you use to check for patch compatibility announcements.
- You can also use scarlets mod tracking list to identify what mods are out of date.
- Update or remove any mods from your mod folder that have been confirmed broken or outdated or have not received any update from the mod creator
- Delete the localthumbcache file before you relaunch the game.
- Test the game carefully before you go back to your main household.
If you’re not sure whether a mod is safe, it’s usually better to leave it out for now than risk messing up your game.
How long does it take for mods to be updated?
There’s no single answer to this because every creator works differently. Some creators update their mods very quickly, especially for popular or urgent issues. Others need more time to test the patch. Sometimes, a mod doesn’t need an update at all and the creator will just confirm it’s compatible. This is why patience is important on patch day. Mod creators are players too, and many check their files by hand before letting people know if something is safe to use.
If you don’t get an immediate confirmation, it doesn’t always mean a mod is broken. It might just mean the creator hasn’t finished testing yet.
How I Handle Patches as a Mod Creator
When a new patch drops, the first thing I do is read through the patch notes and check the community forums to see what other modders are reporting. Then I test each of my mods individually to see if anything broke. If something needs fixing, I prioritise getting an update out as quickly as possible. I always post updates on my Discord and Patreon so people know what’s going on and when to expect a fix.
My advice to My advice for anyone who uses mods: follow your favorite mod creators on whatever platform they use. That’s the fastest way to know if your mods are safe after a patch.
