The Sims 4: Best Cheats to Use in Build Mode

To most gamers, using cheats may seem like the antithesis of an authentic gaming experience; developers even make cheats quite hard to find, as they’re often seen as game-breaking techniques that undermine a title’s integrity. However, this couldn’t be more untrue in The Sims 4, as using cheats is a tried and true foundation of the series.

The Sims publisher company EA not only encourages the use of cheats in their games but even has a handy list on their website of some of the best ones. These cheats are applicable in nearly every aspect of the game but are especially useful for players looking to build the house of their dreams. So, for those looking to create astounding Sim homes, here are the best build mode cheats in The Sims 4.

Updated on November 26, 2024, by Ashely Claudino: This article now lists every useful cheat code for The Sims 4 Build Mode. To make it easier to navigate, we’ve added a concise table at the end, which displays the cheat codes mentioned above, so gamers can easily find them and apply them while playing The Sims 4.

1 Turn On Cheats

One Cheat to Rule Them All

• Enable cheats code: testingcheats true or testingcheats on

The use of many cheats in The Sims 4 simply wouldn’t be possible without first using testingcheats true. This cheat is especially necessary for players looking to use cheats in the other game modes as well. As with every other cheat in this list, it can be entered on PC using Ctrl + Shift + C to bring up the cheat dialogue box.

For those playing The Sims 4 on consoles, many of the same cheats work using the same entry into the dialogue box. To access the cheat dialogue box players will need to hold down all four shoulder buttons for a couple of seconds. Whether on PC or console, this dialogue box can be closed using the same steps to open it.

2 Free Real Estate

Don’t Let a Budget Stop You

• Free Real Estate code: freerealestate on

The first thing players do after exiting Create-a-Sim (CAS) is to pick a place for their Sim families to live. The standard starting funds for a family is 20,000 Simoleons, but players can increase or decrease this if they use the CAS Stories function. Some starter homes fall within budget, but players who want to move Sims into any house they want can use the Free Real Estate cheat.

After ensuring that cheats are turned on, players can type in freerealestate on to make every Residential Lot cost zero Simoleons. Sims will keep all their starting funds when they move in. Then, players can decorate or renovate the lot however they want. To reset the home’s prices, players must simply type freerealestate off in the cheat bar.

3 Set Household Funds

Specify Sims’ Simoleons

• Money cheat: Money NUMBER

After entering testingcheats true in the dialogue box, players will unlock the ability to use a cheat that will grant them a specific amount in their household funds. This cheat can be handy for players participating in various Sims 4 challenges or for those needing a modest monetary boost for their builds.

Typing Money followed by the specific amount of Simoleons players want will grant them precisely that number. So, for example, typing in Money 123456 will change the household funds to 123,456 Simoleons exactly.

4 Get Instant Money

Money, Money, Money

• 1,000 Simoleons cheat: rosebud or kaching
• 50,000 Simoleons cheat: motherlode

Ever since the dawn of the original Sims game, now known as The Sims 1, EA has facilitated several ways for players to get money using cheats. The classic rosebud cheat, which appeared in this first core game in the series, is still used in The Sims 4 and grants players 1,000 Simoleons every time it is entered in the dialogue box.

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Similarly, kaching will grant 1000 Simoleons as well. For those looking to really upgrade the extravagance in their builds, they can use the classic motherlode cheat, which will deposit a whopping 50,000 Simoleons into their funds. More money equals more opportunities for expensive and extravagant builds.

5 Move Objects Freely

Freedom of Movement

• Move Objects cheat: bb.moveobjects on
• How to use Move Objects: Press alt while moving the objects

One of the major gripes of Sims players is the strict standard placement rules for all objects. A plant may only visually take up a quarter of a tile, but Sims 4 will still dictate that it requires a whole tile. Items also cannot intersect with one another, and some items will even have other specific rules such as needing to be placed outside or against walls.

Thankfully, the bb.moveobjects on cheat allows players to place items without obeying these rules. Once players have freely layered, positioned, and arranged their furniture they can even toggle the cheat off again by typing bb.moveobjects off in the dialogue box. Using the Move Objects cheat in conjunction with an alt key hold will grant players a whole new level of home design flexibility.

Move Objects is one of the most useful cheats in The Sims 4, but it doesn’t always work properly, especially when trying to slot clutter onto a counter. Gamers having trouble getting the objects to stay on the counter, should move the counter from where its final placement will be, place the item with Move Objects where they would like it to stay, and then put the counter back. This way, the objects can be placed wherever gamers want on the counter even if it didn’t automatically slot there at first.

6 Quarter and Half Tile Placement

Change Tile Size and Shape

• Quarter tile command: Ctrl + F

When placing flooring in a home, players get many options, from carpet to tile and more. Just like many objects, the flooring is placed as square tiles. However, players can place flooring in quarter and diagonal half tiles using a simple keyboard command. This allows them to create unique patterns and shapes to cover their floors.

To place quarter tiles, hit Ctrl + F. This makes the tile turn into a triangle shape. Players can then click Ctrl + F again to make it a full square again. They can also do diagonal half tiles by placing two quarter tiles next to each other. Additionally, the < > keys rotate flooring for even more pattern options.

7 Raise/Lower Objects

Clutter Those Counters

• Raise Objects cheat: enable bb.moveobjects on, select object, press 9
• Lower Objects cheat: enable bb.moveobjects on, select object, press 0

Clutter items can make all the difference when building in The Sims 4. Clutter is a good way to fill in empty space, make a home or venue look active, and add neat storytelling details for a Sim’s interests. The only problem is that some items can’t be slotted onto certain surfaces or can only be placed at awkward angles. A good way to freely place items wherever your heart desires is to raise or lower them manually.

For this to work, players must have the bb.moveobjects cheat active. Then, put an item on the floor and move it underneath the object it will be placed on. Use the 9 key to raise the object and the 0 key to lower it. Look at it from multiple angles to ensure it is placed correctly from every perspective.

8 Increase/Decrease Object Size

Size Does Matter

• Increase object size: shift + [
• Decrease object size: shift + ]

Though every item in The Sims 4 has its own default size, savvy players can change this with a keyboard shortcut. This cheat won’t require the usual dialogue box, but instead utilizes the shift and [ ] keys.

With any item selected, players can press shift [ to increase its size or shift ] to make it smaller. This is another shortcut that’s great to use with the moveobjects cheat, as it can be a way for players to hide items within one another but still maintain their in-game use.

9 Unlock Debug Items

Decorative Items Galore

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• Debug objects cheat code: bb.showhiddenobjects
• Live Mode objects cheat code: bb.showliveeditobjects

Not everything in the game is freely available in the Build/Buy catalog. Some objects, often referred to as debug items, are hidden from players use in standard build mode. While many of these items are standard neighborhood environmental features, they can be used to create beautiful and unique builds.

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There are two cheats to unlock debug items in the game which will give players access to a total of over 1,200 new objects for their builds. The bb.showhiddenobjects cheat unlocks scenery items and small clutter seen around neighborhoods. The bb.showliveeditobjects cheat unlocks even more of these environmental items, and many of them can be added to builds for free.

To find debug objects in The Sims 4, gamers have to enter the write “debug” in the Build Mode search box. To navigate through all the categories, they must select “show all.” Going through all the Live Edit Objects is a bit more complicated compared to the debug objects, they don’t have the same object name (“**DEBUG**”). The best way to find Live Edit Objects is to select the categories menu in Build Mode and press “show all.”

10 Unlock Career Exclusive Items

Get the Rewards Without the Career

• Career rewards cheat code: bb.ignoregameplayunlocksentitlement

New players of The Sims 4 may have noticed that some items in the catalog are locked from use unless their Sims max out a particular career branch. It may be somewhat achievable to unlock these through gameplay, but for those who don’t wish to waste valuable time, there is also a cheat for this.

Entering bb.ignoregameplayunlocksentitlement into the cheat dialogue box will automatically unlock all of these items for households to buy. With nearly every expansion pack, more of these kinds of items are always being added, so it’s a quick way to get more build options in the game.

11 Edit Locked Lots

Rebuild the Whole World

• Locked Lots cheat code: bb.enablefreebuild

Once players have perfected their own homes, they might turn their attention to other buildings or locales in the various worlds of The Sims 4. They may have even discovered that some of these locations are locked and cannot be customized by traditional build mode means. However, the bb.enablefreebuild is an easy way around this.

Entering this cheat will permit players to edit previously locked lots like secret areas, career buildings, or university dorms. This way, Sims players can make sure it’s not just their homes that are built to their tastes but the entire world as well.

Released

September 2, 2014

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Publisher(s)

Electronic Arts

ESRB

T for Teen: Crude Humor, Sexual Themes, Violence

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File Size Xbox Series

22 GB (November 2023)

OpenCritic Rating

Fair

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