October DealsAmazon USOctober deal check: compare before you payAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.Check DealsClean PCRecommendedOne scan can reveal what keeps slowing WindowsLook for cleanup and repair opportunities.Run ScanOctober DealsAmazon USDeal season is back - check today's better picksAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.See Picks×
Skip to content
VGSources
Blog

How to Turn Off Relationship Decay in The Sims 4

The Sims 4’s Disable Need Decay cheat does not freeze relationships. EA says Lovestruck Romantic Satisfaction now decays slowly and stays unchanged for inactive households.
WorldThe Sims 4 Length2 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

There is no relationship-decay switch documented in EA’s official Sims 4 guidance. The “Disable Need Decay” cheat affects Sims’ needs, not friendship or romance. If you mean Lovestruck’s Romantic Satisfaction, EA’s September 22, 2026 update says it should decay slowly and no longer change for inactive households—not that it can be turned off.

First, identify which relationship system you mean

Players may mean one of two different things: the friendship or romance relationship tracks between Sims, or Romantic Satisfaction, a separate Lovestruck feature. The distinction matters because EA documents a cheat for needs, but that is not a relationship control.

Mechanic What it affects What the official guidance establishes
Needs Individual Sim needs such as hunger and energy EA documents a “Disable Need Decay” cheat for needs; it does not say the cheat freezes friendships or romance. EA’s cheats FAQ
Friendship and romance relationship tracks How Sims’ relationships with each other change The cited official guidance does not document a built-in toggle to stop their decay.
Lovestruck Romantic Satisfaction A separate measure of satisfaction with a Sim’s romantic relationship EA says it can fade over time, but its September 22, 2026 update describes slower decay and no change for inactive households. EA’s September 22, 2026 update notes

What EA says about Romantic Satisfaction

Romantic Satisfaction is introduced with the Lovestruck Expansion Pack. It is not simply another name for the romance relationship bar: each Sim can have a different satisfaction level, and the combined levels influence how quickly the romantic relationship fades, according to EA’s Lovestruck guide.

EA’s September 22, 2026 update says Romantic Satisfaction “should now decay slowly over time.” It also says Relationship Satisfaction will no longer change for inactive households. Those notes describe the current official behavior; they do not provide a setting to disable decay entirely or a numeric decay rate. The update lists PC version 1.128.90.1030, Mac version 1.128.90.1230, and console version 2.39.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
#1 Best Overall
Sale
The Sims 4 - PC/Mac
  • Create unique sims: A variety of sims are yours to personalize, each with distinct appearances, dynamic personalities, and inspiring aspirations
  • Build the perfect home: Construct the home of your, and their dreams by planning its layout, choosing furnishings, and altering the landscape and terrain
  • Explore vibrant worlds: Travel between locations, discover amazing and distinctive neighborhoods, and encounter captivating venues
  • Play with life: Control the rich and entertaining moments of your Sims’ lives from their relationships to their careers

Ways to manage satisfaction without turning decay off

EA’s guidance identifies romance style and turn-ons and turn-offs as factors that can affect Romantic Satisfaction. Positive romantic interactions can improve it, while negative interactions can lower it. These are ways to influence satisfaction, not an off switch. EA’s Lovestruck guide

  • Use romantic interactions that suit both Sims’ romance styles and preferences.
  • Pay attention to each Sim’s turn-ons and turn-offs when choosing interactions.
  • Expect satisfaction to change slowly over time; the update does not specify an exact rate.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

What about mods?

Third-party mods may offer controls beyond the official game settings, but a specific current mod setting for relationship decay—and whether it affects Lovestruck Romantic Satisfaction—has not been established by the cited material. If you choose to use a mod, check its current documentation and compatibility with your installed game version before relying on it. The MC Command Center release listing is a starting point, not confirmation of a particular setting or menu path. Treat this as a PC/Mac mod option; the cited guidance does not establish an equivalent console method.

Quick Recap

SaleBestseller No. 1
Bestseller No. 2
Bestseller No. 3
SaleBestseller No. 4
Rank #4
Sale
The Sims 4 (PS4) (Renewed)
  • Create Unique Sims - Create a variety of unique Sims with distinct appearances, big personalities, and all-new emotions. Sculpt your Sims' body shape using the powerful new Create A Sim tool then choose their hairstyles, walk-styles, and fashions. Give their lives purpose by selecting their traits and aspirations that give you control over their mind, body, and heart
  • Build the Perfect Home - Effortlessly build and design homes for your Sims using the new room-based Build Mode. Construct the home of your dreams by designing its layout, choosing its furnishings, and altering the landscape. You can even add a pool or basement
  • Explore Vibrant Worlds - Travel between worlds, explore unique neighbourhoods, and discover interesting venues. Your Sims can visit new communities to expand their social circle, hangout with friends in parks, or find and collect fun new objects
  • Play with Life - Control the rich and entertaining moments of your Sims' lives from their relationships to their careers. Your choices shape every aspect of their lives from birth, to being a toddler, and into adulthood. Develop your Sims' skills and pursue new hobbies.
Rank #3
Goliath The Sims Board Game | Family Strategy Game | Craft Your Story, Collect Matching SIMbols | 2-5 Players, Ages 12+
  • PLAY WITH LIFE, IN REAL LIFE: Dive into the neighborhood, meet iconic Sims, and fulfill your life’s aspirations like never before!
  • A NEW WAY TO PLAY SIMS: Gather up to 5 players as you each craft your own story while collecting matching SIMbols along the way in this family strategy game
  • EVERY GAME, A NEW STORY: Embark on an entirely new journey each time you play while encountering unexpected surprises at every turn — what will your life look like?
  • ICONIC DETAILS FOR FANS: Ideal for play and display, featuring iconic artwork, nostalgic touches, plumbob movers, interaction dice, and a needs tracker familiar to fans
  • MAIN CHARACTERS WANTED: Recommended for 2-5 players, ages 12 and up
Rank #2
The Sims 4 - Xbox One
  • Create a variety of unique sims with distinct appearances, big personalities, and all new emotions
  • Construct the home of your dreams by designing its layout, choosing its furnishings, and altering the landscape
  • Explore vibrant worlds: Travel between worlds, explore unique neighborhoods, and discover interesting venues
  • Play with life: Control the rich and entertaining moments of your Sims' lives from their relationships to their Career

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

More quests from Patch Notes

  1. How to Turn On Vibrant Visuals in MinecraftMinecraftBlog3min
  2. Best Multiplayer Games for Low-End PCsBlog4min
  3. Minecraft: How To Use And Install OptiFineBlog5min
Recommended PC Tool
Recommended PC Tool
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?Free driver scan
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?Free scan - under a minute

Two free Windows tools

One Free Minute Could Fix That PC

Before you go - each of these free tools takes about a minute and tackles what quietly slows a Windows PC down.

Special offer. View Outbyte info, uninstall instructions, EULA, and Privacy Policy.