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Back up The Sims 4 before an update by closing the game and copying the entire The Sims 4 folder from Documents/Electronic Arts to another location. Rename the copy with the date or update name, and never move or delete the live folder until the backup is verified. This single copy preserves saves, Gallery households and lots, mods, custom content, settings, and the game’s automatic .ver save backups.
After the update, launch once with mods disabled, enter Live Mode, and exit without saving. Delete localthumbcache.package, re-enable Custom Content and Mods plus Script Mods Allowed in Game Options, restart, and return updated script mods in small batches. The procedure works on Windows and Mac; PlayStation and Xbox have save data but no supported mods or custom content.
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Where are Sims 4 saves, mods, and custom content stored?
The live player files are in the user-data folder, not in the game’s installation directory. On both Windows and Mac, the normal location is:
- Windows:
%USERPROFILE%DocumentsElectronic ArtsThe Sims 4 - Mac:
~/Documents/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4
The EA App, Steam, Epic, and legacy Origin can install the program files in different places, but the launcher does not change this user-data path. A typical Windows program folder is C:Program FilesEA Games; it contains executable game files, not your personal saves.
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If Documents/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4 is missing, the game normally creates a new, empty folder rather than searching another drive. That can make an intact backup look as if it has vanished. Documents redirection can put the path inside OneDrive on Windows or iCloud Drive on Mac. You can check the active path in Game Options > Screen Capture > Location Path.
Which folders and files matter?
| Folder or file | What it contains | Back it up? |
|---|---|---|
Saves |
Worlds, households, progress, and automatic .ver backups |
Essential |
Mods |
.package custom content and .ts4script script mods |
Essential for modded play |
Tray |
Saved or downloaded Gallery households, lots, and rooms | Essential if you want your library |
Overrides |
Less-common interface and override assets | Include with a full-folder copy |
localthumbcache.package |
Thumbnail and content cache | Not important; the game rebuilds it |
Keep the program-files folder and user-data folder separate. Combining them can cause permanent save loss, and the Documents folder itself should not be moved to an external drive just to make room. Copy the user folder instead.
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The safest choice is a dated copy of the entire The Sims 4 user folder. If storage is limited, copy at least Saves, Tray, and Mods; each protects a different kind of work.
| Backup scope | Protects | When it makes sense |
|---|---|---|
Saves only |
Current worlds, households, and progress | You only need progress and have a separate copy of your mod library |
Saves + Tray + Mods |
Progress, Gallery creations, custom content, and scripts | Minimum practical set for a modded PC or Mac |
Entire The Sims 4 folder |
All user settings, screenshots, caches, saves, Tray items, mods, and overrides | Official, simplest restore and the best protection before a major patch |
Where should the copy go?
- Desktop: Fast and convenient, but it is on the same disk as the live files. A disk failure or ransomware can affect both.
- USB flash drive: Suitable for saves and a small Mods folder. Large custom-content libraries may not fit.
- Portable hard drive or SSD: The practical choice for a large Mods folder. Custom content collections can reach hundreds of gigabytes; one author reported a 425 GB library after the For Rent-era update, which is an individual example rather than a typical size.
- Cloud storage: Useful for a second copy, but do not let a synchronization service continually rewrite the live Documents folder while the game is running. Keep a separately named backup folder.
Check the size of your The Sims 4 folder before choosing media. EA Forums Sims Helpers estimates the installed program files at just under 70 GB with all packs and recommends keeping at least 25–30 GB free on the Windows system drive; those figures concern the game installation and operating space, not a guaranteed size for your user folder.
How do I make a Sims 4 backup on Windows?
Use Copy and Paste, not Cut and Paste. The live folder must remain in Documents/Electronic Arts so the game can continue to find it.
- Close The Sims 4. Close any mod manager and wait for the EA App or other launcher to finish writing files.
- Open Documents > Electronic Arts.
- Right-click
The Sims 4and choose Copy. - Open the Desktop, an external drive, a USB drive, or a dedicated backup folder outside
Electronic Arts. Right-click an empty area and choose Paste. - Rename the pasted folder, for example
The Sims 4 Backup Before October 27 2026 Update. - Open the copy and confirm that it contains
Saves,Tray, andModswhen those folders exist. Do not rename the live folder.
Copying outside the Electronic Arts directory is useful because it prevents the game from confusing the backup with its active data. A second copy on another physical disk protects against failure of the Windows system drive.
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Finder uses the same user-data structure. The commands are slightly different, but the rule is identical: duplicate the folder and leave the original where the game expects it.
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- Quit The Sims 4 and any mod-management utility.
- In Finder, open Documents > Electronic Arts.
- Select
The Sims 4and press Command-C. - Open the Desktop, an external drive, a USB drive, or a separate backup folder, then press Command-V.
- Rename the pasted copy, such as
Sims 4 Backup Before October 27 2026. - Check the copy for
Saves,Tray, andMods. Leave the originalThe Sims 4folder in Documents.
If iCloud Drive is managing Documents, make sure the backup has finished downloading locally before relying on it. A Finder copy that is only a cloud placeholder is not a usable offline restore.
How often should I back up?
The Sims Team recommends a weekly backup and another copy before a major change. Make one before a base-game patch, installing a new pack, adding a batch of mods, finishing an important build, or moving to a new computer.
Use descriptive names that preserve the timeline, such as Sims 4 Backup - Before Patch - 2026-10-27. Keep at least one older copy instead of overwriting the only backup each week. A dated copy lets you return to the last known-good state if a later save becomes corrupted.
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Should I remove mods before updating The Sims 4?
Back up first, then separate the Mods folder before launching the newly patched game. This lets the game create a clean Mods folder and makes it possible to test the patch itself without outdated code running.
- Copy the full user folder, or at minimum
SavesandMods. - Save a list of your installed mods, their creators, and download pages. A text file or spreadsheet is enough.
- Close the game and your mod manager.
- Move the live
Modsfolder to the Desktop, or rename itMods - pre-patch. Do not delete the backup. - Delete
localthumbcache.packagefrom the liveThe Sims 4folder. The game recreates it. - Update the game, then follow the vanilla-launch procedure below.
How can I delay an automatic update?
In the EA App, open Application settings > Download and switch Update games automatically off. In Steam, configure the game to wait to update until launch. These settings control timing; they do not provide a permanent way to remain on an old version, and new packs, kits, and online features generally require the current build.
Players have reported that the EA App sometimes updates despite the switch. Offline mode is documented as working for up to 30 days after the last online launch, but EA does not present it as a guaranteed anti-update system. Make the backup even when you believe an update is being delayed.
What should I do on the first launch after a patch?
Do one short, unmodded launch and leave without saving. The game intentionally turns mods and custom content off after an update; that warning is not evidence that your files were deleted.
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- Start The Sims 4 with the Mods folder removed or empty.
- Open a save and enter Live Mode briefly to verify that the patched game loads.
- Exit using Exit, not Save and Exit. Saving while mods are disabled can strip modded content, especially content controlled by separate
.cfgfiles. - Delete
localthumbcache.packageagain after changing the Mods folder. - Open Game Options > Other. Tick Enable Custom Content and Mods and, if you use scripts, Script Mods Allowed.
- Restart the game so the settings take effect.
- Return updated files in small groups, beginning with gameplay and interface scripts. Keep the pre-patch copy untouched until the new setup is stable.
Script mods ending in .ts4script are much more likely to break after a patch than ordinary CAS or build-and-buy .package files. Check each creator’s current compatibility notice before restoring a script. The October 27, 2026 “Order Up!” update rewrote food and drink tuning across the base game and packs, so recipe and food-override mods deserve particular caution.
What folder depth rules apply when I restore Mods?
- Keep
.ts4scriptfiles no more than one subfolder deep. .packagefiles can be up to five subfolders deep.- Keep all files belonging to one mod together and label folders by creator.
- Extract
.zipand.rararchives before placing files in Mods; the game cannot load an archive as a mod. - Expect both Options checkboxes to turn off again after a future patch.
How do I identify a broken mod after the update?
If the game behaves incorrectly, remove all custom content and use a controlled 50/50 search rather than replacing everything at random.
- Move every file out of
Modsand deletelocalthumbcache.package. - Return half of the files, keeping dependencies and each mod’s related files together.
- Launch and reproduce the problem. If it remains, the bad file is in the half you restored; if it disappears, it is in the half still outside the folder.
- Halve the suspect group again until you isolate the culprit.
- Download a current version from the creator, or leave the incompatible mod out. Do not keep saving a valuable household while a known-broken script is active.
Typical clues include stuck Sims and broken menus from gameplay scripts, interface glitches from UI mods, and missing meshes or floating accessories from custom content. The un-numbered lastException.txt and lastUIException files in the user folder can identify likely culprits. Deaderpool notes that these exception files almost always involve bad or outdated mods or custom content; a community utility such as Better Exceptions can help interpret them, but no manager can make an unupdated script safe.
CurseForge is EA’s official mod-partner app and can update only mods hosted there. Major mods hosted elsewhere still require a manual creator check. A manager or scanner can find duplicates, missing requirements, or outdated files, but it cannot guarantee compatibility with a new game build.
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Repair the core installation when the unmodded game itself crashes, has missing official assets, or shows problems that persist with the entire Mods folder removed. Repairing does not update or fix third-party mods.
- EA App: Library > The Sims 4 > Manage > Repair.
- Epic: use Verify, then run repair in the EA App if the title is managed there.
- Steam: open the game’s Properties, choose Installed Files, then Verify integrity of game files.
Keep your dated user-folder backup before repairing. A launcher repair addresses program files; it does not replace Saves, Tray, or Mods with a known-good copy.
How do I restore a full Sims 4 backup?
Use a full restore when the entire user folder is damaged or the game has created a new empty folder. Confirm that your backup opens and contains the files you need before deleting anything from the live location.
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Windows full restore
- Close the game and launcher.
- Open Documents > Electronic Arts.
- Rename the current
The Sims 4folder for temporary safekeeping, or delete it only after verifying the backup. If you delete it, empty the Recycle Bin only when you are certain. - Rename the backup to exactly
The Sims 4. - Copy it into
DocumentsElectronic Arts. - Launch the game and confirm that the expected saves, Gallery library, and settings appear.
Mac full restore
- Quit the game and open Finder > Documents > Electronic Arts.
- Move the current
The Sims 4folder to the Bin only after confirming the backup. - Rename the backup to exactly
The Sims 4. - Copy it into
Electronic Artswith Command-V. - Launch and verify the saves and Tray content.
Once the restored folder works, you can remove the temporary or desktop copy to reclaim space. Keeping one older dated copy is safer than deleting every fallback.
Can I restore only saves, Tray, or Mods?
Yes. A lighter restore is appropriate when the rest of the user folder is healthy.
- Close The Sims 4.
- Open the dated backup and the live
The Sims 4folder in two windows. - Copy the backed-up
Savesfolder over the live one and choose Replace. Repeat forTrayorModswhen needed. - Delete
localthumbcache.packagebefore launching with restored Mods. - Start with the known-good files and test before adding anything else.
Restoring only Saves will not restore custom content used by a household, and restoring Mods without the matching dependencies can create new errors. Keep related files together.
How does Recover Save work?
The game stores automatic backups in Saves with names such as Slot_00000002.save.ver0 and Slot_00000002.save.ver1. A lower suffix is newer: .ver0 is the most recently created version.
Use the in-game menu
- Choose Load Game.
- Select the affected save and click the floppy-disk Recover Save icon.
- Pick a listed version, choose Recover, and confirm with Yes.
Use a .ver file manually
- Exit the game.
- Make a copy of the entire
Savesfolder first. - Rename the chosen file, for example from
Slot_00000002.save.ver0toSlot_00000002.save, removing only the.ver0suffix. - Launch the game and check the restored slot.
The October 27, 2026 patch improved save-backup tracking for players who go a long time between sessions. Recover Save and .ver files remain an extra safety net, not a replacement for a dated copy of the user folder: they do not preserve your Mods or Tray folders.
Why is a pre-patch backup especially important in October 2026?
Electronic Arts’ October 27, 2026 patch lists more than 150 bug fixes and 14 crash or stability improvements. Its published build numbers are PC 1.129.39.1030, Mac 1.129.39.1230, and console 2.40 (checked October 2026).
The Sims Team says, “Did you know that in certain cases using an outdated mod could cause unfixable problems for your save?” EA’s patch notes also say that many top crash reports remain closely linked to outdated or conflicting mod files. Some mods leave persistent changes even after removal, including lot traits, food systems, or removed playmats.
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The same patch changed restaurant-table footprints and warned that some tables from older builds, especially tables placed with Move Objects, could be deleted. Saves rescued from an endless white loading screen may also need lot details rebuilt. Keeping both Saves and Tray from before the update gives you a way back if those changes affect a build.
Do launchers back up Sims 4 saves?
No. The EA App, Steam, Origin, and Epic manage installation and updates; they do not make a dependable backup of your local Saves, Mods, or Tray folders. Treat a launcher’s cloud or synchronization behavior as separate from a manually verified copy of Documents/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4.
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What changes for PlayStation and Xbox?
The Sims 4 supports mods only on PC and Mac. Console players do not have a Mods or custom-content folder, so the relevant backup is save data through the platform’s own cloud or external-drive tools.
On PlayStation, platform backup options are found under Settings > System > Back Up and Restore; PlayStation Plus cloud details and pricing change, so check Sony’s current terms. Xbox uses cloud saves associated with the account. These console systems cannot preserve PC or Mac mods, Tray files, or custom-content libraries.
How we picked the safest backup workflow
The workflow follows the official Sims Team procedure and adds only safeguards that address common failure points:
- It copies the user folder rather than moving it.
- It separates progress (
Saves), Gallery work (Tray), and mod files (Mods). - It keeps a dated copy before updates and other major changes.
- It tests a patch with no mods before reintroducing scripts.
- It uses the 50/50 method and launcher repair only after isolating whether the problem is third-party content or core files.
- It treats Recover Save and
.verfiles as additional fallbacks, not as a complete backup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Origin back up Sims 4 saves automatically?
No. Origin and the current launchers can reinstall or update the game, but your personal saves, Tray files, and Mods remain local user data. A cloud-synchronized Documents folder can also overwrite changes, so keep a separately named copy that you can open offline.
Can I move my Sims 4 Documents folder to an external drive?
Do not move the Windows or macOS Documents folder as a workaround for storage. The game expects its user data under Documents/Electronic Arts; copy the Sims 4 folder to external storage instead and leave the live path intact.
How much space do I need to back up Sims 4 custom content?
The required space equals the size of your own user folder, which varies widely. Large custom-content collections can reach hundreds of gigabytes, so check the folder’s properties and use a portable hard drive or SSD when a flash drive is too small.
Can I recover a save after I saved with mods disabled?
Try Recover Save or a dated copy immediately, but there is no guarantee that the latest save still contains all modded data. Saving while mods are off can strip content, especially data controlled by separate configuration files, so avoid that save and restore an earlier version when possible.
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