How to Organize Sims 4 Mods Folder for Easy Access and Management
If you have a growing collection of mods and custom content, keeping them organized is key. It can help prevent issues like broken cc, freezing, game lag, and missing content. Players who organize their Sims 4 mods folder have an easier time finding cc, accessing content, and staying updated with the latest versions.
In this detailed guide, we’ll focus on how to organize Sims 4 mods folder so you don’t have loose .package or .ts4script files lying directly in your mods directory.
READ NEXT: Sims 4 Broken After Update: How to Fix It
Rules on How to Organize Sims 4 Mods Folder
Before organizing your mods folder, there are a few rules you need to adhere to to ensure everything works seamlessly:
🚫 Rule 1: Don’t separate mod files
This rule applies to mods, not custom content. The former usually contains two types of files: .ts4script and .package files, and you need both for the mod to work. Ensure they’re in the same folder and location.
🚫 Rule 2: Don’t have a folder named Mods in your mods folder
This will confuse the game and cause loading errors during startup. There should only be one file labeled Mods.
🚫 Rule 3: Script files can only go one folder deep
Script files end with .ts4script, and they cannot be read by the game if they go more than one folder deep. So, never create subfolders for any script files.
🚫 Rule 4: CCs can go up to five folders deep.
Unlike script mods, custom content can go up to five folders deep. This allows you to create different subfolders to make managing cc easy and seamless. For example, if you have multiple CCs in the same category, you can separate them by following this path:
Mods/Hair/Female/Short Hair
🚫 Rule 5: Don’t rename mod files
Never change the mod name of a cc or mod you download. This will ensure it runs correctly in the game.
🚫 Rule 6: Don’t put zip files in your mods folder
Zip files are compressed files containing individual packages that you first need to extract before placing the .ts4script or .package files in your mods folder. If you transfer them without extraction, they may cause errors.
If you need help installing mods and custom content on your PC or Mac, read our guide on How to Install Sims 4 Mods and CCs.
How to Organize Sims 4 Mods Folder
There are several ways to organize your mods folder for easier access and management. These include:
By Creator Name
Photo Credit: novato1995
Instead of dumping everything into your mods folder, create subfolders for different creators. Then, add their respective CCs to these subfolders, like in the picture above. As you can see, there’s a subfolder for Basemental Drugs, Adeepindigo, Better Exceptions, Twisted Cat, and More.
If you have a single cc from a creator and can’t justify creating an entire folder for them, just create a subfolder named “Miscellaneous” and dump them here.
By Function
Photo Credit: VeryClaireThompson
Another great way to stay organized is by function. For instance, you can create a folder for all hairs, accessories, tops, and bottoms. Then, in these folders, you can create subfolders for different types of hair, accessories, tops, and bottoms.
For instance, you can create subfolders for short hair, rings, crop tops, and jeans. This method ensures you easily find cc.
By Type
You can also organize Sims 4 mods by type. For example:
CAS CC: This will include hairstyles, makeup, skin details, clothing, and accessories.
Build/Buy: This will include furniture, decor, wallpapers, and flooring.
Gameplay Mods: This will include MC Command Center, UI Cheats Extension, and Slice of Life.
Overrides and Defaults: This will include default eyes, skins, or object replacements.
Pose Mods and Animations: This will include custom poses and animations.
Script Mods: This will include Mods with .ts4script files (these must be kept only one folder deep).
By Mod Manager
If you need extra help keeping your mods folder organized, you can use this Mod Manager. It’s a small tool that helps you organize and manage your CC and mods. It has a user-friendly interface with features like viewing CC thumbnails and filters and easy options to delete, move, or deactivate mods with just a few clicks. This one comes in handy for identifying duplicate cc.
All four methods for organizing mods are viable, so whatever you choose depends on your preference as long as it brings you a step closer to creating the perfect mods folder.
Tips on Staying Organized
Once you have organized your mods folder, it’s essential to implement certain key strategies and measures to keep it running smoothly. This includes:
When downloading new mods, keep them in a temporary folder for testing. After confirming they run smoothly, you can move them to their respective folders.
Use tools like Sims 4 Studio to batch fix outdated CC
Periodically go through your Mods folder and remove outdated mods.
If a mod is causing issues, move it to a temporary folder outside the game directory for testing.
Check the mod creator’s pages regularly for updates, especially after game patches. Delete the current version in your mods folder before downloading and adding the latest version.
Before major game updates, back up your Mods folder by copying it to another location. This helps prevent data loss in case of mod incompatibility.
Conclusion
Organizing your Sims 4 mods helps keep your game running smoothly and makes it easier to find and update mods when needed. With a good system in place, you can enjoy a clutter-free and more efficient modding experience!
Please share any thoughts or comments below on how you stay organized.
READ NEXT: How to Edit Pre-Existing Sims in Sims 4
