Mods are player-made alterations to video games that change how the game looks or behaves.

Mods can add or change

• New features
  
• Characters
  
• Levels
  
• Gameplay Mechanics
  
• Graphical Features
  
• Items.
  
• User Interface

User interface (UI), which is the point of interaction between a user and a computer or other technology (EX: Clicking a button). It can include visual and audio elements such as:

• Screens
  
• Sounds
  
• Layout
  
• Graphics
  
• Interactive Elements

Mods can be created by fans, hobbyists, and aspiring game developers.

Custom content (CC) is player-made content that adds new items, like clothing, furniture, or hair, to the game. Even though it's similar to a mod, it's different because it affects items while mods affect the layout or behavior of the game.

Unlike mods that can make major changes, CC can only make minor changes.

If you are playing on Windows or Mac, you can use custom content and mods. However, if you are playing on console you can not.

Check your game's patch level following these steps.

1. Open Windows File Explorer or Mac Finder
   
2. Open Documents folder
   
3. Open Electronic Arts folder
   
4. Open The Sims 4 folder
   
5. Double-click on the file named Config.
   
6. Check the version listed under application info.
   

If you install a mod meant for an older version of the game, it can cause problems or even corrupt your saves

What is a patch?
A patch is an update to the game. It usually fixes bugs but can add new content to the game made by the creators. A patch level is the version of the update.

You will need to download the Mod to the Mods folder.

Follow these steps:

1. Open Documents folder
   
2. Open Electronics Arts folder
   
3. Open The Sims 4 folder
   
4. Open Mods folder
   
   • Save mod here
     
   • Unzip if it is a ZIP file
     Example of ZIP file and "Extract All" button
     Click Extract
     Select ZIP file and press delete
     
     • Once unzipped/extracted you can delete the old ZIP file
       
     • Sometimes called "Extract All"

After properly downloading the Mod to your Mods folder, you need to run the game to activate the mods. If you don't activate your mods, they won't appear in the game.

1. Launch The Sims 4
   
2. Open Game Menu
   
3. Open Game Options
   
4. Enable Custom Content and Script Mods
   
5. Restart the game
   
   • Close and Reopen

Whenever a new patch or downloadable content (DLC) comes out, you're going to have to reactivate you're modes. After new patches and DLCs, make sure your mods are up to date!

I enjoy using Curse Forge because it's easy to use. I can download 25 mods and CC in less than 5 minutes using it. It automatically updates and helps support the modders of our community. The only drawback in my opinion is it can be limited since it's relatively new to the Sims 4 since their partnership started in 2022.

• Easy to Use
  
• Supports Modders
  
• Limited Content

When I first started downloading mods, I mainly used The Sims Resource because I'm not very tech savvy and was scared of accidentally downloading a virus on my laptop. I would recommend it to any new or younger players along with Curse Forge. The selection has more variety since it's been up longer than Curse Forge. However, with every download, there is a delay and sometimes even ads making a download spree take longer than you would like. You can join their subscription plan to avoid this while also being able to get some other handy features.

• More Variety
  
• Easy to Use
  
• Advertisements

Pinterest is the one I use the most because I'm not always near a computer. It's easier to scroll through pins on Pinterest, save what I like to a board and when I get home go back and follow the link of the pin. It's also a good way to save your mods if anything happens to them since they'll always stay on your board. I've completely lost all the files on my previous computers 3 times but have still been able to go back and re-download my mods and cc.

• Save previously used mods
  
• Variety
  
• Expired web-links or no web-link

I listed this because all mods come from websites. There are some mods you can't access through Curse Forge or the Sims Resource, and the ones you can have a website where you can download them. When you're using Pinterest you're just creating a bookmark for a website you plan to come back to later. These in my opinion should be approached with more caution because you don't know what might be lurking.

• Limited by what you know
  
• Adult Mods
  
• Possibilities of Viruses heightened if not careful

This is my opinion. It is not the Sim Bible. Thank you for your time.