How to Back Up Sims 4 Saves, Mods, and Custom Content

To protect your Sims 4 progress and custom content, close the game and copy the entire The Sims 4 folder from Documents/Electronic Arts to a separate location before updating. Do not move or rename the live folder. This user-data folder contains your saves, Mods, and Tray files; the EA app, Steam, Origin, and Epic installation folders do not back them up.

After the patch, start the game once without mods, check that it loads, then exit without saving. Remove localthumbcache.package, re-enable mods in Game Options, and add back only mods confirmed compatible with the new version.

Where are Sims 4 saves, mods, and custom content stored?

On Windows and Mac, the game expects player files in Documents/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4. This is separate from the program files installed by a launcher. Updating or repairing the game does not make the launcher’s installation folder a backup of your household progress or downloaded content.

Windows: Open File Explorer and go to Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 4. To jump there, enter %USERPROFILE%DocumentsElectronic ArtsThe Sims 4 in the address bar. If Documents is redirected, check its OneDrive location.
Mac: In Finder, open Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 4. The equivalent path is ~/Documents/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4. If you use iCloud Drive for Documents, check that location too.

If the folder is not where expected, check the game’s Game Options > Screen Capture > Location Path setting. If the user folder is missing, the game may create a new, empty one rather than search through its program files for your saves. Keep the program files and user data in separate folders; combining them risks losing data.

Which files matter?

Folder or file	What it contains	Include it?
`Saves`	Worlds, households, gameplay progress, and the game’s `.ver` save backups.	Yes, to preserve progress.
`Mods`	Custom content and mods, including `.package` files and script mods ending in `.ts4script`.	Yes, if you want to preserve mods and CC.
`Tray`	Locally saved or downloaded Gallery households, lots, and rooms.	Yes, to preserve these local items.
`localthumbcache.package`	A thumbnail cache that the game can rebuild.	No; it is safe to delete when clearing cache.
`Overrides`	Less common override assets.	Include it by copying the whole user folder.

A minimum manual backup is Saves, Mods, and Tray. Copying the entire The Sims 4 folder is simpler and preserves other user data too.

How do I back up Sims 4 before an update?

Close the game first, then copy—not move—the user folder. The Sims Team recommends regular backups, such as weekly, and another copy before major game changes or events.

Windows

Exit The Sims 4 and close any mod manager.
In File Explorer, open Documents > Electronic Arts.
Right-click The Sims 4 and select Copy.
Go to the Desktop, an external drive, or another backup location outside the live Electronic Arts folder. Right-click and select Paste.
Rename the copied folder to something recognizable, such as Sims 4 Backup Before October 2026 Update.

Mac

Quit The Sims 4 and close any mod manager.
In Finder, open Documents > Electronic Arts.
Select The Sims 4 and press Command-C.
Open the Desktop or another separate backup location and press Command-V.
Rename the copy with a clear date or event, such as Sims 4 Backup Before October 2026 Update.

Wait for copying to finish before updating. Keep the original folder in place and name each backup so you can tell which game version or event it predates. The Sims Team’s backup guidance also notes that a copy can be stored on a flash drive or in cloud storage.

Where should I store the backup?

Choose a destination based on the size of your files and how much protection you want. A copy on the same computer is convenient, but it shares the computer’s risk if its drive fails.

Destination	Useful for	Trade-off
Desktop or another folder on the computer	A quick copy before an update.	It is still on the same disk as the live files.
USB flash drive	A separate copy of saves or a modest-sized user folder.	A large CC library may exceed its available capacity.
Portable external hard drive or SSD	A full backup when Mods and CC take substantial space.	It must be connected and have enough free space to hold the copy.
Cloud storage	An additional copy accessible away from the computer.	Syncing can conflict with a live Documents folder redirected to OneDrive or iCloud Drive.

Custom-content libraries can reach hundreds of gigabytes, according to EA Forums Sims Helpers. Check the folder’s size and the destination’s free space before copying. Do not move the entire Documents folder to an external drive; keep the live user folder where the game expects it and store a separate backup elsewhere.

Should I remove mods before updating Sims 4?

Back up first, then temporarily move the Mods folder out of the live user folder before the first launch after a patch. This lets the game start without third-party files and helps distinguish a game-update problem from a mod conflict.

Record your mod list. Note each mod’s name and creator so you can check for updates and restore the right files.
Close the game and mod manager. Do not change files while the game is running.
Move the whole live Mods folder to the Desktop or another temporary location. Do not delete your backup copy. The game can create a fresh, empty Mods folder when it starts.
Delete localthumbcache.package from Documents/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4. The game rebuilds this cache; removing it is a routine step when changing mods.
Choose when to update, if needed. In the EA app, open Application settings > Download > Updates and turn Update games automatically off. Steam lets you set the game to wait to update until launch. These settings control timing; they do not keep the game on an older version indefinitely. New packs, kits, and online features may require the current version.

Players have reported that the EA app can update despite the automatic-update setting. Offline mode is documented as working for up to 30 days after the last online launch, but EA does not present it as an anti-update method.

What should I do the first time I launch after a patch?

Run the patched game without mods, confirm it opens, and exit without saving. The game disables mods after updates by design, and saving a modded household while its content is unavailable can remove modded items or settings from that save.

Start The Sims 4 with the Mods folder still outside the user folder.
Enter Live Mode briefly to confirm the updated game loads. Missing custom content is expected during this check.
Exit the game without saving. Do not choose Save and Exit while mods are off.
Check each mod creator’s page for compatibility with the new game version, especially for script, gameplay, and UI mods.
In Game Options > Other, turn on Enable Custom Content and Mods. If using script mods, also turn on Script Mods Allowed.
Restart the game for the settings to take effect.

Start by restoring updated or known-good mods in small batches. Script mods ending in .ts4script are more likely to break after patches than ordinary CAS or build custom content. Major gameplay and interface mods—such as MC Command Center, UI Cheats Extension, and Basemental—need particular care. Check the creator’s compatibility notice rather than assuming an older download will work.

Organize files before restoring them

Keep a .ts4script file no more than one subfolder deep inside Mods; deeper placement can prevent the game from loading it.
.package files can be up to five subfolders deep.
Keep files that belong to the same mod together, and use creator names or clear labels for folders.
Extract .zip or .rar downloads before placing their contents in Mods. Do not leave the archives there.
After a patch, check both mod-related options again; updates turn them off.

CurseForge can update mods hosted on its service, but it cannot update every mod. MC Command Center, XML Injector, and many Patreon-hosted mods may need a manual creator check. A mod manager or scanner can help identify files to review, but it cannot make an outdated script safe.

What if a mod breaks the game after an update?

Remove the suspect files and narrow down the conflict rather than repeatedly loading and saving the affected household. A broken script or conflicting mod can cause gameplay problems and may damage a save if you continue playing and saving with it installed.

Exit the game and move all files out of the live Mods folder.
Delete localthumbcache.package.
Add back half of the mod files, keeping a mod’s dependencies and related files together, then launch and check for the issue.
If the problem returns, the culprit is likely among the files just added; remove them and repeat with smaller groups. If it does not return, test the remaining files in the same way.
Prioritize updated versions of gameplay and UI mods, and test recently changed food or recipe overrides separately.

Common clues include stuck Sims or dead menus for gameplay conflicts, interface glitches for UI mods, and missing meshes or floating accessories for CC problems. The unnumbered lastException.txt and lastUIException files in the user folder can provide clues about a culprit. Deaderpool notes that exception files almost always result from bad or out-of-date mods or CC; they are clues, not a guarantee that one specific file is responsible.

If core game files appear damaged, use the launcher’s repair or verification option. In the EA app, go to Library > The Sims 4 > Manage > Repair. In Epic, verify the game and then repair through the EA app. In Steam, open the game’s Properties > Installed Files > Verify integrity. These actions address game files, not a backup or repair of Mods.

How do I restore a Sims 4 backup?

Use a full-folder restore if the live user folder is missing or badly damaged; replace only the affected subfolders if the rest of the user data is intact. Confirm the backup exists before deleting anything.

Restore the whole user folder

Quit the game and confirm the backup copy is complete and in the location you expect.
Open Documents/Electronic Arts. If a damaged live The Sims 4 folder is there, delete it only after confirming your backup. Empty the Recycle Bin on Windows or move the folder to the Bin on Mac.
Rename the backup copy to The Sims 4.
Copy or move that renamed backup into Documents/Electronic Arts.
Start the game and check that the saves and other files appear. Keep the backup until you have confirmed the restore worked.

Restore only Saves, Mods, or Tray

If the rest of the user folder is fine, copy the needed backed-up folder—such as Saves, Mods, or Tray—into the live The Sims 4 folder. When prompted, choose Replace only if you intend to overwrite the current version. If you are unsure, first copy the current folder elsewhere so you can undo the replacement.

Can I recover a save without a full backup?

Sometimes. The game keeps versioned .ver files in the Saves folder, and its Recover Save feature can restore an earlier version. These are an extra option for save recovery, not a substitute for a dated copy of the user folder; they do not preserve Mods or Tray.

Use Recover Save in the game

Open Load Game and select the save you want to recover.
Select the Recover Save icon, shown as a floppy disk.
Choose a version, select Recover, and confirm with Yes.

Rename a versioned file manually

With the game closed, open the Saves folder. Files may look like Slot_00000002.save.ver0 or Slot_00000002.save.ver1. A lower version number is the more recently created backup, so ver0 is newest. To use one manually, rename the chosen file by removing its .ver suffix—for example, change Slot_00000002.save.ver0 to Slot_00000002.save. Keep a separate copy of the original files before renaming.

The October 27, 2026 update improved save-backup tracking for players who go a long time between sessions, according to EA’s patch notes. This still covers save recovery, not a copy of the Mods or Tray folders.

Why is a backup especially important before the October 2026 patch?

The October 27, 2026 “Order Up!” quality-of-life update changed enough systems that keeping a pre-patch copy of Saves and Tray is prudent, especially for players using mods that affect food or restaurant lots. EA reported more than 150 bug fixes and 14 crash or stability improvements in the patch; its listed versions were PC 1.129.39.1030, Mac 1.129.39.1230, and console 2.40.

EA’s patch notes said many top crash reports remained closely linked to outdated or conflicting mod files. The update also rewrote food and drink tuning across the base game and packs, making food and recipe overrides higher-risk until their creators confirm compatibility. It added more than 375 existing dishes to the Family Recipes pool, another reason to check food-related mods.

EA also warned that some restaurant tables from older builds could be deleted after a table-footprint fix, especially tables placed with Move Objects. Saves recovered from an endless white loading screen may need some lot details rebuilt. A backup made before the update gives you a separate copy of the earlier save and Tray items if the new version changes a lot or household in an unwanted way.

The Sims Team has warned that an outdated mod can cause unfixable problems for a save in some cases. If a patched save behaves badly, do not overwrite your only pre-patch copy. A clean vanilla save under a new name can also serve as an additional fallback while you troubleshoot.

What if I play The Sims 4 on console?

Console players can back up save data, but the game does not support mods on PlayStation or Xbox, so there are no console Mods or CC folders to preserve. Console backup options depend on the platform’s save-data and cloud-storage features; those are separate from the PC and Mac folder-copy steps in this guide.

How often should I back up?

The Sims Team recommends a regular cadence such as weekly, plus a backup before a major game change or in-game event. Make another copy before installing a pack, adding mods, finishing a major build, or moving to a new computer. A dated copy gives you a clear point to return to if a later update or file change causes trouble.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Origin back up Sims 4 saves?

No. Origin is a game launcher, not a backup service for your Sims 4 user files. Keep a separate copy of the user folder or the folders you need to preserve.

How much storage space do I need for a Sims 4 backup?

It depends on the size of your user folder, especially your Mods collection. Check the folder’s size before choosing a destination; custom-content libraries can reach hundreds of gigabytes, so a small flash drive may not be enough.

Can I keep my Sims 4 backup in the same Documents folder?

You can store a copy elsewhere on the same computer, but a same-disk copy does not protect against drive failure. For another layer of protection, keep an additional copy on a separate drive or in cloud storage, taking care with Documents-folder sync.

Back Up Sims 4 Saves, Mods, and CC Before a Patch