The Sims 4 Update Settings: Stop Automatic Downloads and Handle Mod Alerts Safely

To prevent surprise Sims 4 downloads, change the launcher that installed your game. In the EA app, open Settings (or Application settings) > Download and disable both Update games automatically and Enable background downloads. On Steam, use Library > The Sims 4 > Manage > Properties > Updates and choose Only update this game when I launch it. These controls govern downloads, not Mods.

After a patch, The Sims 4 can disable Custom Content and Mods as a safety measure. Test the unmodded game, exit without saving, check creator compatibility, then re-enable Mods from Game Options > Other. The in-game Show at Startup checkbox only hides the installed-Mods list; it does not update or validate files.

How do I stop The Sims 4 from updating automatically in the EA app?

Turn off the two update controls in the EA app’s Download settings. Update games automatically controls automatic game updates, while Enable background downloads controls whether queued games can download when the EA app is closed.

1. On Windows, open the EA app’s three-line menu and select Application settings. On macOS, select EA app in the menu bar, then choose Settings.
2. Open the Download tab.
3. Under Updates, switch off Update games automatically.
4. Switch off Enable background downloads if you do not want queued downloads to continue while the EA app is closed.
5. Close the settings panel. The change applies to future downloads; it does not undo files that have already been downloaded.

Electronic Arts describes automatic updating as requiring game updates and background services to be enabled. Disabling only one switch can therefore leave part of the download behavior active: an update may wait in the queue, or a queued download may continue in the background.

What if the EA app shows a stuck Sims 4 download?

Use the EA app’s recovery tool and choose Clear cache. This is a launcher-download recovery step, not a way to repair incompatible Mods or Custom Content. If the game has already patched, handle Mods separately using the in-game procedure below.

How do I delay a Sims 4 update on Steam?

Steam provides a per-game update preference rather than the EA app’s two switches. Set The Sims 4 to update only when you launch it, then use Steam’s global download settings for scheduling or bandwidth limits.

1. Open Steam and select Library.
2. Select The Sims 4.
3. Choose Manage > Properties.
4. Open the Updates page.
5. Set the update preference to Only update this game when I launch it.
6. For broader controls, open Steam > Settings > Downloads. That area handles global download scheduling and bandwidth management.

Valve explains that games are automatically placed in Steam’s download queue when an update is released. The per-game setting delays when that queued update is applied; it does not remove the update from Steam’s system or create a permanently frozen version of the game.

Why does The Sims 4 disable Mods after a patch?

The game may turn off Mods and Custom Content after an update to reduce compatibility problems. A patch can change game code that a Mod depends on, so an older file may cause errors, missing objects, broken interactions or save problems.

When Mods are disabled, do not immediately load a long-running household and save it. Electronic Arts warns that saving with Custom Content and Mods disabled can remove that content from the save. Treat the first launch after a patch as a compatibility check, not as a normal play session.

“By disabling Mods when we update, we try to limit any issues or problems with your gameplay.” — Electronic Arts, EA Help

How do I safely restore Mods after a Sims 4 update?

Restore Mods only after confirming that the unmodded game works and that each creator has marked the file as compatible with your current game version.

1. Launch The Sims 4 with Mods and Custom Content disabled.
2. Load a household or enter Live Mode and check ordinary game behavior, menus and interactions.
3. Exit the game without saving. This preserves the version of the save that still contains its Mod-dependent content.
4. Visit the site or announcement channel for every Mod creator and check compatibility with the current patch. Replace files that are outdated.
5. Start the game again and open Game Options > Other.
6. Select Enable Custom Content and Mods.
7. If you use script-based Mods, also select Script Mods Allowed.
8. Apply the changes, exit and relaunch the game, then test the Mods before returning to a valuable save.

Script Mods and package-only Custom Content do not have identical installation rules, so a clean restart after changing the checkboxes is important. If a problem appears, return to the unmodded state and identify files in small groups rather than re-enabling an entire old folder at once.

How do I turn off the Sims 4 Mod notification list?

The recurring list of installed Mods is controlled by Show at Startup in the Mods popup. When the popup appears, clear Show at Startup in its lower-left corner.

This suppresses the startup list on later launches. It does not scan files for compatibility, download creator updates, repair a broken Mod or change whether Mods are enabled. If you need to verify files after a patch, keep the list available or maintain your own inventory of installed files.

How do I stop EA app notifications?

EA app alerts use a separate setting from the Sims 4 Mods popup. In the EA app, open Settings > Application > Notifications and adjust the app’s notification preferences there.

Changing EA app notifications does not hide the in-game installed-Mods list. Conversely, clearing Show at Startup does not silence download or account notifications generated by the EA app. Use the panel that matches the alert you are trying to remove.

Where are Sims 4 Mods stored, and how deep can folders be?

On a standard Windows installation, the EA Forums guidance places Mods and Custom Content in Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 4 > Mods. Keep the folder structure shallow enough for the file type to be detected.

• Script Mods: files containing .ts4script should be no more than one folder deep.
• Package-only files: these can be organized up to five folders deep under the Mods folder according to the EA Forums guidance.

If a creator supplies an installation note that differs from the general folder rule, follow the creator’s current instructions and confirm that the file type is correct. A file can be present in the Mods folder and still fail because it is too deeply nested, incorrectly packaged or incompatible with the patch.

What should I back up before patching or adding Mods?

Copy the entire Saves folder to another location before allowing a patch or installing new Mods. Keep separate backup copies rather than relying on one file that can be overwritten during troubleshooting.

Outdated Mods can damage or corrupt saves. A backup gives you a way to restore the pre-update state if a household opens with missing content or if testing changes the wrong file. Backups do not make an incompatible Mod safe; they provide a recovery point.

Can a Mod manager guarantee that every file is compatible?

No. EA Forums guidance treats Mod managers as optional convenience tools for organizing downloads or updates, not as complete compatibility checkers. No manager can identify every obsolete Mod or every conflict between files.

Use a manager if it helps you track installations, but still check creator announcements, test with Mods disabled after a patch and keep a clean-save workflow. Compatibility decisions remain your responsibility even when a manager reports that a file is installed or has a newer package available.

Which setting controls the problem I am seeing?

• A game patch starts downloading without asking: change Update games automatically in the EA app, or use The Sims 4’s Steam update preference.
• A download continues while the EA app is closed: turn off Enable background downloads.
• The game opens with Mods disabled: test without saving, verify creator updates and then use Game Options > Other.
• The installed-Mods list appears every time: clear Show at Startup in the in-game popup.
• EA account or launcher alerts are intrusive: use EA app Settings > Application > Notifications.
• The launcher is stuck downloading: use EA App Recovery and Clear cache; this addresses the launcher download path rather than Mod compatibility.

What is covered for PC, Mac and consoles?

The verified menu paths here cover the EA app on Windows and macOS, plus the Steam PC version. Exact current menu labels for PlayStation and Xbox were not established, so console instructions should not be assumed to match the EA app or Steam paths.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do these update settings work on PlayStation and Xbox?

The documented paths in this guide are for the EA app on Windows or macOS and for Steam on PC. Console menu labels and update controls were not verified here, so use the platform’s current system-update settings rather than assuming the PC steps are identical.

What happens to a Steam update that is already queued?

Steam places released game updates in its download queue. Choosing “Only update this game when I launch it” changes when Steam applies that title’s update; it does not permanently remove the queued update.

Can clearing the EA app cache fix a broken Mod?

No. Cache recovery is intended for stuck EA app download or upload behavior. A broken Mod requires compatibility checking, file replacement or removal, and a clean test with Mods disabled.

Should I keep more than one Sims 4 save backup?

Yes. EA Forums guidance recommends separate backups because an outdated Mod can damage or corrupt a save. Keeping copies from before a patch and before a major Mod change gives you distinct recovery points.