How to Add Mods and CC to The Sims 3: Step-by-Step Guide

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Learn how to add mods to The Sims 3 on Mac and PC
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Adding modifications (mods) or custom content to The Sims 3 is a good way to add new content to the game as well as change the way the game operates. The framework for mods is not set up by default, but it's simple enough to find and install. This wikiHow teaches you how to install Mods for The Sims 3.

Installing Sims 3 Mods

  • Download the FrameworkSetup file and extract it to The Sims 3 documents folder.
  • Download a mod and extract it to the "Packages" section of The Sims 3 documents folder.
  • Start your game to test if the mods work correctly.
  • Download reputable mods that are compatible with the patch level of your game.
Section 1 of 4:

Setting Up Your Game for Mods

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  1. Adding mods to your game while it's running won't work. Save and quit your game before proceeding.
    • Warning: Some mods and custom content may contain bugs or errors. These are unofficial modifications to the game that do not go through the standard quality assurance process that official add-ons and content go through.
  2. If you are using Windows, click the icon that resembles a folder with a blue clip. [1] On Mac, open the Finder. It has an icon that resembles a blue and white smiley face. It's at the bottom of the screen. [2]
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  3. This is where you add and configure your game to allow mods and custom content. Use the following steps to navigate to the Sims 3 mods folder. [3]
    • Click Documents in the sidebar to the left.
    • Open the Electronic Arts folder.
    • Open The Sims 3 folder.
  4. To do this, go to the Sims Wiki . This web page has a download link for the FrameworkSetup file needed to install mods and custom content.
  5. It's next to a blue icon with a disk. This downloads the FrameworkSetup.zip file.
  6. You need a program such as Winzip, WinRAR , or the free alternative 7-zip to extract the contents of a zip file . Select the Sims 3 documents folder when asked where to extract the contents of the zip file. Again, the location of The Sims 3 documents folder is Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 3 .
    • The FrameworkSetup file will contain the necessary framework for your mods - a folder named Overrides, a folder named Packages, and a file named "Resource.cfg". The Packages folder will already have two files in it ("nobuildsparkles.package" and "nointro.package") so you'll be able to check if your mods will work. If you start up your game and get no intro animation, nor any sparkles when placing walls or fences, everything is working.
    • The "Resource.cfg" file may trigger some antivirus software programs. This is because it's a ".cfg" file, not because it's malware. The file is safe and necessary to install mods on The Sims 3.
    • Very old versions of The Sims 3 (before the release of World Adventures and its patch) would have mods and content in the Program Files directory. This no longer works - do not attempt to place custom content in Program Files and do not use Monkey Bars or Helper Monkey to install your content.
  7. 7
    Test your mods. The FrameworkSetup.zip file also contains two mods so you can test to make sure mods are working in your game. You'll see them in your "Packages" folder: NoBuildSparkles.package and nointro.package. Here's how to test if these mods work:
    • Open your game once you've added the Mods folder to your Sims 3 folder.
    • Check to see if the intro plays. If the intro doesn't play, your mods are working! You can continue to test the other mod, if you like.
    • Once you get in-game, go to a Sim's house and enter Build Mode.
    • Place a wall (or some other item) and see if there are sparkles when you place it. If there isn't, the NoBuildSparkles.package mod is also working.
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Section 2 of 4:

Installing Package Mods

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  1. Make sure the mod you are downloading is for The Sims 3, and not The Sims 4. Also, make sure it is compatible with the latest version of the game. When you find a mod you want to download, click the download link on the page to download the package file as a zip file.
    • If the mod you're downloading is a .package file, continue with the steps in this section. If it's a .sims3pack file, skip to our section on installing these mods .
  2. Mods will usually be stored in .rar or .zip files. You'll need to open these files in Winzip, WinRAR, or 7-zip.
  3. When asked where you want to extract the file to, extract it to the Mods folder in The Sims 3 documents folder. The location is as follows: Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 3 > Mods > Packages . [4]
    • It's recommended only to install one mod at a time, especially if the mods in question are core mods (i.e., they alter a key method of how the game runs). Installing multiple mods at once can make it difficult to determine the cause if two of the mods turn out to be incompatible with each other.
  4. If the mods are working, you'll be able to tell by testing. For example, if you've installed a decensoring mod, it's working if there's no mosaic when your Sims go to bathe. If they aren't working, they may be incompatible with your patch level or a previously-installed mod, or installed in the wrong place.
    • You'll usually be able to tell when a mod is conflicting with something—you'll get bugs that make it difficult, if not impossible, to play (such as Sims constantly resetting themselves when attempting to perform an action), or the game just might not load at all.
  5. If you play with a lot of mods or have a lot of custom content in your Packages folder, it can become tricky to figure out what's causing a problem if your game starts slowing down or crashing. Keeping things organized makes it easier to tell where things are and to test what content could be buggy. Try organizing things. You can create new folders to organize your mods by content type, creator, or however you want to organize them. Use the following steps to create a new folder in your Packages folder: [5]
    • Navigate to the Packages folder.
    • Right-click a blank space in the folder.
    • Click New .
    • Click Folder .
    • Type a name for the folder.
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Section 3 of 4:

Installing Sims3Pack Mods

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  1. 1
    Download a Sims 3 mod. Make sure the mod you are downloading is for The Sims 3, and not The Sims 4. Also, make sure it is compatible with the latest version of the game. When you find a mod you want to download, click the download link on the page to download the package file as a zip file.
    • If the mod you're downloading is a .sims3pack file, continue with the steps in this section. If it's a .package file, go back to our section on installing these mods .
  2. 2
    Extract the mod from the compressed file. Mods will usually be stored in .rar or .zip files. You'll need to open these files in Winzip, WinRAR, or 7-zip.
  3. 3
    Extract the .package file(s) to the "Downloads" folder. When asked where to extract the file, select the Downloads folder in the The Sims 3 documents folder. The location is as follows: Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 3 > Downloads .
  4. 4
    Start the game. Once you do, you'll see the Sims 3 Launcher. Don't click the play button just yet; you need to enable the mod before you'll see it in your game.
  5. 5
    Click the Downloads tab. It's on the left-hand side, under the Expansions & Stuff button.
  6. 6
    Click the check box next to each item you want to install. If you've added a lot of Sims3Packs, you can click the Select All button at the top of the screen if you want to install all of the mods you added to the "Downloads" folder.
  7. 7
    Click Install . You'll see a window with a loading bar. After a few moments, you'll see a list of all the mods you tried to install and if they were successfully installed or not.
    • Click OK at the bottom of the screen to continue.
    • If one of your mods was not installed, try redownloading it. If it still doesn't work, that mod may not work with your installation of The Sims 3.
  8. 8
    Start up your game. If the mods are working, you'll be able to tell by testing if their function works. If they aren't working, they may be incompatible with your patch level or a previously-installed mod.
    • You'll usually be able to tell when a mod is conflicting with something—you'll get bugs that make it difficult, if not impossible, to play (such as Sims constantly resetting themselves when attempting to perform an action), or the game just might not load at all.
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Section 4 of 4:

Finding Good Mods

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  1. Since mods are usually the first thing to cause issues in a game, it's important that you get ones that are known to work. Reputable mods can be found on NRaas's website , Mod The Sims , TheSimsResource , and on content blogs like My Sims 3 Blog . You can also find a lot of custom content creators on Tumblr.
  2. Things sometimes go wrong in-game, and the built-in game commands may not be sufficient when it comes to fixing the errors. However, be aware that mods of this type are usually core mods that rework the game's code, and while that's not bad in and of itself, it can result in issues if the mods are removed while in use later on.
  3. They may not be core mods, but there are mods out there that allow ease of access to certain things while playing the game (such as viewing hidden traits and skills), allowing Sims of a certain age range to do something not typically aimed at their age, or so forth. It allows for some more versatility in your game, or just makes gameplay a bit more interesting. [6]
  4. While Sims 3 isn't likely to have further patches released, if you're running on old patches and update your game or install an expansion pack, update all your mods before relaunching your game. Outdated mods can result in bugs or corruption of various kinds, so make sure every mod you install is the latest version.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    Should my mods be stored in the mods folder, or should I have moved, copied/pasted them into packages?
    Belle K.
    Top Answerer
    Most always they will go in the mods folder, although this can change; read what the maker of the mod says to do in the readme or on the website where you downloaded it.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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    Not Helpful 1 Helpful 13
  • Question
    I don't have a Mods folder. Do I just use Downloads?
    Community Answer
    No. The Downloads folder is reserved for .sims3pack files and can't read .package files. You need to download the Framework Setup from Mod The Sims, which contains the Mods folder and the Resource.cfg file, and put it into Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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    Not Helpful 20 Helpful 19
  • Question
    My files say Origin Games/The Sims 3 instead of Electronic Arts, and the file names don't look the same. When I try to download mods, it doesn't work. Any advice?
    Community Answer
    That doesn't sound like you're in the right location. It sounds like you're looking at the game's installation files, which are usually located in Program Files. You need to click the Documents tab on the sidebar of File Explorer or Finder - that's where you'll find the Electronic Arts folder.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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      Warnings

      • Do not remove a mod from a game while it is in use. If your saved games have a Sim using this mod, removing it can cause errors or even corrupt your save, especially if the mod is a core mod (i.e., it rewrites game files).
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      References

      1. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/find-and-open-file-explorer-ef370130-1cca-9dc5-e0df-2f7416fe1cb1
      2. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/organize-your-files-in-the-finder-mchlp2605/mac
      3. ↑ https://modthesims.info/wiki.php?title=Game_Help:Installing_Sims_3_Package_Files/Setup_and_Files
      4. ↑ https://modthesims.info/wiki.php?title=Game_Help:Installing_Sims_3_Package_Files/Setup_and_Files
      5. ↑ https://simswiki.info/wiki.php?title=Game_Help:Installing_Sims_3_Package_Files/Setup_and_Files
      6. ↑ https://modthesims.info/downloads/ts3/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Navigate to http://modthesims.info/wiki.php?title=Game_Help:Installing_Sims_3_Package_Files/Setup_and_Files and click Download
      2. Extract the zip file to " Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 3 ".
      3. Download a Sims 3 mods from the internet. 4. Extract the contents of the zip file containing the mod to " Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 3 > Mods > Packages ".

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