Quick answer for The Sims 4: press Ctrl + Shift + C on PC or Cmd + Shift + C on Mac. A box appears at the top of the screen. Type your cheat and press Enter.
The Sims 4
You need to be in a game, either in Live Mode, Build Mode or Create a Sim, rather than on the main menu. Then use the shortcut for your platform.
PC
Ctrl + Shift + C
Mac
Cmd + Shift + C
PlayStation
Hold L1 + L2 + R1 + R2 together
Xbox
Hold LB + LT + RB + RT together
A thin text bar opens at the top of the screen. Type or paste the cheat, press Enter, and it takes effect straight away. Press Esc to close the bar again.
On PlayStation and Xbox, the game warns you that using cheats turns off trophies or achievements for that save. If you care about those, keep a separate save for cheating.
Turning on testing cheats in The Sims 4
Most simple cheats, like motherlode, work as soon as you type them. Others only work once testing cheats are switched on. The cheat finder marks which is which.
To switch them on, open the console and enter:
| Cheat | What it does | Testing cheats? |
|---|---|---|
Turn on testing cheats
testingcheats true
|
Unlocks the extra cheats that need testing cheats switched on. Type testingcheats false to turn them off again. | Testing cheats not needed |
You'll see a message saying testing cheats are enabled. They stay on until you exit to the main menu, so you'll need to type it again each time you load your game.
The Sims 3
On PC, press Ctrl + Shift + C. On Mac, press Cmd + Shift + C. A console bar opens at the top of the screen.
For the extra shift-click options, enter testingcheatsenabled true.
The Sims 2
On PC, press Ctrl + Shift + C while you're playing a lot. The console bar appears at the top of the screen.
For the extra shift-click options, enter boolProp testingCheatsEnabled true. Capital letters don't matter.
The Sims (original)
On PC, press Ctrl + Shift + Alt + C. A small box opens in the top-left corner. Type the cheat and press Enter.
Cheat not working?
- Check the spelling and spaces. Copying the cheat from this site avoids typos.
- Does it need testing cheats? Turn them on first, then try again.
- Are you on the right screen? The console won't open on the main menu or during loading screens.
- Laptop keyboard? Some laptops need the Fn key held too, or the shortcut may clash with another app. Closing overlays such as screen recorders can help.
Still no luck? The cheat not working guide has more fixes. Once the console is open, try the money cheats or search the cheat finder.