In The Sims 4, build mode lets you create dream homes freely. But, if you’re after a challenge or realism, turning off free build mode means you have to stick to a budget, adding a fun layer of difficulty.
Knowing how to toggle this feature on and off lets you control your gameplay, whether you’re storytelling or simulating real-life financial challenges.
Disabling free build mode is easy, using in-game cheats that work on PC and consoles alike.
This method quickly gets you back to playing within the game’s budget constraints, making every building achievement feel all the more satisfying as you work with what you’ve got.
Free Build Mode in Sims 4
In The Sims 4, Free Build Mode is a feature that allows gamers to construct and modify buildings without the usual restrictions related to a household’s funds or locked lots. This mode is particularly beneficial for those who wish to unleash their architectural creativity or design the perfect home without being hindered by in-game financial limitations.
Features of Free Build Mode:
- No Budget Constraints: Players have unlimited funds.
- Access to All Lots: Including lots that are not usually editable.
- Full Creative Control: Freedom to construct and demolish structures.
To activate Free Build Mode, users typically input a cheat code—usually bb.enablefreebuild—into the game’s command console, which is opened using Ctrl + Shift + C for PC or Cmd + Shift + C for Mac. However, some players may encounter Free Build Mode unintentionally, leading to confusion and a disrupted game experience.
Possible Issues:
- Unwanted Unlimited Funds: Removing the challenge of budget management.
- Disabled Household Inventory: Preventing access to stored items.
Accessing Game Options
To get to the game options menu in The Sims 4, start the game and either continue from a saved game or kick off a new adventure. Once you’re in the game, hit the Esc key to open up the main menu. This is where you’ll find the game options, allowing you to tweak the settings to your liking.
In the game options, head over to the Build Mode section. This area is all about building and customizing homes. Look for an option that says “Enable Free Build” or “Disable Free Build” and select it according to what you want to do—this is how you toggle Free Build mode on or off.
Disabling Free Build Mode
To disable Free Build Mode, a player must begin by loading their desired save file and entering live mode.
They should not be in build mode to start this process.
- PC Users: Press CTRL + SHIFT + C
- Mac Users: Press COMMAND + SHIFT + C
- Console Users: Hold down all four shoulder buttons
Once the cheat console appears, players must type in testingcheats true to enable the use of further cheats. Following this, they need to enter FreeBuild into the console and press enter. This will toggle Free Build Mode off if it is currently activated.
Saving Changes
After disabling Free Build Mode, players must save their changes to prevent reverting back to the unrestricted building condition on their next play session.
- Press the ESC key to bring up the pause menu.
- Within the menu, select ‘Save Game’ or ‘Save As’ to save the current game state with Free Build Mode turned off.
By saving the game after modifying the build mode settings, players ensure that their gameplay experience retains the changes related to financial constraints and other build mode restrictions when they play next.
Tips for Managing Build Mode
Shortcuts
In The Sims 4, players have the advantage of using keyboard shortcuts to enhance their building efficiency.
For instance, you can quickly toggle between the live mode and build mode by pressing F2.
Accessing the cheat console is done through Ctrl + Shift + C. Knowing these shortcuts can significantly speed up the building process and allow for a smoother gameplay experience.
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Open Build Mode | F2 |
| Open Cheat Console | Ctrl + Shift + C |
| Undo an Action | Ctrl + Z |
| Redo an Action | Ctrl + Y |
Troubleshooting Common Issues
- Verifying Game Files: For PC users, this can be done through the game launcher. On Origin, one can right-click on The Sims 4 and select ‘Repair’. In Steam, right-clicking on the game and choosing ‘Properties’, followed by ‘Local Files’, and then ‘Verify Integrity of Game Files’, should assist in this game repair process.
- Restarting the Game: Sometimes, a simple restart of the game can fix temporary glitches.
- Clearing the Cache: This can help remove any corrupted data that might be causing issues.
Restoring Defaults
Restoring the game back to its default settings can often help in situations where turning off Free Build mode is unresponsive. To restore defaults:
- Use of Cheats: Entering ‘testingcheats true’ followed by ‘bb.enablefreebuild false’ in the command console should revert the settings. To open the console, one should use CTRL+SHIFT+C on a PC, COMMAND+SHIFT+C on a Mac, or all four triggers on a controller.
- Reinstalling the Game: As a last resort, one might consider reinstalling the game to set everything back to its original state. Before doing this, it is advisable to backup game data to prevent any loss of existing gameplay.
