How to Install Downloaded Lots


The process of installing custom content in The Sims 4 is relatively easy. This detailed tutorial will show you all the necessary steps for using the houses and lots that you have downloaded from our site.

Step 1: Extracting

Most downloaded files will be in a compressed format such as .rar. You will need WinRAR or 7-zip for this, so get one of them if you haven't already. Both programs are free to download.

To decompress the file, right click it and select Extract Here.

Step 2: Installing the Files

For Houses/Lots - You should place the files in to the Tray folder, which can be found at Documents » Electronic Arts » The Sims 4 » Tray.
Example of file formats that can be found inside the Tray folder are .blueprint, .bpi, .trayitem, .room and .householdbinary.

Custom Content files (CC) - You should place the files in to the Mods folder located at Documents » Electronic Arts » The Sims 4 » Mods.
Files in .package format should be placed inside the Mods folder. You will also see a config file named Resource.CFG, which basically allows users to add third-party content.

That's it. After you copied the files in their designated folder, the downloaded content are ready and now available for use in game. You don't have to restart the game every time you install a new creation. Simply refresh your Library and it will appear right away.



MoveObjects On - Some house creations require this script in order to place the lot properly. You can download it HERE. To install, simply copy "tmex-moveobjects.zip" into the Mods folder. Do not extract or unzip. To enable,  go to game options > other > and check the Script Mod box and restart TS4. It is on by default but you can use the command "tm.moveobjects off" to disable it.

Step 3: Placing the House

Open the Gallery (F4 key shortcut) and select the My Library tab. On the left side of the screen, look for Advanced menu and make sure that the Include Custom Content box has a check mark in it to see creations that include CC.

Now all you need to do is place the house on a lot and your Sims can now move in. You need to be in Build Mode in order to do this. Also, be sure to have sufficient funds (if lot is occupied by household) and the required lot area.


You can place the new house in to a vacant land or replace an entire existing home.

And that’s a wrap! I hope you enjoyed this guide, and learned how to install custom content in The Sims 4. Don't forget to check out our collection of awesome looking residential houses and community lots.


98 comments Add a comment
  1. when I Put replacing house the game say system error

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    Replies
    1. Simmer3/25/2016

      - Try restarting the game.
      - Update your game.
      - Use MoveObjects.
      - Bulldoze the lot a couple of times to make sure it's clear.
      - You must be in Build Mode before placing the lot (while in build mode, click the Gallery button, go to My Library and find the house you want to place).

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    2. Says system error :(

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    3. I've done those steps but still says system error. is it beacuse I don't have any extention packs but these downloadable lots probably does?

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    4. when i go into my downloaded houses and click on it it says error

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  2. Paloma4/03/2016

    Help please! When I open my gallery I cant find my downloaded sims or lots anywhere, I clicked on advanced show cc, what am I doing wrong?

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    Replies
    1. Hi! When you go to the library you'll fins your lot under the advanced section :)

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    2. Hi! Go to advanced in gallery :)

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    3. Anonymous12/21/2016

      i have the same problem too

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    4. Anonymous3/26/2021

      Hello! Thank you this was so helpful!!

      Delete
    5. Anonymous6/30/2022

      Can you really use download houses

      Delete
  3. That is because a lot doesnt work in a mod folder it works in the Tray folder. I have tried this and works for me.

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    Replies
    1. I've tried putting my lots and things in tray and the mods folder but both doesn't work....

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    2. Omg, I know I am 4 years late but... Thank you for your advice its helped so much I got super stressed when it didn't work.

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    3. Anonymous11/09/2020

      What is a tray folder?

      Delete
  4. Anonymous5/16/2016

    How do you do this on a mac?

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous8/12/2016

      You double click it and unzip it. If it is under a pc format download stuff expander from the app store. Then you'll get a folder. If it is a household put it in the tray folder without the folder it came in. If it is cc or mods put it in the mods folder. If you dont have any of the folders make them in the sims 4 folder which should be in your documents.

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    2. Anonymous1/08/2017

      Oml tysm! it helped me alot and i am so grateful! you are amazing xx

      Delete
  5. Help me!! When I placing the lots it can't placing,it and show the massage "cannot place the content because it was created with newer version of the game restart your game to check for update", please solution for this

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous7/30/2016

      update your game....

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    2. You have to update your game to newer version , if you have origin you have to download The Sims 4 from there when its done you have to right click on it and select update.

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    3. To download Origin : https://www.origin.com/en-de/download

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    4. Anonymous8/12/2016

      It means the whoever made made it with a newer version of your game. If you can update it and if you have a cracked version go to the ultimate fix to update you game. Otherwise just find a different cc.

      Delete
  6. Hi, I'm having problem with this one. It says that "cannot place a content because it was created with a newer version of the game...."
    Does anyone know how to fix this?

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous8/28/2016

      either update your game with origin or you downloaded the sims 4 for free and you cant use mods

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    2. It says in the error message. "Newer version of game" update your game!

      Delete
  7. hey man. i have a problem. there is no include custom content in the library! i have include unowned content but there is no include custom content. how should i fix that? plz help

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    Replies
    1. Try the advanced section

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    2. Im having the same issue, Im checking advanced and comparing to those screen shots, everything the same with the exception that I don't have the option to select include custom content ???

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  8. Anonymous6/04/2016

    when i open my gallery the only thing that comes up is my houses that i have build and i cant go and download form other people, i have an sims accont and an origin accont ut it sill dont work, help!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Try the advanced section

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    2. WE DID AND IT STILL ISN'T THERE!!!!!!!!

      Delete
  9. Anonymous6/18/2016

    It lets me download the house itself I always make sure to download the houses that also have the custom content in the home however when I place it in the game the house stays but all the custom content disappears what am I doing wrong?

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous12/01/2016

      Go to options and click include custom content, then restart

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  10. I don't have a library

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    Replies
    1. How do you not have a library? Email EA to find out I guess

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  11. I dont have the library with the downloaded houses in it :(

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  12. Does this work on MacBook?

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  13. Bonjour, j'ai extrait les fichiers des dossier zipper et je les ai inserer dans le dossier Tray des Sims 4 Mais je n'arrive pas a les voir dans ma gallery dans le jeu :(, une idée ?

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  14. Bonjour, j'ai extrait les fichiers des dossier zipper et je les ai inserer dans le dossier Tray des Sims 4 Mais je n'arrive pas a les voir dans ma gallery dans le jeu :(, une idée ?

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  15. Bonjour, j'ai extrait les fichiers des dossier zipper et je les ai inserer dans le dossier Tray des Sims 4 Mais je n'arrive pas a les voir dans ma gallery dans le jeu :(, une idée ?

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  16. It worked wonderful...Thank you for all your help!

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  17. i cannot place lot bec. you don't have last version
    and i have get get together

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  18. Anonymous7/26/2016

    Where do you put the .hhi and .sgi files ?

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  19. Anonymous7/30/2016

    If the lot has CC with it, will the automatically download with the house like in Sims 3? Or do I have to download each piece individually?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sadly, you must download each piece individually. *cries*
      Hopefully the creator of the lots will leave the names of the CC in the description.

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    2. Upagain4/12/2017

      You have to download it piece by piece or the creater includes the custom content while downloading the house depends on the creator

      Delete
  20. @unknown i think this is for PC only

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  21. i have mac and can't download winRAR

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. if you have mac, download Keka. it's works the same.

      Delete
  22. wei.wen9/03/2016

    whenever I want to add in a lot that includes custom content it keeps on saying error and I have to restart my game please help ;-;

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Have you individually downloading each of the CCs from the lot? You must do this for the lot to work

      Delete
    2. Also if your lot is in a subfolder remove it from that then try

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  23. Anonymous10/02/2016

    Thanks soo much man!

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  24. i dont have library folder /tray and /mods folder mine is repacked someone help me

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  25. i dont have library folder /tray and /mods mine is repack where should i put this .bpi someone help me

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Make one. Name a file Mods and another one Tray and it should work =D

      Delete
  26. why i cant place lots n the player name change red?

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  27. i have a cracked version of TS4 by fitgirl repacks, i have no mods folder because my game files are mostly extracted is there any way to create a working mods folder in my game ?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous12/21/2016

      did you find out how?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous2/27/2017

      just create the a mods folder and find a download link to recourse.cfg and put it in your mods folder

      Delete
  28. Anonymous11/20/2016

    hey is this house compatible with my version of sims 4.my version is 1.5.139.1020....anyone.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11/25/2016

      What house are you talking about Hanizah?

      Delete
  29. Anonymous11/29/2016

    i had trouble with them not showing up but when i moved the files for each house out of their subfolders and direcrtly into the tray folder it worked so try giving that a go if youre having trouble

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  30. it said could not locate item pls help

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  31. it said coul not locate this item

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  32. Anonymous1/18/2017

    I have a HP laptop and when I press f4 it takes me out the game and comes up with screen settings

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  33. when i try to install lot mod it says could not locate file

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  34. I downloaded a lot and I see it in my library and when I click on it says "cannot locate file" please help!

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  35. I am unable to see any of the cc lots i downloaded form TSR, and yes, I have enabled custom content in the advanced setting, and i have both cc and script mods on. I have noticed I do not have any Resource.CFG in my tray folder, could that be the problem?

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  36. I am unable to see my cc lots downloaded, and seeing as I have every needed box checked the only reason I can think of for beeing unable to see them is because i do not have any Resource.CFG file in my tray folder, could that be a problem?
    I am getting really irritated not being able to use downloaded lots.

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  37. Anonymous4/02/2017

    Once i put the household i downloaded in the tray it doesn't come up with anything in my library/gallery. What should i dooooo??? :( Please help me

    ReplyDelete
  38. Anonymous4/02/2017

    Once i put the household i downloaded in the tray it doesn't come up with anything in my library/gallery. What should i dooooo??? :( Please help me

    ReplyDelete
  39. Anonymous4/04/2017

    I download a house and when I look in the libary I have to choose advanced and then I include custom content and unknown. But I can only inculde custom content and there is nothing that says unknown content. What do I do?

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  40. Anonymous4/10/2017

    Please help,my gallery just comes up as people not houses and when you click on advanced it only comes up with the option include unnowned content!+ when I right click it only comes up with the option to extract to country/A-Framed Home. Thanks xx

    ReplyDelete
  41. Anonymous4/24/2017

    I have a problem with manually downloaded custom lots and also with custom sims not showing up in the library :( They are .trayitem, .hhi, .sgi / .bpi, .blueprint files, etc, and I put them into the tray folder without subfolders. Custom content is enabled in options and library. Script mods are enabled. Still, it doesn't work. They just don't show up! I've been googling for hours now and couldn't find a solution :( Can anybody help me? Thanks!

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  42. Hi, thank you so much for the instructions but I keep encountering an error; if anyone could help me that would be much appreciated!

    When I try placing the lot into my newly bulldozed lot in the Map (by going to Map --> Gallery --> Place Lot), it'll load for a sec and then go to the replaced lot. But when I get there, it's still an empty lot.

    I tried placing the lot by going into build mode on the empty lot and choosing from the gallery there, but when I try placing it a red bubble pops up and it says 'System Error'.

    Thank you so so much to anyone that can help, I'll be forever grateful(:

    ReplyDelete
  43. Anonymous4/29/2017

    Hi, thank you so much for the instructions but I keep encountering an error. If anyone could help me that'd be much appreciated!

    I went to the lot to enter build mode, then bulldoze it, and open the gallery. Then I chose my downloaded house and I clicked "Place". However, a red bubble pops up and it says "System Error". This happens even when I try to place an unfurnished version.

    I've also tried to place the lot from the Map by going to the gallery when I'm not on the lot, but it loads for a second, goes to the lot, and it'll still be an empty lot.

    Thank you so so much in advance to anyone that can help, I'll be forever grateful ^-^

    ReplyDelete
  44. Anonymous4/30/2017

    I found out that for those who have the 'system error' message, it's because you're trying to download a lot that was built with a more updated version. Since a lot of you have cracked versions of the game, it's not entirely up to date. What you should do is go into you Electronic Arts folder --> The Sims 4 --> GameVersion.txt. Once you open the game version file it'll tell you what version you have and therefore you should search for lots that were built using that version. Then you'll have no problem in placing anything!

    ReplyDelete
  45. Anonymous5/28/2017

    I have followed all these steps and I can't find my house anywhere in the gallery help!

    ReplyDelete
  46. Anonymous6/05/2017

    Ive got the game cracked from fitgirl repack how to do I install mods?

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  47. Anonymous4/18/2018

    what about mac laptops?

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  48. Can I use this to download houses now that I'm in the Legacy Edition?

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  49. Can I use this to download houses even though EA has taken the gallery away from those who were forced to be in the Legacy Edition?

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  50. Hey, I can ge the house, no issues, but my furnitures never get in, just the shape of it and the rooms but there's no decoration even if I choose to add th furniture when I add it from the gallery.

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  51. Anonymous9/15/2020

    Hello, I have problem with library. When I click on include CC, so I do not have this home. What problem it is?

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  52. Anonymous9/28/2020

    Hi I have a different menu than the one on the top picture that is showing you how to do it... I have the sims 4. I already put the lot in the folder called "Tray" and its there but when I open the game and go to 'My Library" and click on show custom content it still does not show up.....help please :(

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  53. I did exactly as you stated and I don’t see any of the houses in my library

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  54. for me it is in the game library but when i click on it it looks like a lama and says "chouldent find the object" what should i do?

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  55. Anonymous1/12/2023

    ����hello! i’m fairly new to the game and need some help. i’ve downloaded a few lots into my electronic arts tray folder but can’t seem to find them through my library in the gallery in-game. nothing new shows up when i turn on include custom content and i’ve tried restarting. any tips for why i can’t find them? thanks!!

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  56. Anonymous2/23/2023

    Hello, I followed every passage but when I open the game I just can't see the ccs buildings.

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  57. bansheeminx10/12/2023

    Hey so when i downloaded the lot it didnt download as a zip folder, and there are no try files either, just kinda looks like a cc mod file, so am i doing someting wrong?

    ReplyDelete