How to install packs in The Sims 4

4 min read

Overview

Your The Sims 4 Packs should install automatically. If they don’t, this guide explains how to install Packs on PC, Mac, and console. Plus, learn how to check if a Pack is installed using the Manage Storage feature, and how to activate or deactivate Packs with the Pack Selection feature.

Table of Contents

How do I install The Sims 4 Packs on PC and Mac?

The EA app has replaced Origin as the main platform for downloading and launching The Sims 4 for both Mac and PC. Mac users need to use macOS Catalina or later to run the EA app. Check out our macOS guide to learn more about upgrading your macOS.
Before installing Packs or any additional content for The Sims 4, make sure the Base Game is installed and updated. Check out our guide to learn how to install The Sims 4 Base Game.Digital Packs should install automatically after you buy them. If they don't, here's how to manually install them.How do I install a Pack I bought in the EA app?
  1. 1
    Launch the EA app.
  2. 2
    If prompted, log in using your EA Account info.
  3. 3
    Open your Library and select The Sims 4. 
  4. 4
    To check which Packs you currently own, select Manage and then Manage Add-ons underneath.
  5. 5
    If you own a Pack and it hasn’t automatically installed, select the Download icon beside it.
An image showing where the Download button is to install a Sims 4 Pack on the EA App.

How do I install a Pack I got in the Marketplace?

Check out our guide to learn more about The Sims 4 Marketplace and how it works.
If you buy a Pack in The Sims 4 Marketplace with real-world money, it should automatically download to the PC platform you use to play The Sims 4 (the EA app, Steam, or Epic Games). This includes:
  • Expansion Packs
  • Game Packs
  • Stuff Packs
  • Kits.
If you used Moola in the The Sims 4 Marketplace to buy a Maker Pack or Kit, but it didn’t install automatically, follow these steps.
  1. 1
    Launch The Sims 4 and go to the Marketplace.
    • From the Main Menu, select Marketplace at the top of the screen.
    • Or, select the shopping cart icon in the top-right corner while in Live Mode, Build Mode, or Create a Sim.
  2. 2
    Select the My Collection tab and choose Manage Storage.
  3. 3
    Find the Pack you bought and check the label in the bottom-left corner of the Pack tile to confirm its installation status.
    • a green Installed label means the Pack is already installed.
    • a grey Not Installed label means the Pack isn’t installed.
  4. 4
    If your Pack didn’t install automatically, select the checkbox in the top-left corner to add a check mark.
  5. 5
    Select Install, then select the check mark button in the pop-up notification to confirm you want to install the Pack.
Note: The Main Menu is the home screen in The Sims 4 where you can resume, load, or start a game.

How do I install a Pack with a product code on the EA app?

  1. 1
    Launch the EA app.
  2. 2
    If prompted, log in using your EA Account info.
  3. 3
    Open your Library and select the + Redeem Code button.
  4. 4
    Enter the product code, select Next, and then Confirm.
  5. 5
    Select Download with the EA app.
Need more help with your code? Check out our guide to learn how to redeem product codes and troubleshoot code issues.

How do I install a Pack on disc on PC?

  1. 1
    Insert the game disc into your disc drive and follow the on-screen instructions.
  2. 2
    If prompted, log in to the EA app using your EA Account info.
  3. 3
    When prompted, enter the product code included with the installation disc.

How do I install The Sims 4 Packs on console?

Learn more about how to play The Sims 4 on console, including tips on using controls and troubleshooting missing content.
If you’re playing on XBOX, Packs will install automatically after downloading unless you’ve turned off the default automatic updates setting.If you’re playing on PlayStation®, you’ll need to manually download a Pack after you buy it. After the download is complete, the Pack installs automatically.

How do I check if a Sims 4 Pack is installed?

If you play The Sims 4 on PC or Mac through the EA app, you can check whether a Pack is installed in the EA app without launching the game.If you play The Sims 4 on PC, Mac, PlayStation®, or XBOX, you can check whether a Pack is installed in-game using the Marketplace. If you recently downloaded a Pack, you can also check if it’s installed in Download Manager.
If you play The Sims 4 on PC or Mac on the EA app, here’s how to check if a Pack is installed.
  1. 1
    Launch the EA app and open your Library.
  2. 2
    Select The Sims 4 and choose Manage.
  3. 3
    Select Manage add-ons. A pop-up list of your owned add-ons will appear. 
    • You’ll find content you own and already have installed under Installed add-ons & in-game content. 
    • You’ll find content you own but haven’t installed yet under Owned add-ons.
  4. 4
    To install a Pack that isn’t currently installed, find it under Owned add-ons and select the Download icon beside it.

How does The Sims 4 Pack selection work?

Pack selection is a Marketplace feature that lets you customize which Packs you want active in The Sims 4. This is helpful for storytelling and your gameplay experience, as well as freeing up resources without needing to uninstall Packs you’re not currently using. Pack selection is available on all platforms: PC, Mac, PlayStation® and XBOX.

How do I use Pack selection to activate or deactivate Packs?

Here’s how to load or unload Packs from your game: 
  1. 1
    Launch The Sims 4 and go to the Marketplace.
    • From the Main Menu, select Marketplace at the top of the screen.
    • Or, select the shopping cart icon in the top-right corner while in Live Mode, Build Mode, or Create a Sim.
  2. 2
    Select the My Collection tab and choose Pack Selection.
  3. 3
    Use the checkbox at the top-left corner of each Pack to select or deselect the Packs you want in your game.
    • If a Pack is currently active, the checkbox in the top-left corner is selected. There’s also a green Active label in the bottom-left corner of the Pack tile.
    • If a Pack isn’t currently active, the checkbox in the top-left corner isn’t selected. There’s also a grey Deactivated label in the bottom-left corner of the Pack tile.
  4. 4
    Select Confirm. 
Depending on the Pack you’re activating or deactivating, you may get a pop-up notification telling you a restart is required for your new Pack Selection choices to show.
If you deactivate a Pack, your saved game will lose access to any Pack-specific content it uses, including hair, clothing, traits, and objects.Deactivating Packs can also impact existing save files. To avoid losing any content or progress, it’s best to use Pack Selection only when creating a new save.We recommend disabling all Mods before activating or deactivating any Packs. Check out our article on how to disable Mods. Always make sure your save files are backed up. For help with this, learn how to back up and reset The Sims 4.

How do I know if my saved game is missing Packs?

If you try to load a saved game that uses Packs you’ve deactivated since you last played, it’ll be flagged as missing required Packs. This happens because your game save uses content from a deactivated Pack.Here’s how to check whether a saved game uses content from a deactivated Pack:
  1. 1
    Launch The Sims 4 and go to the Main Menu.
  2. 2
    Select Resume Game or Load Game, then choose the saved game you want to play.
If the saved game uses content from a deactivated Pack, you’ll find:
  • Required Packs in the bottom-left corner of the saved game tile. 
    • Hover over the Pack icons to check which Packs are used in your saved game. If the Pack is not currently active, it’ll say Deactivated.
  • View Pack(s) on the right side of the saved game tile. 
    • Select this button to check which currently deactivated Packs are used in your saved game.
To continue without reactivating the required Packs, select Play. A heads-up that this means you’ll continue to play this save, but items like clothing, objects, Worlds, and gameplay features from deactivated Packs won’t be available and will be missing from your save.To reactivate the required Packs before you continue playing your saved game, follow these steps to use Pack Selection.
If your Sims were living in a world that’s specific to a Pack you deactivated, your Household will still be available in the Manage Households menu. From here, you can move them into a new Lot or merge them with another Household.Note: Any Create a Sim Items or Traits that are Pack-specific will be removed unless you reload that Pack into your game.
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