Sims 4 Vampire Squid lying on the floor.
Screenshot by Destructoid

How to get debug items in Sims 4

In case you want a vampire squid.

Game-breaking console commands have been part of Maxisā€™ venerable series since the original The Sims, and that has continued throughout all the mainline PC entries (sorry, The Urbz). The Sims 4 is no exception, and by using them you can get access to additional items.

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These items are typically referred to as ā€œdebug itemsā€ or ā€œhidden itemsā€ since they are not available through normal gameplay and are only available by using debug commands. These items range from rocks to cars, some of which are used to populate areas outside your Simsā€™ current lot.

Note that these werenā€™t meant to be accessed and conjuring them into existence could result in some unwanted bugs. Use any of these arcane items at your own risk.

The Sims 4 cheat console
Screenshot by Destructoid

How to access the hidden Sims 4 items

To access the hidden items in The Sims 4 you first need to bring up the console. This is done using a quick button combination which is different depending on your platform of choice:

  • PC: Ctrl+Shift+C
  • Mac: Command+Shift+C
  • Console: All shoulder buttons together

Youā€™ll know it worked if a text box appears at the top-left of the screen. The next step is to type into this box:

  • testingcheats true

This will enable cheat commands. Then, you need to enter these two commands in order:

  • bb.showhiddenobjects
  • bb.showliveeditobjects

You wonā€™t get any confirmation that it worked. No message will appear in the console. Youā€™ll just have to check to see if the objects appear.

To do so, the simplest way is to open build mode, then use the search bar. Start typing debug into the window and it will pop up a couple autocomplete suggestions that look like **DEBUG**. This will filter everything down to the objects we just revealed.

Once again I must reiterate: this is some weird stuff that is hidden away for a reason. While some are just benign props, some of them could have unexpected repercussions that will affect your game. These objects can be useful for anyone who wants to control the minute details of the world their Sims inhabit, but they do come with risks.


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Zoey Handley
Staff Writer - Zoey is a gaming gadabout. She got her start blogging with the community in 2018 and hit the front page soon after. Normally found exploring indie experiments and retro libraries, she does her best to remain chronically uncool.