Where Is the Sims 4 Mods Folder on Windows and Mac?

The Sims 4 Mods folder is usually inside your Documents folder, not inside the EA app, Steam, or game installation directory. On both Windows and Mac, the default location is inside Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/Mods.

The exact Sims 4 Mods folder path

Windows

Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 4\Mods

Mac

Documents/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/Mods

That is the folder where most Sims 4 mods, custom content, and map replacements should go.

Important: do not use the game install folder

Many beginners look inside the EA app, Steam library, Program Files, or Applications folder. That is usually the wrong place.

For normal mod installation, you want the Mods folder inside your personal Documents path, not the folder where The Sims 4 application itself is installed.

If you need the full setup after finding the folder, the step-by-step install guide walks through the rest.

What if I cannot find the Mods folder?

If the Mods folder is missing, try this:

1. Launch The Sims 4 once.
2. Close the game.
3. Recheck Documents/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/

The game usually creates the folder automatically the first time it runs.

What goes inside the Mods folder?

The most common file types are:

• .package
• .ts4script

Many downloads arrive as .zip files first. In that case, extract the archive before moving the actual mod files into Mods.

Can I create subfolders inside Mods?

Yes, but for beginners it is smarter to keep new files directly inside the main Mods folder first. That makes it easier to confirm the mod works before you start organizing things.

Once everything is working, you can sort files into cleaner folders.

What should not stay in the Mods folder?

Avoid leaving these there as your final install state:

• zipped downloads that were never extracted
• duplicate old versions of the same mod
• screenshots, readme clutter, or unrelated files you do not need

Clean installs are easier to troubleshoot.

Where do Chatelain map replacements go?

Chatelain map replacements are standard .package files, so they go in the exact same Mods folder:

• Windows: Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 4\Mods
• Mac: Documents/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/Mods

You do not need a special directory for them.

I found multiple Sims 4 folders. Which one is correct?

Use the one that contains files the game actively uses in Documents/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/.

That folder often contains things like:

• Mods
• Tray
• saves
• localthumbcache.package

If you see those, you are in the right place.

Quick signs you are using the wrong folder

You are probably in the wrong place if:

• the folder is inside Program Files
• the folder is inside the EA app install path
• the folder is inside Steam's game library
• adding mods there does nothing in-game

When in doubt, go back to Documents.

What to do after you find the folder

Once you have the right folder:

1. Extract the download if needed.
2. Move the .package or .ts4script file into Mods.
3. Enable custom content in the game settings.
4. Restart The Sims 4.

If your mods still do not appear, the next article to open is Why Sims 4 Mods Are Not Showing Up.

FAQ

Is the Sims 4 Mods folder inside the EA app folder?

No. In most normal setups, the Mods folder is inside Documents/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/Mods, not inside the app installation folder.

Is the Mods folder the same on Windows and Mac?

Yes in structure, although the path formatting is slightly different. Both platforms use the Documents/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/Mods location.

Why is my Mods folder missing?

Usually because the game has not been launched yet on that machine or user account. Open The Sims 4 once and the folder should appear.

Can I put Chatelain map replacements in a subfolder?

You can, but for simplicity it is usually better to keep them easy to find, especially when updating older versions.

What other files should I expect near the Mods folder?

Common neighbors are saves, Tray, and localthumbcache.package. Seeing those is a good sign you found the correct Sims 4 user-data folder.