Hey there! If you‘re reading this, you‘re probably wondering how to turn off free build mode after using the cheat in The Sims 4. I‘ve got you covered!
Disabling free build properly is super important for avoiding potential issues down the road. In this guide, I‘ll explain what free build is, how to turn it on, and most importantly, how to turn it OFF once you‘re done using it. I‘ll also provide some tips for troubleshooting and alternative cheats you can use to unlock build/buy items.
So let‘s dive in and see how to disable free build mode in The Sims 4!
What Exactly is Free Build Mode?
Simply put, free build mode removes all the usual restrictions when building and editing lots in The Sims 4. It gives you total freedom to create whatever you want!
Normally when constructing structures and landscaping, there are limitations like:
- Having to place objects on a grid
- Only building within certain lot boundaries
- Needing required space between objects
- Only using unlocked items
With free build enabled, ALL those limitations are removed so you can:
- Build anywhere on the lot, even outside normal limits
- Place objects anywhere without snapping to a grid
- Overlap objects completely and ignore spacing rules
- Edit terrain freely by raising, lowering, or sculpting as desired
- Access every build/buy item in the game, including hidden objects
It‘s like turning on creative mode in Sims! You have limitless possibilities when building and designing lots.
Now I know that sounds amazing, but it‘s important to remember free build is meant to be a temporary cheat. Let‘s talk about how to turn it on properly.
Activating Free Build Mode
To start using free build, you‘ll need to use the following console cheats:
On PC:
Press CTRL + SHIFT + C to open the cheat console.
Type testingcheats true and press Enter to enable cheats.
Type bb.enablefreebuild and press Enter to turn on free build mode.
On Mac:
Press Command + SHIFT + C to open the cheat console.
Type testingcheats true and press Enter.
Type bb.enablefreebuild and press Enter.
On PlayStation 4/Xbox One:
Hold down all four shoulder buttons (L1, L2, R1, R2) at the same time to open the cheat console.
Type testingcheats true and press Enter.
Type bb.enablefreebuild and press Enter.
Once activated, you‘ll see a notification that free build mode is enabled. Then you can enter build/buy and start editing away!
(Quick tip: make sure to SAVE before enabling free build, just to be safe!)
Now for the really important part…
How to Disable Free Build Mode
I can‘t stress this enough – make sure to turn off free build mode when you‘re done using it!
Leaving it enabled can lead to major issues down the road like weird glitches, game crashes, and even save file corruption. Definitely not fun!
Disabling it is easy though, just reverse the steps:
On PC/Mac:
Press CTRL + SHIFT + C (PC) or Command + SHIFT + C (Mac) to open the console.
Type testingcheats false and press Enter to disable cheats.
Type bb.enablefreebuild false and press Enter to turn off free build.
On PlayStation 4/Xbox One:
Hold down all four shoulder buttons again to open the console.
Type testingcheats false and press Enter.
Type bb.enablefreebuild false and press Enter.
You‘ll see a notification that free build mode is now disabled. It‘s also smart to SAVE your game again after turning it off, just to lock in that change.
And there you have it! Follow those steps and you can safely turn off free build mode once you‘ve finished all your designing, building and terraforming.
When Should You Use Free Build?
Free build is great for those times when you want to construct something truly unique and custom without any annoying restrictions.
Here are some examples of ways to utilize it in The Sims 4:
Designing elaborate shaped houses, pools, landscapes etc by removing object placement limits.
Building multi-story homes with basements, attics and lofts by freely editing the terrain.
Doing in-depth landscaping with plants, rocks, trees placed exactly where you want.
Creating complex room extensions and layouts that ignore wall/foundation restrictions.
Making custom community lots like restaurants, stores, clubs using completely custom layouts.
Accessing rare debug items to decorate with hidden objects.
Fixing glitched structures by freely moving them around.
Constructing fictional locations or scenic areas not possible normally.
Basically, it unlocks your full creativity! Use it whenever you want to build something truly unique and custom that the normal game rules wouldn‘t allow.
Troubleshooting Free Build Mode
Sometimes you may run into issues activating or deactivating free build mode. Here are some troubleshooting tips:
Make sure testingcheats is set to TRUE before using bb.enablefreebuild – this cheat won‘t work unless testingcheats is on first.
Try fully restarting your game and entering bb.enablefreebuild again if it‘s not working.
Disable any other mods you have enabled as they can interfere with built-in cheats.
Double check your typing – small typos in the cheats can prevent them from functioning.
If free build stays on even after disabling, try saving, restarting and reloading the save file. Then disable it again.
As a last resort, you can reset the lot to default in Edit Town mode to undo any changes made with free build enabled.
Following this advice should get free build working smoothly for you! Just stay calm and take your time entering the cheats.
Alternative Build/Buy Unlock Cheats
Aside from full free build mode, there are a couple other useful cheats to unlock build/buy items:
bb.showhiddenobjects
This cheat shows all hidden objects you normally can‘t access. Here‘s how to use it:
Open the cheat console (ctrl + shift + c on PC/Mac).
Type testingcheats true and press Enter.
Type bb.showhiddenobjects and press Enter.
You‘ll then see tons of new debug, career reward, and other rare items available in build mode!
bb.ignoregameplayunlocksentitlement
This cheat ignores career/skill requirements for locked objects. Very useful!
To use it:
Open the cheat console.
Type testingcheats true and press Enter.
Type bb.ignoregameplayunlocksentitlement and press Enter.
This allows you to get high-level career reward items without reaching that career level.
These can give you more build/buy options without the full freedom of free build. Test them out!
In Summary…
Here‘s a quick recap of the key points:
Free build mode removes all building and buy mode restrictions for total freedom.
Activate it using bb.enablefreebuild after testingcheats true.
Always disable it again with bb.enablefreebuild false when done!
Use it for constructing unique buildings and landscapes.
Troubleshoot issues with the steps provided.
Try alternative cheats like bb.showhiddenobjects too!
So in conclusion, use free build to create awesome custom lots and layouts, but make sure to disable it properly again after. Save frequently, and have fun building!
Let me know if you have any other questions. I‘m always happy to help out fellow Simmers!
