How I Organize My Mods Folder

One of the main reasons why troubleshooting issues in your game can be a pain is not organizing your mods properly.  When mods are not properly organized, finding the culprit especially if you have tons of mods, is like searching for a needle in a haystack. So, today, I decided to share with you how I organize my Mods folder.

Before we start with the organization, let me share some tips with you first that help me avoid issues in my game:

SCRIPT FILES CAN ONLY GO ONE FOLDER DEEP

Make sure to check if the mods you downloaded have subfolders inside. Script files cannot go more than one folder deep as the game will not be able to detect it or may make it slower to load.

Here is an example of a mod that usually comes with a subfolder.

This is INCORRECT because the files are buried inside a sub-folder named WickedWhimsMod (2) which is under the main WickedWhims folder (1). This is a common error of WickedWhims users.

This is CORRECT because the files of the mod are under only one folder which is the main WickedWhims folder. 



SOME SCRIPT FILES NEED TO BE PLACED DIRECTLY UNDER THE MODS FOLDER
Some script files such as XML Injector need to be placed loosely inside the Mods folder for the game to easily find and load them. Mod creators will tell you which files these are in their mod description, so make it a habit to read it.

KEEP A VENUE AND SCRIPT FILES LIST
As mentioned above, there are script files that cannot be placed inside folders, so in order to keep track of them and which mods use them, create a notepad and list them down there.

Examples of script mods that cannot be placed inside folders:

XmlInjector_Script_v4.ts4script

Tmex-BetterExceptions.ts4script

MAL22_TraitTrackerInjector.ts4script

brainblasted_InjectionTools.ts4script

frankk_PackTests.ts4script

Additionally, you can only have one VENUE LIST in your game that's why I figured taking it out of any folder and placing it loose inside the Mods folder will let you know what venue list you have chosen so you don't make the mistake of having another one buried under another folder. Just make sure to read each mod description about the venue list they require and decide from there.

CCs CAN GO UP TO 5 FOLDERS DEEP

Unlike script mods, custom contents (CCs) can go up to 5 folders deep. While this is allowed, I do not recommend going that deep as it will make it harder for your game to detect them, hence, slower loading time.

YOU CAN'T HAVE 2 MODS FOLDER
The game searches for your Mods folder, so if you have 2 of them, it will confuse the game and not be able to find it, so make sure you only have 1 Mods folder.


DO NOT LEAVE ZIP FILES UNDELETED

Most mods come as zipped files and it is a common mistake to leave them inside the Mods folder after extracting them. Never do that as the game will attempt to read those files and may mistakenly identify them as duplicate mod files.

AVOID INSTALLING A SIMILAR MOD
It's important to be cautious when downloading mods, particularly when multiple mods add similar features to your game. Many creators may develop similar mods, which can lead to conflicts and unnecessary bloating of your saved game, resulting in longer loading times. To avoid these issues, take the time to read through the mod descriptions carefully and select the one that best fits your playstyle. Alternatively, you can test each mod individually to determine which one works best for you.

DO NOT SEPARATE MOD FILES
Some simmers like to separate the .package from the .script files of a mod. I do not recommend doing such because it makes updating the mod harder especially if the creator updated both files. Some creators make weird names for their files which will surely give you a headache looking for the other file when you need to update it. Aside from the other file being lost in your Mods folder, you also run the risk of accidentally deleting a file that is needed to work with another file of a mod.

DO NOT EDIT/RENAME MOD FILES
Changing file names can lead to various problems such as malfunctioning mods, difficulties in updating mods, and a slower troubleshooting process. Therefore, it is recommended to keep the file names as they are and use folders to organize your files in the desired manner.

Now, let me show you how my mods look like inside my Mods folder (Note that this is an old screenshot of my mods folder as my current one has less since I am in the process of deleting and updating some of them).

I categorize my mods and CCs in such a way that I will easily spot the CCs (Custom Contents) from the Mods, as well as other types such as Animations, sliders, poses, Venues, etc.

CCs are further categorized according to their type (eg. hair, clothes, accessories, furniture, etc.) or any name that will help me identify them.

Notice that there are files that are not under any folder. These are the script files (discussed above) that mod creators instructed to place DIRECTLY inside the Mods folder for the mod to function properly.

In order for me to identify which mod uses these script files, I created a text file where I listed down the scripts and the mods that use them. I also include in this text file the VENUE LIST that I use in case there's a mod that requires it.

Organizing my mods and custom contents this way helps a lot in dealing with game issues as I can easily find the problematic mods / CCs.

Since I love organizing mods and CCs, I have done this for a number of other simmers for free.

Fill out this form if you would like me to help you with yours, too.

Alternatively, you can use the Sims 4 Mod Manager with nice features like having thumbnails for easy identification of mods/CCs, deactivating mods/CCs, CC Swiper, etc.

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