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How to Stop Aging in The Sims 4: A Comprehensive Guide

Stopping aging in The Sims 4 is a common desire for players who want to maintain their Sims’ youthful appearance and prolong their lifespan. You can disable aging for your Sims by navigating to Game Options > Gameplay > Auto Age (Played Sims) > No. This will effectively freeze your Sims in their current life stage, allowing you to enjoy their lives without the inevitable march of time.

Methods for Stopping Aging in The Sims 4

There are several methods to stop aging in The Sims 4, each catering to different player preferences and gameplay styles. Here’s a detailed look at each approach:

1. Game Options Menu

The simplest and most straightforward method to halt aging involves adjusting the game options. This method applies to all Sims under your direct control (“Played Sims”):

Access Game Options: Click on the three dots in the upper right corner of your screen to open the main menu, then select “Game Options.”
Navigate to Gameplay: In the Game Options menu, click on the “Gameplay” tab.
Disable Auto Aging: Look for the “Auto Age (Played Sims)” option. By default, this is set to “Yes.” Change it to “No” to prevent your controlled Sims from automatically aging up.
Consider Auto Age (Unplayed Sims): Below the “Auto Age (Played Sims)” option, you’ll find “Auto Age (Unplayed Sims).” This setting determines whether Sims who aren’t in your active household will age. Leaving this on allows the world around your Sims to progress, with other Sims getting married, having children, and eventually passing away. Turning it off will freeze the entire world in time alongside your own Sims.
Save and Apply: The changes are applied automatically. Your Sims will no longer age unless you manually age them up with a birthday cake or through cheats.

2. Using Cheats

For those who prefer a more direct approach, cheats provide a quick way to toggle aging on or off. This method is useful if you want to selectively age up specific Sims or temporarily disable aging for testing purposes.

Open the Cheat Console: Press Ctrl + Shift + C on your keyboard to open the cheat console. On a Mac, press Command + Shift + C.
Enable Testing Cheats: Type testingcheats true and press Enter. This command enables the use of most cheats in the game.
Use the Aging Off Cheat: Type aging off and press Enter to disable aging for all Sims in your game.
Use the Aging On Cheat: To re-enable aging, type aging on and press Enter.
Selective Aging (with Full Edit Mode): To modify a specific Sim’s age, open the cheat console as before. Enter testingcheats true, then enter cas.fulleditmode. Now, shift-click on the Sim you want to change and select “Modify in CAS” (Create-a-Sim). This allows you to change any aspect of their appearance and age.

3. Rewards Store Potions

The Sims 4 offers potions available in the Rewards Store that can be used to temporarily rewind or halt the aging process. This method requires earning satisfaction points by completing whims and aspirations.

Earn Satisfaction Points: Fulfill your Sims’ whims (the small bubbles above their heads) and complete their aspirations to earn satisfaction points.
Visit the Rewards Store: Click on your Sim’s aspiration panel (the star icon in the bottom right corner) and then click on the “Rewards Store” button in the bottom right.
Purchase Age-Related Potions: Look for potions like the “Potion of Youth” or the “Re-Traiting Potion,” which can reset your Sim’s age back to the beginning of their current life stage.
Use the Potion: Once purchased, the potion will be in your Sim’s inventory. Click on it and select “Drink” to apply its effects.

4. Other Gameplay Mechanics

Certain gameplay elements can also influence a Sim’s lifespan, sometimes indirectly affecting aging.

Ambrosia: If a Sim dies, Ambrosia can bring them back to life as if they were never gone. This dish requires high-level cooking and gardening skills and is somewhat challenging to prepare.
The Book of Life: Sims who have maxed out their writing skill and completed the Bestselling Author aspiration can write the Book of Life. If they write the book before another Sim dies, the book can be used to bring that Sim back.
Vampires: Vampires age at a much slower rate than normal Sims and have unique ways to manage their immortality. Becoming a Vampire is another way to essentially stop the natural aging process.

Impact of Aging Settings on Gameplay

Understanding how the aging settings affect different aspects of your game is essential for tailoring your experience.

Played vs. Unplayed Sims: Deciding whether to disable aging for both played and unplayed Sims drastically changes the game’s dynamics. Keeping aging on for unplayed Sims allows for a more dynamic world, with new generations of Sims appearing and progressing naturally.
Lifespan Length: Within the Gameplay settings, you can also adjust the lifespan length to Short, Normal, or Long. This affects how quickly Sims age through each life stage, providing additional control over the aging process.
Story Progression: When aging is disabled, you will need to manually progress the story of your Sims’ lives. You’ll decide when they get married, have children, and move on to new careers. This can provide a more personal and controlled narrative.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can you stop a Sim from dying in The Sims 4?

Yes, there are multiple ways to prevent a Sim from dying. You can prepare Ambrosia, use the Book of Life, befriend the Mother Plant (if you have the Jungle Adventure game pack), or even convince the Grim Reaper to spare your Sim’s life.

2. How do you reverse aging in Sims 4 on PS4?

On PS4, hold circle and press x simultaneously on the Sim you’re controlling, then choose “Modify in CAS.” If the Sim’s aging has been paused using the method in the first paragraph, you cannot reset the age. In this case, the Sim’s aging has been paused indefinitely. If your intent is to reverse the age, you will need to use the testingcheats true and cas.fulleditmode in the cheats console.

3. What is the cheat for aging Sims 4?

Open the cheat console (Ctrl + Shift + C). Type testingcheats true, then cas.fulleditmode. This allows you to modify your Sim in CAS, where you can change their age.

4. How do you make your Sims needs full using cheats?

Shift-click on the Sim, and a menu will pop up. You can select “Make Happy” or go to “Cheat Need” and choose “Fill Needs.”

5. How do you turn off automatic aging in Sims Freeplay?

In Sims Freeplay, tap the birthday cake icon above a Sim’s head when it’s time for them to age up. A popup will ask if you want them to grow older. Select “No” to stop them from aging.

6. Why are my Sims aging so fast?

A recent patch to prepare players’ copies of the game for the new content came with a glitch that ages Sims rapidly with ease. Consider adjusting the lifespan length in the Gameplay settings to “Normal” or “Long,” which might help mitigate the issue.

7. Can Sims get pregnant with aging off in Sims 4?

Yes, Sims can still get pregnant even with aging turned off. The pregnancy will proceed normally, and the Sim will give birth after three in-game days. However, the baby will not age unless aging is turned back on.

8. How long are Sims pregnant?

Sims are pregnant for approximately three in-game days.

9. Will there be a Sims 5?

Yes, The Sims 5 has been announced under the working title “Project Rene.” It is currently in development.

10. Should I destroy my old SIM card?

If you are not going to reuse the SIM card, it is recommended to destroy it to protect your personal information.

11. What happens when your SIM card dies?

A damaged SIM card can cause issues with call quality, delays in messages, or loss of data access.

12. Can you save a dead Sim?

Yes, you can save a dead Sim using methods like Ambrosia or the Book of Life.

13. How do you change the aging rate in Sims 4?

Go to Game Options > Gameplay. You’ll find the “Sim Lifespan” setting, which you can adjust to Short, Normal, or Long.

14. What else can I do with ‘testingcheats true’?

Enabling ‘testingcheats true’ unlocks a wide range of powerful options in The Sims 4. You can then use commands like ‘cas.fulleditmode’ to fully customize Sims in Create-a-Sim, modify relationships between Sims, and even trigger events or alter their emotions. It’s a gateway to bending the game to your will, allowing for deeper storytelling and experimentation. You can even use this setting to unlock hidden areas! It is the basis of nearly all cheat codes.

15. Where can I learn more about the Sims franchise?

You can explore the Games Learning Society website at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/ for resources on games and their educational and social impact. GamesLearningSociety.org is committed to promoting understanding and research in this area.

How do you stop aging in Sims 4?