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Why Aren’t My Sims Aging? A Comprehensive Guide to Sims 4 Aging Issues

Your Sims are stuck in perpetual youth? Don’t panic! A variety of factors can prevent your Sims from aging in The Sims 4. The most common culprit is the Auto Aging setting being turned off in your game options. Other issues can stem from glitches, custom content, or even intentional player choices. Let’s dive into the solutions!

Understanding the Aging System in The Sims 4

The Sims 4 aging system is generally automatic, but it’s customizable. Sims progress through life stages: Baby, Toddler, Child, Teen, Young Adult, Adult, and Elder. Each stage has a set lifespan (which can also be modified) and certain milestones. To ensure your Sims age correctly, you need to understand the settings that control this process.

The Auto Aging Setting: Your Primary Control

The Auto Aging setting is found in the Game Options menu, under the Gameplay tab. Here’s what you need to know:

Auto Age (Played Sims): This setting controls aging for the Sims you’re actively playing with in your current household.
Auto Age (Unplayed Sims): This setting controls aging for Sims in other households within your game world.

If either of these settings is turned off, those specific Sims won’t age automatically. Make sure both are enabled if you want all Sims in your game to progress through their lifespans.

Troubleshooting Steps

If the Auto Aging setting is on but your Sims still aren’t aging, try these troubleshooting steps:

Restart the Game: Sometimes, a simple restart can resolve minor glitches.
Repair the Game: Through the Origin or EA App client, you can repair your game files. Right-click on The Sims 4 in your game library and select “Repair.”
Update the Game: Ensure your game is updated to the latest version. Updates often include bug fixes that address aging issues.
Remove Custom Content (CC) and Mods: CC and Mods can interfere with game functions. Try removing them temporarily to see if they’re causing the problem. If aging resumes, add your CC and mods back in batches to identify the problematic file.
Check the Calendar: Confirm that birthdays are scheduled on the calendar. If not, you may have accidentally removed them.
Consider Sim Lifespans: Ensure your chosen lifespan setting (Short, Normal, Long) isn’t set too long so aging seems to be stopped.
Age Them Up Manually: As a temporary fix, you can use the birthday cake method to age your Sims up. Bake a cake, add birthday candles, and have the Sim blow them out.

Using Cheats for Age Manipulation

Cheats can also be used to control aging:

Enable Cheats: Open the cheat console by pressing Ctrl + Shift + C (or Cmd + Shift + C on Mac). Type testingcheats true and press Enter.
Full Edit Mode: Type cas.fulleditmode and press Enter. This unlocks all Create-A-Sim (CAS) options.
Edit in CAS: You can now shift-click on a Sim and select “Edit in CAS” to directly change their age.

Addressing Newborns and Infants

Newborns and infants typically age up automatically. If they’re not, try these solutions:

Toggle Auto Aging: Briefly turn off Auto Aging, let the babies age up, then turn Auto Aging back on.
Cake Method: While less common, you can try aging up infants and toddlers with the birthday cake method, where a parent helps them blow out the candles.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How do I force my Sim to age up immediately?

The easiest way to force a Sim to age up is by baking a cake. Click on the cake, select “Add Birthday Candles,” and then have the Sim “Blow Out Candles.” This will immediately advance them to the next life stage. For infants and toddlers, a parent Sim needs to assist.

2. Why are my Townies not aging up in Sims 4?

Townies will only age if you have Auto Aging enabled for “Unplayed Sims.” Go to Game Options > Gameplay and ensure this setting is turned on. Otherwise, townies will remain in their current life stage indefinitely.

3. Can I make my Sim age back down in Sims 4?

Yes, you can make your Sim age down by using the cas.fulleditmode cheat. First, enable cheats with testingcheats true, then enter cas.fulleditmode. Now, shift-click on your Sim and select “Edit in CAS.” You can then change their age in CAS. Be cautious when changing a Sim to baby if there are no other sims to care for it in the household.

4. How do I enable the full CAS edit mode in Sims 4?

To enable full CAS edit mode, open the cheat console (Ctrl + Shift + C or Cmd + Shift + C), type testingcheats true, press Enter, and then type cas.fulleditmode and press Enter again. This unlocks all CAS options, allowing you to edit nearly every aspect of your Sim.

5. What if my Sims aging is still glitching even with Auto Aging on?

If you’re experiencing persistent aging glitches, try these steps:

Repair the Game: Repairing the game files through the Origin or EA App can often resolve issues.
Update the Game: Make sure you have the latest game update installed.
Remove Custom Content: Temporarily remove any custom content or mods to see if they’re causing conflicts.
Reset the Sim: You can reset a Sim using the cheat console by typing resetsim [FirstName] [LastName].

6. Can elder Sims get pregnant in Sims 4?

Female Elder Sims cannot get pregnant (or if they have less than 5 days remaining as an adult), but male Elder Sims can still impregnate adult female Sims. This is a built-in game mechanic.

7. How long does it take for a Sim to age up in Sims Mobile?

Aging in Sims Mobile is tied to completing specific goals and quests. You unlock aging specifically with Goal #7 of the quest, Open the Age Controller. It takes approximately 60 action-days of in-game time, where the sim performs actions, for the full Life Cycle from start to end.

8. Why are my newborns not aging up even after a long time?

If your newborns aren’t aging, ensure that Auto Aging is enabled. If it is, try toggling it off and on again. A simple restart of the game can sometimes fix this issue as well.

9. Do Sims age up naturally without any intervention in Sims 4?

Yes, Sims will age up naturally as long as the Auto Aging setting is turned on. They will progress through each life stage according to the lifespan settings you’ve chosen. Infants will automatically age up within a day, while other life stages have longer durations.

10. What is the cheat for aging up a Sim in Sims 4?

The cheat code alone won’t automatically age up a Sim. However, you can use it to access full CAS edit mode to change their age. Use testingcheats true followed by cas.fulleditmode to unlock all CAS options, then shift-click on the Sim and select “Edit in CAS.”

11. How do I ensure my pets age up correctly in Sims 4: Cats & Dogs?

If you’re looking for your pets to age up sooner than the assigned lifespan allows, you can visit the Vet Clinic. They sell a cure for aging in their cupboard right at the entrance. In the same cupboard you can find a cure for rejuvenation if you ever need it.

12. Why can’t I age up my toddler by having them blow out candles on a cake?

When aging a toddler, it is very important to have an adult Sim bake a cake, add the candles, and then select the option “Have [Toddler’s Name] Blow Out Candles.” This will ensure the proper aging interaction is triggered.

13. How do the lengths of seasons affect aging in Sims 4: Seasons?

The Seasons expansion pack can affect aging because it introduces seasonal durations. By default, a season lasts seven in-game days, so a full year lasts 28 days. However, you can adjust the season length in Game Options > Seasons, which indirectly affects how quickly your Sims age relative to the seasons.

14. Can Sims get pregnant without the “Try for Baby” interaction?

No, in The Sims 4, regular WooHoo never results in pregnancy. Sims must use the “Try for Baby” interaction to initiate a pregnancy. This makes family planning a conscious decision for your Sims.

15. Where can I learn more about educational gaming and Sims 4?

If you’re interested in exploring the intersection of gaming and education, check out the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org. The Games Learning Society website, https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/, offers valuable resources and insights into the educational benefits of games. They have more to offer than just the Sims!

By understanding the aging settings and troubleshooting common issues, you can ensure your Sims age appropriately and enjoy the full cycle of life in The Sims 4.

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