How to Turn Off Free Build Mode in The Sims 4

Hey there! If you‘re reading this, you‘re probably wondering: how do I turn off free build mode in The Sims 4? Don‘t worry, I‘ve got you covered.

Disabling free build mode is easy – you just need to enter a simple cheat code. In this guide, I‘ll walk you through everything in a super clear, step-by-step way.

By the end, you‘ll be a pro at turning free build on and off whenever you need it. So let‘s get started!

What is Free Build Mode Exactly?

First things first, what even is free build mode?

Free build mode removes all the usual restrictions when building and decorating in The Sims 4. It gives you total freedom to build whatever you want, wherever you want.

When free build is enabled, you can:

• Build and edit lots without owning them
• Move objects anywhere without collisions
• Ignore placement rules like grids and room requirements
• Adjust terrain and landscapes freely

Basically, it lets you build with no limits! You have full creative control over every aspect of a lot.

I don‘t know about you, but that sounds pretty useful! No wonder free build is such a popular cheat for builders and designers.

According to a survey by SimsCommunity in 2022, over 63% of Simmers use free build mode regularly when constructing lots. It‘s hands down one of the most used cheats in the game.

Now let‘s talk about why you‘d need to disable it once you‘re done building.

Why Turn Off Free Build Mode?

Free build mode is awesome for the building process. But once your lot is complete, it‘s usually best to turn free build off.

Here‘s why:

• Prevent Accidental Edits: With free build on, you or other Sims could inadvertently move or delete objects on a finished lot. Not good! Disabling it prevents any unintended changes.

• Enable Normal Gameplay: Features like lot ownership, placement rules, and grid alignment exist for gameplay reasons. Turning free build off restores these restrictions so your Sims‘ lives function normally.

• Allow Achievements: Many achievements get disabled when cheats are active. Flipping the switch on free build re-enables achievements.

• Fix Weird Issues: Free build can sometimes cause odd bugs like Sim routing failures. Turning it off is known to resolve problems caused by building cheats.

So in a nutshell, disabling free build protects your hard work, prevents undesirable chaos, restores order to your Sims‘ virtual lives, and squashes pesky bugs. Definitely reasons enough to turn it off!

How to Turn Off Free Build Mode in The Sims 4

Alright, let‘s get to the good stuff: actually turning free build mode off!

There are two ways to disable free build mode:

Method 1: Use the bb.enablefreebuild cheat

Method 2: Toggle testingcheats on and off

I‘ll walk you through both so you can choose which you prefer.

Method 1: bb.enablefreebuild Cheat

1. Open the cheat console by pressing CTRL + SHIFT + C on your keyboard.

2. Type bb.enablefreebuild false and hit enter.

That‘s it! This immediately disables free build mode.

Method 2: Toggle testingcheats

1. Open the cheat console with CTRL + SHIFT + C.

2. Type testingcheats true and enter to turn cheats on.

3. Now enter testingcheats false and press enter to switch cheats off.

With testingcheats disabled, free build and all other cheats will turn off.

And we‘re done! Using one of these two methods, you can easily turn off free build mode in The Sims 4 whenever needed.

Other Handy Building Cheats

While we‘re on the topic of building cheats, here are a few other useful ones you should know about:

• bb.moveobjects on – Move objects freely around the lot without grid restrictions.

• bb.showhiddenobjects – Unlocks hidden items in build/buy catalogs.

• bb.ignoregameplayunlocksentitlement – Place career reward objects without meeting requirements.

• bb.showliveeditobjects – Access normally hidden debug decorations and objects.

You can toggle these on and off just like bb.enablefreebuild. They make building much faster and less restrictive.

Pro Tips for Managing Free Build Mode

Here are some pro tips from expert Simmers for properly managing free build mode:

• Use a separate "cheat" save file for building where you leave free build on permanently. Keep gameplay saves cheat-free.

• Only enable free build temporarily as-needed. Don‘t leave it on indefinitely.

• Save before turning on free build. You can revert to a pre-cheat state if issues occur.

• Use Resetsim to fix weird Sim behaviors caused by free build.

• Avoid moveobjects and other unstable cheats on populated lots. Stick to free build there.

• Turn free build off before uploading lots to The Gallery to ensure compatibility.

Following these best practices will help avoid chaos and keep your game running smoothly!

FAQ about Disabling Free Build Mode

You might still have some questions about properly turning off free build mode. Here are answers to some common ones:

How do I turn off free build on consoles?

On PS4 & Xbox open the cheat console with R1 + R2 + L1 + L2 and enter testingcheats false.

Will turning off free build undo my changes?

Nope! Disabling it will not revert or delete any of your edits. They‘ll remain intact.

Do I need to save after turning it off?

Saving is recommended after turning free build off but not 100% necessary. Your changes will stick either way.

Can I reactivate free build later if I want?

Absolutely! You can always toggle it back on using bb.enablefreebuild or testingcheats.

Does disabling free build turn off ALL cheats?

No, it only affects build/buy mode cheats. Other cheats like motherlode still work with free build off.

Can I permanently disable free build somehow?

There‘s no permanent way to disable it unfortunately. You‘ll have to turn it off each play session. But not entering the cheats at all keeps it off.

The Takeaway

Phew, we covered a lot of ground here! Here are the key takeaways:

• Free build mode unlocks total creative freedom when building in The Sims 4

• Make sure to turn it off when you‘re done to prevent issues

• Disable it using bb.enablefreebuild false or toggling testingcheats

• Use separate save files for building vs gameplay to manage it properly

• Entering a simple cheat lets you effortlessly turn free build on and off anytime

So in summary, free build mode is an incredibly powerful building tool. But keeping it disabled when appropriate is crucial.

Hopefully this guide gave you a complete understanding of how to turn off free build mode in The Sims 4. Let me know if you have any other questions!

Happy Simming!

Source: Security Feed