HOW TO INSTALL CUSTOM CONTENT

The most asked question I get is "How do I install custom content/downloads to my game?". Well I have finally decided to make a tutorial for everyone who doesn't know how, or doesn't know where to find a good tutorial on installing custom content into their The Sims 3 game!

WHAT DOES EACH EXTENSION MEAN

Sims 3 downloads can come in several forms when you download them (you need to have extensions enabled on your PC to be able to see what form they are). They can be a .rar file, a .sims3pack file, a .package file, a .coatSet file, a .sim file or a .library file. Each one of these forms means something else.

↦ A .rar file means that the creator merged several files into one folder for easier download. You will need a program such as WinRAR to extract the files from that folder and then freely place them in your game. Inside of .rar files you can find other types of files listed above and below.
↦ The .sims3pack and .package files are your standard files for custom content, such as mods, objects, tack, clothes, poses, etc.
↦ A .coatSet file will be any downloaded premade horse coat.
↦ The .sim file will be any downloaded premade Sim or horse. Lets say someone sells you a horse - you will receive it's .sim file to add to your game.
↦ And finally the .library file which will be any premade downloaded lots. Show jumping venues, houses, parks, stables, etc.

HOW TO INSTALL .SIMS3PACK FILES

1. Copy the file from where your computer placed it once you downloaded it.
2. Paste the file to Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Downloads.
3. Double click on the file that you just pasted and an automatic installation progress bar will appear. Leave it to install your file.
OR
3. Open your The Sims 3 game launcher, select Downloads on the left side menu and select your file on the window to the right and choose "Install" from the bottom left corner.

HOW TO INSTALL .PACKAGE FILES

This is the way to install any .package files that ARE NOT core mods (core mods are mods that alter the way the game functions, mods such as NRaas, light mods, HD mods, default replacement mods...). So this way you would install tack, decorations, poses, other objects, clothes, hair, etc.

1. Copy the file from where your computer placed it once you downloaded it.
2. Paste the file to Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Mods\Packages. If your The Sims 3 folder does not have the Mods\Packages folder feel free to create one yourself and the game will recognize it.

This is the way to install .package files that ARE core mods. So this way you install your NRaas, light mods, HD coats, default replacement eyes, skins, etc.

1. Copy the file from where your computer placed it once you downloaded it.
2. Paste the file to Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Mods\Overrides. If your The Sims 3 folder does not have the Mods\Overrides folder feel free to create one yourself and the game will recognize it.

HOW TO INSTALL .COATSET FILES

1. Copy the file from where your computer placed it once you downloaded it.
2. Paste the file to Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\SavedOutfits.
When you open your game you will be able to find the installed coats in Create-A-Pet when you click the Coats button from the left side menu. They will appear among the other default Electronic Arts coats, so you have to look around a bit inbetween them or select the asterisk from the top right corner to filter out only Custom Content.

HOW TO INSTALL .SIM FILES

1. Copy the file from where your computer placed it once you downloaded it.
2. Paste the file to Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\SavedSims.
When you open your game you will be able to find the installed Sims and/or pets by clicking the premade sims bin right above the undo and redo buttons in your Create-A-Sim.

HOW TO INSTALL .LIBRARY FILES

1. Copy the file from where your computer placed it once you downloaded it.
2. Paste the file to Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Library.
When you open your game you will be able to find the installed lots by clicking on the residential or community empty lots in the lot bin in your Edit Town mode.

I DID EVERYTHING RIGHT, WHY ARE MY MODS NOT SHOWING?

Sometimes you need to clear out the game's cache files in order for it to re-load new textures (such as a new default replacement skin or a horse HD coat/eye mod). Once you remove them and reload the game, it will load the new textures from the Mods\Overrides folder, thus showing your new downloaded content! Clearing out cache means you need to remove the files from:

1. Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\DCBackup
2. Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\WorldCaches

I highly suggest you CUT and PASTE these folders onto your desktop. Just in case if something goes wonky, that you can always paste them back from your desktop to your The Sims 3 folder. If everything goes well (and it usually does, I never had an issue) you can delete the folders from your desktop. This is also a handy way to clear out your game of any excess megabytes of data it simply does not need in case you are experiencing lag. This can be done every now and then or after every gameplay, your choice.

PRO-TIP

I highly suggest taking an interest in a program called CC Magic (Custom Content Management and Game Launcher). It is a program that handles and loads all of your ingame custom content (EXCEPT files that go into Overrides!) so your game doesn't have to. It can drastically help with reducing lag and loading time of your game and your other ingame features such as Build/Buy modes and Create-A-Sim mode.