0%

The Best Sims 4 Hotkeys and Shortcuts – Complete Guide 2025

from: TheSimsTree

If you've ever watched an experienced player in The Sims 4, you've probably noticed how quickly and smoothly they move through the game. Their secret isn't superhuman reflexes: it's knowing the right keyboard shortcuts. Hotkeys are the tool that frees up your creativity from technical restraints. When controlling the game feels like second nature, you can focus on what really matters: crafting stories, building dream homes, and bringing your ideas to life.

Promo: Create your Sims family tree

Don't try to memorize everything at once. Start out with the basic combinations and add new ones as you go. Soon, you'll find the game is not only faster, but a lot more enjoyable.

Important! All keys and combinations listed are for an English keyboard layout.

Image

General Keyboard Shortcuts

Switching Between Modes

The most important keys every player should know:

F1 – Switch to Live Mode

F2 – Switch to Buy Mode

F3 – Switch to Build Mode 

F4 – Open the Gallery

F4 или Escape – Close the Gallery

Tip: Remember this sequence – F1-F2-F3 – as the cornerstone of the game. You'll spend most of your time switching between these very modes, and using hotkeys will save you a massive number of clicks.

Main Functions

Ctrl + Shift + C – open/close the cheat console

Escape – open/close the game menu

F5 – quick exit from the game

Alt + F4 – another way to quit the game (in Build Mode)

Ctrl + Z – undo the last action in Buy and Build Modes

Ctrl + Y – redo an action you just undid

Good to know: Ctrl + Z only works in Buy and Build Modes. It's an absolute lifesaver when you accidentally delete the wrong wall or place something where you didn't mean to. Make a habit of using it right after a mistake and you'll save yourself a lot of headaches.

Managing Floors and Walls

Page Up – go up to the next floor

Page Down – go down to the floor below

Home – bring the walls up

End – put the walls down

Note: You can manage floors and walls in both Live Mode and Buy/Build Modes.

Image

Camera Controls

Why it's important to master the camera early

Good camera control isn't just a convenience – it's a must. Getting the right angle helps you plan interiors, keep tabs on your Sims, and snap great screenshots.

A/D or Left/Right Arrow Keys – move the camera left or right

W/S or Up/Down Arrow Keys – move the camera forward or back

Q/E – adjust the camera height

Shift + any way you move the camera – speed things up (handy for covering big lots or jumping between locations)

Hold the mouse wheel + move the mouse – smooth camera panning

Hold down the Left Mouse Button anywhere + move the mouse – move the camera

Right Mouse Button at the edge of the screen – nudge the camera toward the edge

Rotating and Zooming

< and > or . and , – rotate the camera

Z/X or +/- or mouse wheel scroll – zoom in and out (+ Shift to go faster)

Hold the Right Mouse Button + move the mouse – rotate the camera (+ Shift to go faster)

Ctrl + mouse wheel + move the mouse – rotate the camera by a small angle

Z/X or +/- or mouse wheel scroll – zoom in and out (+ Shift to go faster)

The Sims 3 Camera Controls

For anyone coming over from Sims 3 and missing those classic controls:

Ctrl + Shift + Tab – switch between Sims 4 and Sims 3 camera modes

Right Mouse Button + move the mouse – pan the camera in any direction

Ctrl + Right Mouse Button + move the mouse – rotate the camera by a small angle

Hold the mouse wheel + move the mouse – tilt the camera at different angles, including top-down

Tip: The Sims 3 camera gives you way more freedom when picking your angles, especially for building. Lots of seasoned builders actually prefer this mode.

First Person Camera Mode

This mode is a game-changer for:

— Taking atmospheric screenshots

— Checking out interiors in detail

— Fully immersive gameplay

— Recording videos right from your Sim's point of view

How to turn it on

Shift + Tab – enter first person mode

Escape or Shift + Tab – exit first person mode

First Person Controls

Mouse wheel or Z/X or +/- – zoom in and out

Move the mouse – pan the camera independently of where your Sim is looking

Ctrl – switch the camera to your Sim's actual line of sight

Hold Ctrl – smoother, more limited camera movement

Left Mouse Button – interact with objects and Sims

Right Mouse Button – move through doors and between floors

Shift – temporarily pause camera movement

Tab – hide the game interface for gorgeous shots

Left/Right Arrow Keys – switch between household members and pets

Image

Build Mode

In Build Mode, hotkeys really show what they can do.

Main Tools

E – activate the Eyedropper tool (copying objects)

K – activate the Sledgehammer tool

R – activate the Design Tool (change colors or patterns)

B – open the Wall tool

H – activate the Select tool (regular cursor)

G – toggle the grid on and off

T – switch to top-down view

\ – quickly switch between build categories (exterior trims and landscaping)

Working with the Lot

L – change the time of day

U – move the house or building

Y – rotate or shift all buildings and landscaping on the lot

Planning tip: The U key lets you try out different house placements on your lot without losing your progress. Test out a few spots before you get into landscaping.

Working with Walls and Rooms

Shift + Left Mouse Button with the wall tool selected – create rectangular rooms

P – activate the customizable Room tool, lets you create rooms of any shape

Ctrl + click on a wall or on part of it – delete a wall

Ctrl + Shift + click – delete an entire room

Painting and Floor Coverings

Shift + Left Mouse Button – cover the whole room with the selected material (wall or floor)

Alt + Left Mouse Button – cover just one wall in the room, perfect for creating accent walls

< or > – rotate the direction of the floor pattern

Ctrl + F – make a quarter-tile or switch back to full-size tile

Working with Roofs

Roofs are the trickiest part of building, but hotkeys make the process a lot easier.

Alt + drag the arrow you need – change the size of the roof without changing its height

Shift + C – add extra sliders to the roof

Shift + drag the extra arrow – change the roof just on one side

Tip: Combine Alt for basic shaping and Shift + C for fine-tuning the eaves. This lets you create realistic and varied roofs.

Finishes and Decor

Shift + Left Mouse Button on a wall – place the same element (friezes, trims, foundations, borders, etc.) along a whole wall

Shift + Sledgehammer – remove all the same finishing along one wall

Stairs

Ctrl + placing the stairs – place a staircase to the floor below while staying on the current floor

Planning convenience: This feature is especially useful when working with basements or when you need to precisely plan the position of stairs from the floor above.

Landscaping

Ctrl + painting/erasing – quickly switch between paint and eraser modes

Ctrl + raise/lower – toggle between raising and lowering the terrain

Square brackets [ ] – increase or decrease brush size

Semicolon and apostrophe (; and ') – adjust the brush softness slider

Natural landscaping technique:

Start with a big brush ([) for general shapes

Switch to a small brush (]) for the finer details

Use different levels of softness (; and ') for smoother or sharper transitions

Buy Mode

Buy Mode isn't just about placing furniture, it's about creating a space that feels alive. Hotkeys help make any design idea come to life.

Placing Objects

F5 – toggle between 1/2 and 1/4 grid squares for precise placement

Alt – place objects off the grid to get that natural, "lived-in" look

Alt + move the mouse up/down/left/right – smoothly move wall objects

Adjusting Objects

Square brackets [ ] – make objects bigger or smaller

< and > or . and , – rotate objects

Right Mouse Button – rotate the object (only clockwise in Sims 4 camera)

Left Mouse Button + move the mouse – rotate objects in any direction (in Sims 3 camera)

Alt + rotate in Sims 3 camera – smoothly rotate an object at any angle for a more realistic interior

+ and - (if your keyboard has a Numpad) – scroll through object swatches before placing them on your lot

Object Management

Delete – remove the selected object

Backspace – send the selected object to the family inventory

Shift + placing an object – lets you place the same object again (a lifesaver for making furniture sets or repeating decorative elements)

Extra Features

When the Move Objects cheat (bb.moveobjects on) is turned on:

9 – raise objects

0 – lower objects

For advanced builders: These cheats open up the ability to place objects at different heights, create multi-level setups, and fake built-in furniture.

Image

Hotkeys in Live Mode

Game Speed Controls

P 0 or ~ – pause

1 – normal speed

2 – fast speed

3 – ultra speed

Managing Sims

Left Mouse Click on a Sim's icon or Right Mouse Click on the Sim themselves – switch to any Sim

Right Mouse Click on a Sim's icon – lock the camera to that Sim

M – go to the world map (quick travel) with the selected Sim

Space (spacebar) – switch to the next household member

Enter or N – center the camera on the selected Sim (without locking on)

Shift + Enter – center on the lot (good if you've wandered too far)

Sim Panel

O – open the Needs tab

G – open the Aspirations tab

L – open the Skills tab

J – open the Career or School tab

R – open the Relationships tab

I – open the Inventory tab

Y – open the Simology tab (traits, likes, etc.)

U – open the Clubs tab

B – open the Business tab

 
You might also like...
Preview for Why I Created a Family Tree for My Sims Family
Why I Created a Family Tree for My Sims Family
Preview for How to Make Beautiful Sims Family Tree
How to Make Beautiful Sims Family Tree
Preview for Creative Family Tree Ideas for The Sims: Tips and Examples
Creative Family Tree Ideas for The Sims: Tips and Examples
TheSimsTree

TheSimsTree

The most avid Sims players. Their first word was 'Sul-Sul'. We're writing about the service and its capabilities, the workflow, the team and sharing stories of our dynasties.