GamesLife SimThe SimsThe Sims 3Every Sims 3 cheat for making money, building better, and the ‘needs cheat’When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

GamesLife SimThe SimsThe Sims 3Every Sims 3 cheat for making money, building better, and the ‘needs cheat’When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

(Image credit: Electronic Arts)

The Sims 3 - a sim with long hair and a green shirt smiles while talking on the phone

Jump to:Enable cheatsMoney cheatsLive mode cheatsCheat needsBuild mode cheatsUI cheatsTesting cheats

Jump to:Enable cheatsMoney cheatsLive mode cheatsCheat needsBuild mode cheatsUI cheatsTesting cheats

How to enable cheats in The Sims 3

Many cheats won’t return a confirmation message, so you’ll have to pay attention to whether your household funds, Sim needs, or other values changed as expected. Some cheats, explained below, require that you first use “testingcheatsenabled true” so watch out for that.

Sims 3 money cheats

DisclaimerThe cheat “rosebud” does not actually work in The Sims 3, unlike inSims 4 cheats.

DisclaimerThe cheat “rosebud” does not actually work in The Sims 3, unlike inSims 4 cheats.

Disclaimer

The cheat “rosebud” does not actually work in The Sims 3, unlike inSims 4 cheats.

Sims 3 Live Mode cheats

(Image credit: Electronic Arts)

The Sims 3 - A Sim plays a video game on a TV

hideHeadlineEffects true/falseThis cheat hides plumbobs over Sims’ heads, but does not remove thought bubbles, which is useful for taking screenshots.

resetSim [first name] [last name]For example, “resetSim Mortimer Goth” cancels a Sim’s current action and resets their position if stuck, but does not change their needs or mood.

Ctrl+Click to remove moodletsAfter using “testingCheatsEnabled true” you can hold Ctrl then left-click on any moodlet in the interface to remove it from your Sim.

How to cheat your Sims’ needs in The Sims 3

To cheat the “needs” meters in The Sims 3 first use “testingcheatsenabled true” and then Ctrl+Click and dragon your Sim’s need bar to change its value. You can raise or lower any of your Sim’s needs this way. As mentioned above, you can also Ctrl+Click on any moodlet to remove it from your Sim.

Disclaimer

Sims 3 build cheats

(Image credit: Electronic Arts)

The Sims 3 - an overhead view of a kitchen being built

moveobjects on/offThe most common Build/Buy cheat allows you to place objects more freely, even if they’re clipping into another object.

disableSnappingToSlotsOnAlt true/falseThis is a long but handy cheat for cluttering a build. It stops objects from snapping into slots on surfaces like tables or counters while you are holding Alt. You might use this to place objects under a table, for instance.

buydebug true/falseAllows you to buy and place “debug objects” that are normally inaccessible such as animal spawners and small clutter items. You can find them categorized in the ? symbol that appears beneath the normal Buy Mode categories.

Sims 3 UI cheats

fullscreen true/falseForces your game into windowed or fullscreen mode.

fps on/offThis adds an FPS counter to the top right of your window.

maptags on/offIn the zoomed out neighborhood view, this disables or enables the symbols showing what each lot is. Though this works when looking at your full neighborhood while playing a household, this does not work when in Edit Town mode.

discotagsIn the zoomed out neighborhood view, this makes lot symbols flash different colors, just for fun.

Sims 4 cheats: Life hacksSims 4 mods: Play your waySims 4 CC: Custom contentSims 5: What we knowSims 4 building tips: RenovateSims 4 challenges: New rules

Sims 4 cheats: Life hacksSims 4 mods: Play your waySims 4 CC: Custom contentSims 5: What we knowSims 4 building tips: RenovateSims 4 challenges: New rules

Sims 4 cheats: Life hacksSims 4 mods: Play your waySims 4 CC: Custom contentSims 5: What we knowSims 4 building tips: RenovateSims 4 challenges: New rules

Sims 4 cheats: Life hacksSims 4 mods: Play your waySims 4 CC: Custom contentSims 5: What we knowSims 4 building tips: RenovateSims 4 challenges: New rules

Image

Sims 4 cheats: Life hacksSims 4 mods: Play your waySims 4 CC: Custom contentSims 5: What we knowSims 4 building tips: RenovateSims 4 challenges: New rules

Sims 4 cheats: Life hacksSims 4 mods: Play your waySims 4 CC: Custom contentSims 5: What we knowSims 4 building tips: RenovateSims 4 challenges: New rules

Sims 3 testing cheats

(Image credit: Electronic Arts)

The Sims 3 - A sim with shift click cheats enabled wants to make friends

Before using any of the cheats below, enter “testingcheatsenabled true” and hit Enter. Now you can hold Shift and click on various targets.

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