The Ultimate Guide to Keyboard Shortcuts and Key Bindings for "The Sims 4"
A comprehensive list of every keyboard shortcut available in Live Mode, Build Mode, and CAS (Create-a-Sim) for “The Sims 4.” Based on official information, this guide explains essential key commands in detail to streamline building tasks and Sim management.
Posted at: 2025.10.23
Camera movement
Camera control is the primary input in The Sims 4 as well. These versatile shortcuts work in both Build Mode and Live Mode, covering movement with WASD or arrow keys, switching floors, and raising or lowering walls. Page Up/Down and the Home/End keys are used particularly often during building.
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Move left/right | ← / → or A / D |
| Move forward/back | ↑ / ↓ or W / S |
| Fast movement | Shift + camera movement |
| Zoom in/out | Z / X or + / - |
| Switch to Map View | M |
| Go up a floor | Page Up |
| Go down a floor | Page Down |
| Raise walls | Home |
| Lower walls | End |
| Switch to top-down view | T |
| Toggle camera mode (Sims 3/Sims 4 camera) | Ctrl + Shift + Tab |
| Rotate view or tilt camera up/down | Right-drag mouse or Shift + mouse move |
Mode switching
The three main modes in The Sims 4 (Live Mode, Buy Mode, and Build Mode) can be switched instantly with function keys, so learn these first. Jumping to Live Mode to check on Sims during building, or buying furniture from Live Mode, lets you switch modes without touching the mouse and greatly boosts efficiency.
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Switch to Live Mode | F1 |
| Switch to Buy Mode | F2 |
| Switch to Build Mode | F3 |
Time controls
Time controls are also used frequently in-game. Using the keyboard makes it less stressful than relying on the mouse, and the number keys are intuitive enough to prioritize memorizing.
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Pause | P / 0 / ` |
| Normal speed | 1 |
| Fast | 2 |
| Ultra speed | 3 |
System controls
These are system-wide controls usable throughout The Sims 4. They generally work on any screen, so start by learning them here.
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Cancel | Esc |
| Open/close the cheat console | Ctrl + Shift + C |
| Open the Gallery | F4 |
| Take a screenshot | C |
| Start/stop video recording | V |
Live Mode: Sims & household controls
In households with multiple Sims, keyboard shortcuts let you switch quickly between them. Space moves to the next Sim, and Enter snaps the camera to the active Sim’s position—especially helpful with large families. Combine with mouse clicks for even more efficient Sim management.
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Focus on active Sim | Enter |
| Switch to the next Sim in the household | Space / N |
| Switch to a specific Sim | Left-click the Sim’s portrait in the lower left |
| Lock the camera to a Sim | Right-click the Sim’s portrait in the lower left |
| Center the camera on the selected Sim | Enter |
| Center the camera on the current lot | Shift + Enter |
| Interact with an object or Sim | Click the object/Sim |
| Move a Sim to a specific location | Click the ground |
Live Mode: panel controls
Various panels that display detailed Sim info open and close quickly with alphabet keys. Needs (O), Aspirations (G), Skills (L), and Relationships (R) are accessible without the mouse. If you own expansion packs, take advantage of the Clubs (U) and Business (B) panel shortcuts as well.
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Toggle Needs panel | O |
| Toggle Aspirations/Dreams/Ambitions panel | G |
| Toggle Skills panel | L |
| Toggle Career/School panel | J |
| Toggle Relationships panel | R |
| Toggle Inventory panel | I |
| Toggle Simology panel | Y |
| Toggle Clubs panel | U |
| Toggle Business panel | B |
Build Mode: tool selection
In Build Mode, switch tools instantly with alphabet keys. Wall Tool (B), Eyedropper (E), and Sledgehammer (K) save trips to the toolbar and dramatically speed up building. The Eyedropper (E) is especially handy for copying colors and styles.
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Select Hand Tool | H |
| Select Wall Tool | B |
| Eyedropper (Copy) | E |
| Sledgehammer (Delete) | K |
| Design Tool (Recolor) | R |
Build Mode: object placement & manipulation
When placing objects in Build Mode, shortcuts allow fine adjustments. Alt enables free placement off-grid, Ctrl+Z undoes, and comma/period rotate—must-know techniques used by pro builders. The numeric keypad “+” cycles through color variants quickly.
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Undo | Ctrl + Z |
| Redo | Ctrl + Y |
| Rotate object left | , (comma) |
| Rotate object right | . (period) |
| Delete or sell item | Del / Backspace |
| Place multiple (repeat place same object) | Hold Shift while placing |
| Move object to Household Inventory | Press M while holding the object |
| Place off-grid | Hold Alt while holding the object |
| Free-rotate object | Hold Alt while rotating |
| Cycle color options | + (numpad) |
| Toggle grid | G |
Build Mode: walls, floors, and terrain tools
Placing and editing walls and floors is among the most frequent build tasks. Ctrl+F enables quarter-tile placement, Shift fills entire rooms, and terrain brush size/hardness adjustments allow more refined, beautiful builds. Bracket keys and semicolon/apostrophe are especially important for terrain editing.
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Delete walls (while using Wall Tool) | Hold Ctrl |
| Toggle between Wall and Room tools (while using Wall/Room tools) | Hold Shift |
| Place floors with quarter-tile placement | Ctrl + F while placing floor tiles |
| Place floor/wall patterns in half/quarter tiles (precision) | Hold Alt while painting walls/floors |
| Fill entire room with floor or texture | Hold Shift while painting walls/floors |
| Decrease terrain brush size (Terrain Paint) | [left bracket |
| Increase terrain brush size (Terrain Paint) | ] (right bracket) |
| Soften terrain brush (Terrain Paint) | ; (semicolon) |
| Harden terrain brush (Terrain Paint) | ' (apostrophe) |
| Erase/restore terrain to default (Terrain Paint) | Hold Alt |
Build Mode: other
Additional shortcuts that further streamline building. Tab enables Free Camera Mode (UI hidden), perfect for screenshots of finished builds. L previews lighting to check different times of day, and U lets you move/rotate the entire house. Remember F5 to quit quickly.
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Switch to top-down view | T |
| Toggle lighting preview (morning/day/evening/night) | L |
| Move or rotate entire house | U (then click the house) |
| Free Camera Mode (UI hidden) | Tab |
| Quit game | F5 |