FAQ
Answers to the most common questions about SimSweep, safety, scanning, the CC Hub, Companion Mod, and billing.
General
Is SimSweep safe?
Yes. SimSweep reads your files but never modifies the contents of .package or .ts4script files during a scan. The only operations that change files are ones you explicitly trigger: quarantine (moves files), sort (moves files), tag editing (writes tags into CAS metadata), and enable/disable (renames files).
The app itself is code-signed through Microsoft's Trusted Signing service. The installer and executable have digital signatures.
Does SimSweep upload my files?
No. SimSweep never uploads your actual .package or .ts4script files anywhere. When community sharing is enabled, it sends anonymous metadata: file hashes (fingerprints), categories, body types, and extracted thumbnails. Not the files themselves, not your paths, not your personal info.
Does it work with pirated CC?
SimSweep doesn't check or care whether your CC is pirated. It treats all files the same way.
Can SimSweep break my game?
SimSweep never writes to your game directory or modifies game files. The only risk is if you quarantine or delete a mod that something else depends on. The app warns you about dependencies before you do that.
The tag editor modifies CAS metadata inside .package files, but it creates .bak backups first.
Does it work on Mac?
macOS builds are in progress through GitHub Actions. Check simsweep.com/download for availability.
Does it work with The Sims 4 Legacy Edition?
SimSweep reads the same file formats regardless of game edition. If your CC works with Legacy Edition, SimSweep can scan it.
Scanning
How long does a scan take?
Depends on how many mods you have. Rough estimates:
| Mods folder size | Scan time |
|---|---|
| 1,000 files | ~10-15 seconds |
| 5,000 files | ~30-60 seconds |
| 15,000 files | ~2-3 minutes |
| 30,000+ files | ~4-6 minutes |
First scan takes the longest. Re-scans are faster because unchanged files get skipped.
Do I need to re-scan after adding new CC?
If you have auto-scan enabled (Decrypt tier), SimSweep watches your Mods folder and can trigger a scan when files change. Otherwise, hit the Scan button when you've added new stuff. New files won't show up in My CC or be included in conflict detection until a scan runs.
Why do some files have no thumbnail?
Most CAS CC in The Sims 4 only stores thumbnails at 104x148 pixels. Some files don't include any image resources at all. SimSweep extracts whatever is available, but if there's nothing to extract, you'll see a category icon instead.
Build/Buy items tend to have better thumbnails since they often include multiple size variants.
What does the health score mean?
It's an overall rating of your mods folder based on:
- Number and severity of conflicts
- Broken files (missing meshes)
- Detected threats
- Duplicate count
A higher score means fewer issues. It's meant to give you a quick sense of how "healthy" your setup is, not a precise metric.
CC Hub
Why is the CC Hub missing most of my CC?
The catalog builds up over time from user scans. If a piece of CC hasn't been scanned by anyone with community sharing enabled, it won't be in the hub. The more people use SimSweep, the more complete the catalog gets.
Can I remove my CC from the hub?
The hub stores anonymous metadata (hashes, categories, tags), not personally identifiable information. There's no way to trace a specific catalog entry back to a specific user. If you don't want to contribute, turn off community sharing in Settings.
Why is some CC labeled wrong?
Category classification uses a combination of resource analysis, filename heuristics, rule-based patterns, and community corrections. Sometimes it gets it wrong. You can suggest corrections from the CC Hub detail modal if you're signed in.
Companion Mod
Does the Companion Mod slow down my game?
No noticeable impact. The mod sends small JSON messages over a local TCP socket. The heaviest operation is a lot scan, and even that completes in under a second.
Do I need the Companion Mod?
No. SimSweep works fine without it. The Companion Mod adds real-time dashboard modules (health monitoring, CAS outfit tracking, build mode tracking, session recap), exception attribution by mod, and automated broken CC reporting to the community database. If you don't need those features, you don't need the mod.
Does the Companion Mod work with other mods?
Yes. It doesn't conflict with any other mods. It uses its own cheat command prefix (simsweep.*) and doesn't modify any game systems.
Tiers & Billing
What happens if my subscription lapses?
Tier-restricted features get their blur/lock overlay back, but your data doesn't get deleted. If you re-subscribe, everything is still there.
Can I switch between monthly and yearly?
Yes. Manage your subscription through the customer portal (Account > Subscription in the app for Stripe, or Patreon.com for Patreon).
Do I need an account to use SimSweep?
Yes, a free account is required. Creating one takes 10 seconds with Google, Patreon, or email.
Still have questions?
Join the SimSweep Discord for community help, or submit a bug report from inside the app.