The 50/50 method

Something is breaking your game and you have no idea which mod is responsible. The 50/50 method splits your mods in half, has you test the game, and keeps narrowing the pile to a likely candidate. You do not need to know anything about the mods going in.

What to expect#

Each round, SimSweep moves half your selected files out of the active Mods folder. You launch the game, check whether the problem is still there, answer yes or no, and repeat. The number of rounds depends on how many files you started with, but even a folder with thousands of mods usually resolves in 10 to 15 rounds.

At the end, SimSweep shows the file or files left by your test answers. You can review them, delete them, or restore everything and investigate later.

Starting a session#

1. Open Tools from the sidebar.
2. Select 50/50.
3. Confirm your Sims 4 game location when prompted. If it looks wrong, check your settings to update the game path.
4. Choose what to include in the search. By default, SimSweep searches your package files. You can also include:
   • Script mods (.ts4script) if you suspect a script mod is involved.
   • Whitelisted / protected files if you want no files excluded. Use this with care, since protected files are usually ones SimSweep shields from risky actions by default.
5. Press Start, then Begin Round 1.

Running rounds#

1. SimSweep moves files and shows Launch the Game.
2. Click Launch Sims 4 or start the game yourself.
3. Test for your issue in-game.
4. Return to SimSweep and answer:
   • Yes, still broken if the problem is still happening.
   • No, it's fixed! if the game is running clean.
5. SimSweep adjusts which half to look at and starts the next round.

Repeat until SimSweep shows Found It/Them.

Heads up: Do not move, rename, or add files to your Mods folder while a 50/50 session is active. The tool tracks exactly what it moved and manual changes can confuse the restore path.

Finishing up#

When SimSweep reaches the likely file or files, you have two options:

• Delete It/Them removes the selected candidate and restores everything else.
• Keep and Restore All puts all files back where they started. Good if you want to investigate further before deleting.

If you need to stop mid-session, use Abort and restore all files. SimSweep attempts to return the parked files and reports anything it could not restore. Check the result before starting another session.

Where your mods go during a test#

SimSweep never deletes anything during a 50/50 test. The mods it sets aside are moved into a hidden folder next to your Mods folder:

Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 4\.simsweep-5050\staged

On a Mac it's Documents/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/.simsweep-5050/staged.

As long as that folder has files in it, those mods are just waiting to go back.

If a test gets interrupted#

Reopen SimSweep and go to Tools, then 50/50. Press Put my mods back and SimSweep moves everything from the holding folder back into Mods.

If a mod with the same name is already in your Mods folder:

• If it's the exact same file, SimSweep keeps it and removes the extra copy from the holding folder.
• If it's a different file, the copy from the holding folder replaces it.

Get your mods back by hand#

If SimSweep won't open, shows an error, or keeps sending you back to the same screen, you don't need it. Your mods are plain files and you can move them yourself.

1. Close SimSweep and The Sims 4. If SimSweep won't close, right-click its icon on the taskbar and choose Close window.
2. Open File Explorer and go to Documents, then Electronic Arts, then The Sims 4.
3. Open .simsweep-5050, then staged. If you can't see .simsweep-5050, click View at the top of File Explorer, then Show, then turn on Hidden items.
4. Press Ctrl+A to select everything in staged, then Ctrl+X to cut it.
5. Go back to your Mods folder and press Ctrl+V to paste.
6. If Windows asks about files that already exist, choose Skip these files. Those mods are already in Mods.

That's it. Your game has all your mods again. The next time you open SimSweep, run a scan so it sees the new layout.

On a Mac, the steps are the same in Finder. Press Cmd+Shift+. (period) to show hidden folders, then drag everything from staged into Mods.

If something goes wrong#

• The game won't launch: check your Sims 4 location in settings.
• A test feels stuck: press Abort and restore all files. If that doesn't finish, get your mods back by hand.
• SimSweep shows a list of saved changes after a crash: that list tracks file moves that didn't finish. Your files aren't lost. If you're not sure what to press, get your mods back by hand instead, then ask in Discord support.

Next up#

Once you have a likely problem file, Check CC before installing can help you review replacements before they go in.