How to use stats.set_skill_level
- Load your save, go to Live mode and click the Sim you want to change so they are selected.
- Open the cheat console: Ctrl+Shift+C on PC and Mac, L1+L2+R1+R2 on PlayStation, LB+LT+RB+RT on Xbox.
- Type
testingcheats trueand press Enter. - Type
stats.set_skill_level, a space, the skill code from the tables below, a space, and the level. Example:stats.set_skill_level major_cooking 10is wrong; Cooking's code ismajor_homestylecooking, so the right line isstats.set_skill_level major_homestylecooking 10. - Press Enter. The skill bar jumps to that level.
The level can be any number up to the skill's max, so stats.set_skill_level major_painting 5 stops at 5. Codes are not case sensitive. Enter one skill per line; to max several, press the Up arrow on PC to recall the last line and edit the skill name.
Base game skill cheats
| Skill | Cheat code | Max |
|---|---|---|
| Charisma | stats.set_skill_level major_charisma 10 | 10 |
| Comedy | stats.set_skill_level major_comedy 10 | 10 |
| Cooking | stats.set_skill_level major_homestylecooking 10 | 10 |
| Fishing | stats.set_skill_level major_fishing 10 | 10 |
| Fitness | stats.set_skill_level skill_fitness 10 | 10 |
| Gardening | stats.set_skill_level major_gardening 10 | 10 |
| Gourmet Cooking | stats.set_skill_level major_gourmetcooking 10 | 10 |
| Guitar | stats.set_skill_level major_guitar 10 | 10 |
| Handiness | stats.set_skill_level major_handiness 10 | 10 |
| Logic | stats.set_skill_level major_logic 10 | 10 |
| Mischief | stats.set_skill_level major_mischief 10 | 10 |
| Mixology | stats.set_skill_level major_bartending 10 | 10 |
| Painting | stats.set_skill_level major_painting 10 | 10 |
| Photography | stats.set_skill_level major_photography 5 | 5 |
| Piano | stats.set_skill_level major_piano 10 | 10 |
| Programming | stats.set_skill_level major_programming 10 | 10 |
| Rocket Science | stats.set_skill_level major_rocketscience 10 | 10 |
| Video Gaming | stats.set_skill_level major_videogaming 10 | 10 |
| Violin | stats.set_skill_level major_violin 10 | 10 |
| Writing | stats.set_skill_level major_writing 10 | 10 |
Photography is a 5-level skill. EA notes it first came with Get to Work and was later added to the base game. Fitness is the one base skill that starts with skill_ instead of major_, and Mixology uses its old internal name, major_bartending.
Expansion, game and stuff pack skill cheats
| Skill | Cheat code | Max | Pack |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baking | stats.set_skill_level major_baking 10 | 10 | Get to Work |
| DJ Mixing | stats.set_skill_level major_djmixing 10 | 10 | Get Together |
| Dancing | stats.set_skill_level minor_dancing 5 | 5 | Get Together |
| Singing | stats.set_skill_level major_singing 10 | 10 | City Living |
| Veterinarian | stats.set_skill_level major_veterinarian 10 | 10 | Cats & Dogs |
| Pet Training | stats.set_skill_level skill_dog 5 | 5 | Cats & Dogs |
| Flower Arranging | stats.set_skill_level major_flowerarranging 10 | 10 | Seasons |
| Acting | stats.set_skill_level major_acting 10 | 10 | Get Famous |
| Media Production | stats.set_skill_level minor_media 5 | 5 | Get Famous |
| Robotics | stats.set_skill_level major_robotics 10 | 10 | Discover University |
| Research & Debate | stats.set_skill_level major_researchdebate 10 | 10 | Discover University |
| Fabrication | stats.set_skill_level major_fabrication 10 | 10 | Eco Lifestyle |
| Juice Fizzing | stats.set_skill_level minor_juicefizzing 5 | 5 | Eco Lifestyle |
| Rock Climbing | stats.set_skill_level major_rockclimbing 10 | 10 | Snowy Escape |
| Skiing | stats.set_skill_level major_skiing 10 | 10 | Snowy Escape |
| Snowboarding | stats.set_skill_level major_snowboarding 10 | 10 | Snowy Escape |
| Cross-Stitch | stats.set_skill_level skill_crossstitch 5 | 5 | Cottage Living |
| Entrepreneur | stats.set_skill_level minor_entrepreneur 5 | 5 | High School Years |
| Horse Riding | stats.set_skill_level AdultMajor_EquestrianSkill 10 | 10 | Horse Ranch |
| Nectar Making | stats.set_skill_level adultminor_ranchnectar 5 | 5 | Horse Ranch |
| Romance | stats.set_skill_level major_romance 10 | 10 | Lovestruck |
| Thanatology | stats.set_skill_level minor_thanatology 5 | 5 | Life & Death |
| Pottery | stats.set_skill_level major_pottery 10 | 10 | Businesses & Hobbies |
| Tattooing | stats.set_skill_level major_tattooing 10 | 10 | Businesses & Hobbies |
| Apothecary | stats.set_skill_level major_apothecary 10 | 10 | Enchanted by Nature |
| Natural Living | stats.set_skill_level Skill_NLS 10 | 10 | Enchanted by Nature |
| Archery | stats.set_skill_level skill_Archery 5 | 5 | Adventure Awaits |
| Diving | stats.set_skill_level minor_diving 5 | 5 | Adventure Awaits |
| Entomology | stats.set_skill_level minor_entomology 5 | 5 | Adventure Awaits |
| Papercraft | stats.set_skill_level major_papercraft 10 | 10 | Adventure Awaits |
| Swordsmanship | stats.set_skill_level major_swordsmanship 10 | 10 | Royalty & Legacy |
| Herbalism | stats.set_skill_level major_herbalism 10 | 10 | Outdoor Retreat (game pack) |
| Wellness | stats.set_skill_level major_wellness 10 | 10 | Spa Day (game pack) |
| Pipe Organ | stats.set_skill_level major_pipeorgan 10 | 10 | Vampires (game pack) |
| Vampire Lore | stats.set_skill_level vampirelore 15 | 15 | Vampires (game pack) |
| Parenting | stats.set_skill_level major_parenting 10 | 10 | Parenthood (game pack) |
| Archaeology | stats.set_skill_level major_archaeology 10 | 10 | Jungle Adventure (game pack) |
| Selvadoradian Culture | stats.set_skill_level minor_localculture 5 | 5 | Jungle Adventure (game pack) |
| Bowling | stats.set_skill_level skill_bowling 5 | 5 | Bowling Night Stuff |
| Medium | stats.set_skill_level minor_medium 5 | 5 | Paranormal Stuff |
| Knitting | stats.set_skill_level major_knitting 10 | 10 | Nifty Knitting Stuff |
| Gemology | stats.set_skill_level major_gemology 10 | 10 | Crystal Creations Stuff |
You need the pack installed for its skill code to do anything. Codes are taken from EA's own skill help pages. Watch the odd ones out: Horse Riding uses AdultMajor_EquestrianSkill, Nectar Making uses adultminor_ranchnectar, Pet Training uses skill_dog, Media Production uses minor_media, and Natural Living uses Skill_NLS.
Child and toddler skill cheats
Child skills
Children have four Fundamental skills, each up to level 10 and each tied to a child Aspiration.
| Skill | Cheat code | Max |
|---|---|---|
| Creativity | stats.set_skill_level skill_child_creativity 10 | 10 |
| Mental | stats.set_skill_level skill_child_mental 10 | 10 |
| Motor | stats.set_skill_level skill_child_motor 10 | 10 |
| Social | stats.set_skill_level skill_child_social 10 | 10 |
Children can also learn some adult skills (Charisma, Logic, Mischief, Fishing, Piano, Video Gaming and others listed by EA as open to children). Use the normal codes above while the child is selected.
Toddler skills
| Skill | Cheat code | Max |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | stats.set_skill_level statistic_skill_toddler_communication 5 | 5 |
| Imagination | stats.set_skill_level statistic_skill_toddler_imagination 5 | 5 |
| Movement | stats.set_skill_level statistic_skill_toddler_movement 5 | 5 |
| Potty | stats.set_skill_level statistic_skill_toddler_potty 3 | 3 |
| Thinking | stats.set_skill_level statistic_skill_toddler_thinking 5 | 5 |
Potty only goes to level 3: at level 2 a toddler can use the potty alone, at 3 they always choose it over a diaper. Raising four toddler skills to level 3 earns the Happy Toddler trait at age-up; level 5 in four skills earns Top-Notch Toddler, according to EA.
Skill cheat not working? Fixes
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| "Invalid" or nothing happens | Type testingcheats true first. If you have loaded a save or traveled since, type it again. |
| Wrong Sim got the skill | The cheat changes the selected Sim. Click the right Sim's portrait, then repeat. |
| Skill name not recognised | Check the spelling against the tables. Common misses: major_cooking (use major_homestylecooking), major_mixology (use major_bartending), major_fitness (use skill_fitness). |
| Pack skill does nothing | The pack that adds the skill must be installed and enabled in the EA app, Steam or console store. |
| Child or toddler skill does nothing | Child and toddler skills only apply to Sims of that age. Toddler codes start with statistic_skill_toddler_. |
| Console won't open on PC | Another program may own Ctrl+Shift+C (AMD Software hotkeys, screenshot tools, Copilot). Change that hotkey, switch to full screen, or move Options.ini out of Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 4 so the game rebuilds it. |
| Mac shortcut ignored | Use Control, not Command. EA lists Ctrl+Shift+C for Mac too. |
Achievements and side effects
Every skill cheat needs testingcheats true. On PlayStation and Xbox, EA says cheats that need testingcheats disable Achievements and Trophies in that save only; your other saves keep them. EA's achievement note is written for consoles and does not state the same rule for PC or Mac.
- Back up first. Use Save As before cheating so you can return to an uncheated save.
- Books cap at 9. If you prefer to level without cheats, EA notes skill books only take a Sim as far as level 9; the last level has to come from practice.
Want a life sim where you learn things by living?
Maxing ten skills in a minute is handy for a build or a story, but it skips the part where a character grows. LifeSim is a free life simulator that runs in the browser on a computer or phone, with no download and no packs. You can be anyone in any real city on Earth and live a life day by day, with needs, a job, relationships and AI-driven townspeople around you.
Nothing to download, no Mods folder and no packs to buy, so it runs the same on a laptop or a phone. Pick who you want to be and where on Earth you live, take a job, meet people and see where the days lead. Progress comes from the choices you make each day, which is the part a skill cheat skips.