Installing custom lots in The Sims 4 is simpler than most players expect. Once you know which files belong in your Tray folder, you can move a downloaded mansion, cottage, or community venue into your game in a couple of minutes.
This guide walks through the exact folder path, the file types that matter, how to find your lot in the Gallery, and how to place it on an empty lot in any world. It also covers the most common reasons a downloaded lot fails to show up so you can fix it quickly.
Why Install Custom Lots
The Sims 4 ships with plenty of pre-built homes and venues, but the community produces incredible custom builds that the base game cannot match. You can download detailed properties with pools, multiple floors, finished basements, and themed party spaces.
Custom lots also save you hours of building time. Instead of designing a venue from scratch, you drop a finished creation into your world and start playing.
What Goes in the Tray Folder
Downloaded lots are saved as a small set of files, not as a single program. The main one is the .trayitem file, which is the container that tells the game the saved item exists.
Lots also include .blueprint and .bpi files that store the layout, walls, and every object on the property. Saved Sims and households use .hhi, .sgi, and .householdbinary files, and you may also see a .room file for individual rooms.
All of these files belong together in the Tray folder. Do not rename them and do not split them up, or the game will not load the lot correctly.
Where to Find the Tray Folder
The Tray folder sits inside your Sims 4 documents directory on both Windows and Mac. The path is the same on each system, so the steps below work no matter which one you play on.
Windows: Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 4 > Tray
Mac: Finder > Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 4 > Tray
If you do not see a Tray folder, launch the game once and save any creation to the Gallery. The Sims 4 creates the folder automatically the first time you save.
How to Install a Downloaded Lot
Most lots arrive in a compressed .zip or .rar archive, so you need to unpack them before the game can read them. Once the archive is open, the steps are the same for any lot you download.
- 1.Extract the files - Open the download with a free tool like WinRAR or 7-Zip and unzip the contents.
- 2.Open your Tray folder - Browse to Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 4 > Tray.
- 3.Copy the files in directly - Move the .trayitem, .blueprint, .bpi, and any related files straight into the Tray folder. Place the loose files in the folder itself, not inside a subfolder.
- 4.Skip any duplicates - If a file already exists, choose Skip when prompted so you do not overwrite your own saves.
You do not need to restart a game that is already running each time. If it was open during the copy, close and reopen it so the new files load.
Avoid Subfolders and Renaming
The most common reason a lot never appears is a subfolder. The game only reads Tray files that sit in the root of the Tray folder, so a creator's nested folder will hide everything inside it.
Drag the individual files out of any folder the download came in, then delete the empty folder. Keep the original file names intact, since the matching .trayitem, .blueprint, and .bpi names are how the game links them together.
Find Your Lot in the Gallery
Once the files are in place, start The Sims 4 and open the Gallery. From there, switch to the My Library tab to see your own saved and downloaded creations.
Open the Advanced filters and turn on Include Custom Content. The game sometimes flags imported builds as custom content even when they are not, so leaving this off can make a lot look missing.
Your downloaded creation should now show in My Library with a thumbnail. From there it is ready to place in any world you like.
Place Your New Lot in a World
You place a custom lot onto an empty plot, so clear or pick a vacant lot first. There are two ways to do it.
Manage Worlds: open the Gallery, select your lot, then choose Place Lot or Place Lot and Edit
Build Mode: open an empty lot, open the Gallery, and place your downloaded creation
Choosing Place Lot and Edit opens the build in Build Mode so you can adjust it before saving. Confirm the placement with the checkmark icon in the corner.
One limit to remember is size. You cannot place a lot onto a plot smaller than the build, so match the lot dimensions or pick a larger empty lot.
Handle Lots That Need Custom Content
Some builds rely on custom content such as furniture or decor in .package format. The Gallery shows a list of the required items when you preview the lot.
Those .package files go in a different place than lots. Put them in the Mods folder instead.
Mods folder: Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 4 > Mods
You also need to switch on custom content for the game to load it. Open Game Options, go to the Other tab, check Enable Custom Content and Mods (and Script Mods if a build needs them), apply the change, and restart when prompted.
When a Custom Lot Still Looks Wrong
If a placed lot is missing furniture or shows the wrong objects, it usually depends on content you do not have. Items from an expansion or game pack you do not own will not appear, and missing custom content drops out too.
Confirm you own any packs the build requires, then check that all .package files landed in the Mods folder and that custom content is enabled in Game Options. Note that game patches can switch the mods setting back off, so re-check it after every update.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Sims 4 Tray folder located
On both Windows and Mac it lives at Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 4 > Tray. If the folder is missing, save any creation to the Gallery once and the game will create it.
Why is my downloaded lot not showing up
The usual causes are files left inside a subfolder, files placed in the wrong folder, or the Include Custom Content filter being turned off. Move the loose files directly into the Tray folder and enable that filter in the Gallery's Advanced settings.
What is the difference between the Tray and Mods folders
The Tray folder holds saved lots, rooms, and Sims as .trayitem, .blueprint, and .bpi files. The Mods folder holds .package custom content and script mods that a build may depend on.
Do I have to restart the game after installing a lot
No. New lots in the Tray folder show up the next time you open the Gallery. You only need to restart if the game was running while you copied the files, or after enabling custom content and mods.
Why does my custom lot look empty or wrong
Missing items come from packs you do not own or custom content that is not installed. Verify you have the required expansion or game packs, place all .package files in the Mods folder, and turn on custom content in Game Options.
Can I install a lot that is bigger than the empty plot
No. The Sims 4 will not let you place a lot onto a smaller plot. Find an empty lot that matches or exceeds the build's dimensions before placing it.
First published October 14, 2025. Last updated June 4, 2026.
