How to change the clock time in The Sims 4

We already know you can fast-forward time in The Sims 4 using the 2 and 3 keys, pause it using 0 or p and reset to normal with the 1 key.

It is also possible to set the game’s clock time using a cheat code. This cheat alters the ratio between real time and the clock time so that it doesn’t take all day for Sims to do simple activities like cooking, eating, showering and using the toilet.

The default setting is 25, which means that Sim time passes more quickly than real time because each Sim second passes in 25 real milliseconds. To change the ratio of real time to the game’s clock time, bring up the cheat console window and enter the following, changing the number as you see fit. Bear in mind that this may have unintended consequences for the calendar.

50 milliseconds = 1 Sim second:

clock._set_milliseconds_per_sim_second 50

If you have entered the command correctly, the console will confirm it:

Milliseconds to Simulation seconds set to : 50

Remember that there are 1000 milliseconds in a second, so setting the value to 1000 will make Sim time pass at the same rate as real time.

1000 milliseconds = 1 Sim second (real time):

clock._set_milliseconds_per_sim_second 1000

The real time to clock time ratio upper limit

There doesn’t seem to be an upper limit, but bear in mind if you change the game speed to higher values, it will take a long time for a single day to pass, which may be tedious.

The real time to clock time ratio lower limit

The lower limit is one (1). Bear in mind that time will pass very quickly, and your Sims will taken even longer to do simple tasks.

Using negative numbers in the real time to clock time ratio

If you set the value to any negative number, the value will be set to -1 and the time and day will be set to 12:00 a.m. on Sunday. Whether this is the previous Sunday or the next Sunday is unclear.

25 milliseconds = 1 Sim second (any negative number):

clock._set_milliseconds_per_sim_second -25

The console will confirm that any negative number you used will set the value to -1:

Milliseconds to Simulation seconds set to : -1

Using zero (0) in the real time to clock time ratio

If you set the ratio of real time to clock time to zero (0), the previous value will be used:

35 milliseconds = 1 Sim second:

clock._set_milliseconds_per_sim_second 35

Milliseconds to Simulation seconds set to : 35

0 milliseconds = 1 Sim second (default):

clock._set_milliseconds_per_sim_second 0

Milliseconds to Simulation seconds set to : 35

The calendar in The Sims 4

Changing the ratio of real time to the game’s clock time affects the calendar. I changed the clock time to 2000:

2000 milliseconds = 1 Sim second:

clock._set_milliseconds_per_sim_second 2000

Then I viewed the calendar: a load of events that usually happen on separate days were all set to happen on the same day.

Related to the calendar, if you change the real-time-to-Sim-time ratio, the Sims start going to work, school and other activities that occur at a fixed time (e.g. after-school clubs) at strange times.

It’s as if events, work, activities, etc. are set to be a certain amount of time (e.g. days, hours) apart rather than to occur at a fixed date/day and time on the calendar. This seems like a crazy system to me, and perhaps explains why changing the length of the seasons can mess up when events like Love Day and Winter Festival occur.