Clean Launcher User Guide

⚠️ Note: ⚠️ Before making any changes, always back up your /Mods folder using the Backup feature in More ➡️ Utilities. This helps protect your game if anything goes wrong.

✨ Getting Started

On first launch, Clean Launcher can set up an Auto Mods folder. Anything you drop in — files, folders, or zips — is auto-extracted and sorted while the app runs in your tray. Tray/Save files are placed in the right folders automatically.

For convenience, you can pin Auto Mods to Windows Quick Access for drag-and-drop sprees, or simply use Drag ’n Drop in Clean Launcher without the extra folder.

To remove Auto Mods, you must disable it in Settings or from the tray icon — deleting the folder alone will just recreate it.

🧹 Clean & Launch Sims 4

What it does: Cleans up leftover Sims 4 files (cache and error logs) and launches the game in one click.
How to use:

Click Clean & Launch to delete cache files and any lastException logs, then start The Sims 4.
Don't want your game to update automatically? If you're using Steam, it remembers your offline status. The EA App doesn't, however, so use Clean & Open EA App so you can set it to Offline Mode but still utilize the clean.
If you only want to clear the cache when your /Mods folder changes, you can enable this option on launch.
Go to More Tools ➡ Settings to reset your launch settings at any time.
Before launching, you can optionally select a default Mods Profile (see 👤 Manage Mod Profiles) to load a different CC setup—perfect for switching between gameplay styles like “minimal mods” vs. “full CC.”

🔎 Scan Mods

What it does: Finds and fixes problems in your /Mods folder.
How to use:

Click Scan Mods Folder to automatically check for:
- - Duplicate files
  - Hidden scripts
  - Zipped/unextracted files
  - Missing files
  - Outdated* mods and more!
After the scan, you’ll get a summary of all issues.

Expand/collapse sections to see details.

Click Fix All to solve everything at once, or Fix Issues to handle them one by one.

*Mainly covers my own mods and the big ones that need regular updates, like UI Cheats & MCCC.

📦 Drag & Drop Mod Installer

What it does: Installs Sims 4 mods, builds, Sims, or saves instantly, to the correct folder—no manual sorting or extracting required.
How to use:

Drag ZIPs or files directly onto the installer window.
Files will be automatically:
- - Extracted (if zipped)
  - .ts4scripts will be placed no more than 1 folder deep, and with their companion .package files.
  - Sorted into Mods, Tray, or Saves
Works on its own or alongside Auto Mods.
Great for downloading lots of Sims/Builds at once—any CC they come with is organized for you instantly.

📁 Organize Mods

What it does: Sorts your Mods into a clean folder structure, with subcategories.
How to use:

Choose Auto Mod Sort or Auto Mod Sort (Custom).
Custom mode lets you edit folder names and keywords that control where mods go. If you rename or move a parent folder (like “CAS”), update its subfolders so they match the new name or location.
Click 'n Sort is a brand new feature with preset categories and plenty of subfolder choices! All you do is click to view your Mods folder by All or by Folder, then select the ones you want to move, and click on a category to send them there instantly.

All features include the option to Undo, and deleted files are always sent to the Recycle Bin if possible.

Note: I can’t account for every single mod—creators all name their files differently, and some use a “brand” name instead of describing what the mod actually is. This means a few files might need manual sorting from the Review Bin, or you can edit the keywords in Custom mode..

👤 Mod Profile Manager

What it does: Lets you save and switch between completely different Mods setups. When you first load it, it will back up your Mods folder securely, and that can never be overwritten.
Why use it:

Keep separate profiles for different playstyles—e.g., “Vanilla + Bug Fixes,” “Build Mode Only,” or “Full Gameplay Mods.”
Perfect if you want to try new CC without messing up your main save, or if you're using minimal mods during an update.

How to use:

Arrange your /Mods folder how you want (add/remove content).

Click Create New Profile, give it a name, and save.

To switch:
- Choose a profile from the dropdown and click Load Profile.
- If new CC is detected since you last used that profile, you’ll be prompted to Import New Mods (adds the new files to the profile) or Replace Profile (update it to match your current folder).
Your original mods are always backed up—check More ➡ View Backups, and even replacing your Default Mods profile won't affect your original backup.

🗂️ Backup Sims 4 Files

What it does: Lets you make a zipped backup of your Mods, Saves, and/or Tray folders—either all at once or just the ones you choose—saved to any location you pick. Access it under More Tools ➡ Settings & Utilities.

Why use it:

Protect your game setup before making big changes.
Keep safe copies of your favorite builds, Sims, and saves.
Quickly restore everything if something breaks or gets deleted.

How to use:

Open More Tools ➡ Settings & Utilities ➡ Backup Files.
Select the folders you want to back up (Mods, Saves, Tray).
Choose your backup location—make sure there’s enough free space on your SSD, hard drive, or external drive.
Click OK—a zipped copy will be saved to your chosen folder.

You can make as many backups as you like, with different names or dates. To restore, simply unzip your chosen backup and copy the contents back into your Sims 4 Mods folder.

💡 Troubleshooting

🗂️ Mods not organizing as expected?
Switch to Mod Folder Organizer (Custom) to edit the keyword lists yourself and fine-tune how mods are sorted.

📩 Need help?
Use Create Full Report to generate an easy-to-read snapshot of your /Mods folder and your latest LE (lastException) file, if one exists.
You can send this directly to me for troubleshooting or share it with another creator.
Available via 🔍 Scan Mods Folder ➡ More Help and More Tools ➡ Settings.

⚙️ Need to change Settings?
Find these under More Tools ➡ Settings

Set your /Mods folder or Sims 4 game path if the app can't find them, or if you've moved them
Reset launch settings to default
Enable/disable Auto Mods folder
Undo the last Mod Organize

🐞 Found a bug?
Spotted a problem? Reporting it only takes a couple of minutes—click Report a Bug under More Tools ➡ Settings, or click here.

🔄 Auto Mods not unzipping/sorting? Ensure Clean Launcher is open. If you start the app, it'll run in the tray menu until you Exit or Shut Down. I removed the auto-start option for simplicity, but you can still enable it manually:
Right-click Clean Launcher → Show More Options → Create Shortcut. Drag it to your Desktop, copy it, press Win+R, type shell:startup, and paste the shortcut into the Startup folder. You can remove old startup links this way too, or through Task Manager.

🗑️ Mods disappeared?
Using Mod Organizer? Click Undo (also under 🛠 More Tools ➡ Settings).
Accidental deletion? Check your Recycle Bin.
Using Mod Profile Manager? Your original Mods are always backed up—check 📦 More ➡ View Backups.

💡 Other tips:
💾 Keep backups of your Mods folder before making big changes.
🛡️ Use Scan Mods Folder regularly to catch missing dependencies or outdated mods early.
📂 If Clean Launcher can’t organize a file, it will place it in the Review Bin for you to sort manually.