Let’s be real. Standing in front of a mirror for twelve hours straight while your Sim "practices speech" is the opposite of fun. It’s tedious. You’re watching a tiny digital person talk to their own reflection just so they can finally "Smooth Talk" a neighbor without it ending in an awkward silence. Sometimes you just want the perks without the performance.
Using a charisma cheat sims 4 style is basically a rite of passage. Whether you’re trying to speed-run the Politician career or you just want your Sim to stop being a social paroxysm, cheats are the grease on the wheels. But there’s a specific way to do it so you don't break your save or lose out on the weird, specific rewards that come with being a level 10 socialite.
How to actually trigger the charisma cheat in Sims 4
Before you can magically become the life of the party, you have to open the "back door" of the game. If you've played any Sims game since 2000, you know the drill, but the console commands vary depending on what you’re playing on.
First, you need the cheat console.
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- PC users: Press
Ctrl + Shift + C. - Mac users: Press
Command + Shift + C. - Console players (PS4/PS5/Xbox): Hold down all four shoulder buttons/triggers at once (
L1+L2+R1+R2orLB+LT+RB+RT).
Once that little white box pops up in the top left corner, you have to "wake up" the system. Type testingcheats true and hit enter. You should see a message saying "Cheats are enabled." If you don't see that, the rest of this won't work.
Now, here is the exact string of text you need for the charisma cheat sims 4 recognizes:
stats.set_skill_level Major_Charisma 10
You can change that "10" to any number between 1 and 10. If you want a Sim who is just "okay" at talking but not a cult leader, maybe go for a 5. Honestly, most people just go straight for the 10 because they want the viral video unlocks.
Why everyone skips to Level 10
It isn't just about making friends faster. The Charisma skill in The Sims 4 is secretly one of the most profitable skills in the game if you know how to exploit the unlocks.
At Level 3, you get the ability to donate to charity. It sounds boring, but it’s a quick way to get a "Happy" moodlet. By Level 5, you can start doing "Cheer Up" social interactions that actually work.
But the real meat is at the higher levels.
The "Loan" scam
By Level 7, your Sim can ask other Sims for a "small loan." Then, at Level 9, they can ask for a "large loan." Here’s the kicker: you never have to pay them back. You can literally fund a mansion just by being really, really likeable. It’s essentially free money without using "motherlode."
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Going Viral
At Level 10, you unlock the "Upload Viral Video" interaction on the computer. If it hits—and with level 10 charisma, it usually does—you get a massive influx of followers and a nice chunk of change. This is a game-changer for the Social Media career or the "Friend of the World" aspiration.
Negotiating like a pro
Maxing out this skill also lets you "Negotiate a Bonus" with your boss over the phone. If successful, you get an immediate cash injection and a performance boost. It’s one of the few ways to get extra money from a standard 9-to-5 job without waiting for a random chance card.
Common mistakes and why it might not work
If you typed the code and nothing happened, you probably made a typo. The Sims 4 is weirdly picky about underscores. It has to be Major_Charisma, not Major Charisma or Major-Charisma.
Also, a big warning for the achievement hunters: enabling cheats on Xbox or PlayStation will disable achievements and trophies for that specific save file. Once you type "testingcheats true," there’s no going back. If you’re a completionist, you might want to stick to the mirror and the "Convivial" lot trait.
On PC and Mac, there are no such penalties. Cheat to your heart's content.
Making it feel "natural" (The Semi-Cheat Method)
Maybe you feel a little guilty about jumping straight to level 10. I get it. If you want to level up fast without the "instant win" button, you can use a different cheat to put your Sim in the right mood.
Charisma builds significantly faster when a Sim is Confident. Instead of the skill cheat, try this:
sims.add_buff ConfidentHigh
This gives your Sim a +2 Confident moodlet. While they’re in this state, every "Practice Speech" session in the mirror or "Flatter" interaction with a neighbor will build the bar much quicker. It feels a bit more like you "earned" it, even though you totally didn't.
What to do after maxing Charisma
Once you've used the charisma cheat sims 4 command, don't just sit there. Go to a nightclub or a lounge and use the "Enchanting Introduction." It’s a Level 8 unlock that basically skips the "Acquaintance" phase and moves you straight into "Friend" or even "Romance" territory with a single handshake.
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You can also use your new powers to "Introduce Sim to All Others" if you have the right perks, which basically makes you a celebrity in your own neighborhood.
Next Steps for your Sim:
- Open the cheat console and enter
stats.set_skill_level Major_Charisma 10to max it out instantly. - Head to the computer and "Upload Viral Video" to start stacking followers.
- Find a wealthy townie and ask for a "Large Loan" to see if your social skills are actually working.
- If you're on console, remember that this save is now for "fun" only, as trophies are gone.