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If you are having trouble installing our Football Manager Transfer Update or any other Football Manager Database then please read everything below.
The guide is split into two sections, the basic installation instructions, which should be very simple for 99% of users and some common mistakes and issues. Please make sure to read the guide in full and check you're not making any of the common mistakes before commenting asking for help.
Extra: What to do if you're missing January transfers like Ronaldo, Enzo Fernandez etc
If you're missing transfers from January that means your copy of FM isn't up to date. Update it through Steam or whatever other platform you're using. When starting a new save make sure that it says 23.4 in the top right.
If you are using a cracked or pirated version of FM our update will not work, there is no way to make it work, do not ask for help with a cracking or pirated version you will be banned.
How to download and extract the Football Manager Data Update
- First download the Data Update. You will then be presented with a “zip” file to save somewhere on your computer
- Extract the zip file
- Mac: Usually you can just double click on it.
- Windows: Right click on the file and click “Extract All”
- You should then be presented with a folder that contains files named “.fmf”. In some cases you might be presented with just a single “.fmf” file not in any folders.
- Move the “.fmf” files to your “editor data” folder. See below for where this folder is located on different systems
- Make sure to put the “.fmf” files themselves directly in the “editor data” folder. You cannot have any sub folders within the “editor data” folder.
Windows: Where to put Football Manager Data Updates on Windows
The default path on Windows is:
Documents/Sports Interactive/Football Manager 2023/editor data
Obviously change the year to whatever version of the game you're playing.
Mac: Where to put Football Manager Data Updates on Mac
The default path on Mac is:
/Users/yourname/Library/Application Support/Sports Interactive/Football Manager 2023/editor data
Obviously change the year to whatever version of the game you're playing.
This can be difficult to find on Mac using Finder, use the following steps to easily find this folder:
a) Open Finder
b) Click “Go” from the menubar and select “Go to Folder” (alternatively press Shift+CMD+G)
c) Copy in the following: ~/Library/Application Support/Sports Interactive/
d) Open the folder for you game e.g: “Football Manager 2023”
e) Open the “editor data” folder (or create it if it doesn't exist)
f) Move the “.fmf” files into the ”editor data" folder
By default in Finder the path is not shown. Click “View” > “Show Path Bar” in Finder and the full path will now be shown at the bottom of every Finder window.
How to find and change your “editor data” folder in Football Manager
Below you will find the default paths, but not everyone's installation is the same. The easiest way to be sure is to check in Football Manager itself.
- Open Football Manager and click “Preferences”
- Search “Location” at the top and you should see a path, stupidly FM has bad UI and you can't read the whole path.
- Click “Change Folder” and click the dropdown at the top and it should display the whole path.
- If you do wish to change the location you can do so here, but if you're struggling to install a file and asking for help this may confuse the situation.
- There is a reset button to the right of where it says “Change Folder” click this if you're unsure if you've changed it.
Common Mistakes
Not extracting the zip
The “.zip” file should not be in your “editor data” folder. You must extract the zip file. If you are seeing a .zip file in your editor data folder instead of .fmf files then you're doing it wrong.
Do not use sub folders
Your “editor data” folder should never have sub folders.
Sports Interactive/Football Manager 2023/editor data/new leagues/France.fmf BAD
Sports Interactive/Football Manager 2023/editor data/France.fmf GOOD
Sometimes when you download a file it will be organised in sub folders like “Football Manager 2023/editor data” already. Make sure to copy just the “.fmf” and not all the sub folders.
Sports Interactive/Football Manager 2023/editor data/Football Manager 2023/editor data//Data Update.fmf BAD
Sports Interactive/Football Manager 2023/editor data/Data Update.fmf GOOD
Having “public” folders
For some reason some people have duplicate folders under a parent folder called “public”. I'm not sure why this is, but sometimes it can cause problems. Check if you have the files under a folder folder called “Public” or “Public Documents” and move them to the correct path instead.
Here's some examples.
Windows
Users/Public/Public Documents/Sports Interactive/Football Manager 2023/editor data BAD
Documents/Sports Interactive/Football Manager 2023/editor data GOOD
Mac
/Users/yourname/Public/Sports Interactive/Football Manager 2023/editor data BAD
/Users/yourname/Library/Application Support/Sports Interactive/Football Manager 2023/editor data GOOD
- Date Created
- 07 Feb 2023 08:37:48
- Date Updated
- 18 Aug 2023 15:24:10
- Last Comment
- 01 Jun 2026 18:58:49
Comments
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Zoul
@Kerim Salih Try removing the “FMUpdate - January 2025”. Likely that one that causes conflict.
Kerim Salih
Thanks @Zoul, I actually spotted that after posting and deleted it but it hasn't made any difference.
MichaelGilbert04
Hello,
I have tried to download the data update for the last 2 hours straight and nothing is working. When I download the pack, it creates its own folder, it is already in the fmf file format but it does not show up on the game. I really do not know what I am doing wrong.
jake_the_snake
I have just uploaded the one for today now, it should work 🙂
Rich Devall
Anybody know how to fix my Champions League problem? When I go into the editor and load ‘Data Update - Europe’ file it all looks good, 6 English teams in the Champions League, but when I start a new game Man City and Arsenal are not in it, Athletic Club not in it in Spain either.
Marck
There's something wrong with the file they're using.
Rich Devall
Yeah it looks like it. I've managed to get City back in it, by deleting a duplicate Dortmund they had in there, But still no Arsenal or Athletic and there could be more in other countries I haven't checked.
Marck
I think the error has been there since yesterday but it hasn't been fixed or the file hasn't been deleted or whatever they're doing.
ZicoTheLegacy
Hi Admins,
There have been a few errors on the files for the last few days, which aren't updating some of the clubs in the correct divisions in leagues.
It's not explicitly coming up as an error, but it seems like changes aren't being saved - please can you take a look today.
Thanks
MichaelGilbert04
Hi Jake,
I am having a real issue just getting the files into the editor or them working at all. I have tried extracting the files to the editor data and it does not work and no matter what I do it is wrong. I try downloading the new files and nothing is happening. I have attached screenshots below, I really do not know what I am doing wrong.
jake_the_snake
They should be put in this folder:
MichaelGilbert04
I have tried that, but it still does not work. I must be doing this incredibly wrong
Kerim Salih
I've been installing these updates for years and it's not working for me either. I'm hoping someone can help with my issue too, because it's getting really frustrating now!
Footygamer
@Kerim Salih if you click where it says 23.4.0 update in the top right it usually tells you what is wrong. I can see you have the FMTU Update and two Turkey files, that is probably what is causing it.
@ZicoTheLegacy without screenshots it is impossible to help you, I would suggest you remove all files and just reinstall the real name fix and data update, that should be all you need
ZicoTheLegacy
@Footygamer Thanks for the response, please see attached
I've deleted all previous files in the editor folder and then re-downloaded the season 24/25 update - copied all files into Application support > fm24 >editor data…
Load FM
Start a new save - select the relevant files that appear in the editor data folder
Go to select a team, and it shows Sunderland still in the Premier League along with other teams that should be in the Championship, etc..
Footygamer
What do you mean Sunderland still in the premier league? That's exactly right they've just been promoted so we've put them in the premier league….
Implementality Group
would really appreciate someone's help getting this to work for me. It does not work, I cleared the editor data, dragged in the fmf files from the squad update into the editor data folder, but still doesn't work. I have uninstalled and re-installed but it still does not show sunderland in premier league for me. Please can you help?
As per attached, the selected files (aka squad update) aren't shown in the editor data in the football manager start new career mode view. This is even after I drag all 46 files to the editor folder, but still doesn't load up the new squad update in FM 2024 when i launch a new career. please help 😢
M.C
As your game is not recognising the existence of any Editor Data files, we should start our troubleshooting there.
What is the full filepath that you have copied the FMF files into? Unfortunately, your screenshots don’t show the full filepath.
Implementality Group
here is the full file path attached , doesn't seem to load on fm 2024 when i start a new career, please help
M.C
I don’t use MacOS, but from the instructions on the download page I see the expected folder location is:
This differs from what is shown in your screenshot. You’re looking for the ‘Application Support’ folder and the Sports Interactive folder structure goes from there.
tsaq1987
I did all the moves got written before but still unavalialble to see new data
Implementality Group
does not work after following above steps
M.C
OK, so presumably the issue is that your game still doesn't recognise the presence of any Editor Data files?
Assuming so, can I please ask you to:
1. In FM 24, go to Preferences, click on the Advanced tab and then choose ‘General’ from the drop-down list. Look for the ‘Location’ setting and see what the filepath is specified as. Make a note of it/take a screenshot and share it.
2. Browse to that filepath on your MacOS device. You should see all of the .fmf files in there. If you do, then I would expect that is set up as expected and the game should recognise them. If you do not, that is the folder you need to put all of the .fmf files into.
3. If, doing step 2, you believe all the files are in the right location, please take a screenshot which shows the filepath.
yohanR33
Hi everyone, i've got an issue with the latest release, I can't start a new game, i selected all the fmf file from the menu. When I want to go on advanced configuration, I'm waiting 10 min aproximatly but nothing changed and I can't start the game
Someone can help me pls
Thanks
Stumpy2k16
Good afternoon,
I have paid the £5 for the enhanced options on the fm24 updates however I am now getting the attached issue saying I have not.
I paid for this on the 29th May 2025?
I actually did a download on the 12/06/25 as attached.
Any help would be lovely
Alex L Blud
deleted - resolved
Implementality Group
thanks for looking into this. I tried again but the issue is still present. See below as requested;
1 - identified the location
2 - reupdated with the 21 june squad update
3 - it now works! woohoo just like that sunderland, burnley and leeds united are back in the prem!
thank you! 🙂
mạnh phùng
where can i downoad 21 june squad update? from 24/6 → i cant choose EPL…
M.C
Previous versions of the Data Update can be accessed via https://sortitoutsi.net/football-manager-data-update/releases.
However, I can assure you that the recent versions of the update all work as expected. Therefore, I think there must be something else happening on your end for the issue you are experiencing. The most common cause is the presence of additional, incompatible Editor Data files (i.e. other custom database files).
If you would like, please share screenshots of your ‘editor data’ folder (showing all contents) and also screenshots of where your game setup fails (i.e. if it won't allow you to activate England, hover over it and it may show a specific error message).
I am sure we will find a way to resolve the issue so you can make use of the latest update.
Neil Anthony Macdonald
Like several people, my load freezes on the loading game database page. Have deleted all previous data and downloaded the data twice