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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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M.C
You should enable all of the files associated with the SortItOutSI Data Update. Vast majority of them start with ‘sortitoutsi.net’ - but not quite all.
The file that provides all of the transfers is the ‘Changes’ file. Individual nations have their own file - which updates promotions/relegations. If you hover over a file in that view you provided a screenshot of, it’ll give a description of what it does.
However, as I say, you should enable all of them and that will give you the full updated game world (note: not every playable league has been updated - but most have. The outstanding ones will be completed in the coming days/week or so).
Phil Batt
I tried enabling all - from the downloaded zip file and still it's back in 2023. Beginning to feel I may just have to await the new release, I work in technology but this has me stumped :/
M.C
Can you share a screenshot of the Editor Data folder and also one of all of them enabled in-game, please?
For the folder screenshot, please include all files you have in that folder.
Aran Sohal
Hi, I have tried to download the new data update with attribute changes but it has frozen the game whenever I try to load up a new one. It stays stuck on this screen. Any idea why and what I can do to get the game to load up? Thanks
James Hussain
Hi. I have bought the £5 update, whicj seems to be working. But how do i use the dynamic version, instead of the classic?
Phil Batt
Thanks - here goes….
Vlad Cristia
Hi! I have issues with seeing the update…changed my windows, just today installed epic/fm…did all the things that you wrote with possible problems, but still nothing…NOTE: i had the “public” stuff, but changed fm to PC and deleted public. I can give some ss's.
Of course, i see nothing in FM, i figured theres no need for a ss to that.
What did i miss? 😢(
Before changing windows, it was all ok
PS: EPIC is installed on drive D, dont know why i said, but meh
PS2: After reinstall, there is a shared folder wtf
PS3: Didnt resolve, but i have so many things that are unusual, so you can close this. Thanks!
Jonathan Nicklin
Having the same issues as many, seem to be stuck on “Loading Game Database" despite following of the advice and all the step by step guidance.
Martin Denning
Morning All
have just downloaded the update to start a new save, all Databases are selected, when starting a new game, and selecting Career, the “Choose Game Mode” button is greyed out and unable to proceed,
any help would be fantastic
Update selecting the database Football Manager 2024 instead of 24.3 has allowed me to progress into a new save…. not sure what thats going to give me yet
Update 2 Databases seem to be stuck at loading, but might be my PC
welshy77
Not just you. It will not load for me either. Followed installation step by step too.
Even gone as far as unticking all the Classic FM updates and seeing if it will load just the dynamic files but been sat for 5 minutes now and nothing happening.
Mattyboi2407
Hi all,
Just downloaded the update, followed step by step. Got to the point of advanced set up, and its jjst sat at loading game database (not even selected leagues or anything yet) been sat on this for around 20 mins now, tried twice too
sr4
Hello, the owner of Ud Almeria is in trouble. He is no longer Turki, but Mohamed Al-Khereiji.
dmnr
I have a problem. I downloaded the Sortitoutsi update, I use it often, never had any problems. But today I noticed Mbangula is missing from SV Werder Bremen. Other transfers like Ritsu Doan, Cuadrado, and Broja have updated, but Mbangula still hasn't. Can someone explain this to me? Thanks a lot.
PottersPatronus
Same issue as everyone else - game gets stuck on Loading Game Database page
Zicer031
hi, I have been installed everything like always , however when I start new game there is no transfers updated. Am I missing something?
Zicer031
Forget, I managed to do it.
Mahan Jahromi
Hi, I am following the README in the dynamic data folder, but I do not see Hato in the Chelsea squad and I can not see player attributes updates
Could someone please help me out
Phil Batt
How 🙂 I have the same issues
bluenosejak
Noob question might just be me but when enabling all the classic fm changes and optional dynamic ones it won't let me past "choose game mode" just blocked out from pressing it. Any idea?
bluenosejak
Update managed to bypass it by clicking Football Manager 2024 database however I'm stuck on loading game database too. Did anyone find a fix?
bluenosejak
Seems it just needed time to sort out 😅
TheWiggo94
Anyone else getting Belgium showing up as not having been verified in the editor?
M.C
This is an error introduced by me - I uploaded a file forgetting a step in the sequence.
I have rectified it, uploading a replacement file earlier today. From tomorrow’s build, the new file will be part of the Data Update and all should be well again.
Apologies to yourself and all for the inconvenience.
utpaajordet
Hi! Which of the files should i delete to NOT have the new wonderkids in the game?
M.C
The newly-created players are part of the main ‘Changes’ file. This will be named either:
Free Version: sortitoutsi.net FM24 Data Update - Changes.fmf
Enhanced Version: Classic FM - Changes.fmf
Please note, this file also contains all of the transfers and contractual changes to players in the original database, so removing this file will also mean you cannot leverage the transfer element of the update.
hazzard119
Hello, screen is stuck on Loading game database, anyone have a fix for that?
frankielong1008550
Gents has anyone had any luck fixing the issue with the game crashing when setting up a new database? or is it just a matter of being incredibly patient?
M.C
Actual crashes are rare - in most cases, there's a need to wait it out. I made a post a bit further up in this thread that provides a bit of perspective on how much longer (versus vanilla database) this step can take, using the SortItOutSI Data Update: https://sortitoutsi.net/comments/get/833633. One simple thing that throws a lot of people off is the fact that the progress bar goes right to the end straight away and then appears to be stuck on 100% for a long time. This is just the way the UI presents the progress - it basically goes to the end and then proceeds to read and process all of the custom data editor files. Because the Data Update makes a lot of changes, this step does take a while…but it should complete.
Now, that isn't to say that a crash isn't possible. Again, in my experience, the most common cause of a crash at this stage (when members of our community are trying to use this site's Data Update) is an incorrect installation of the Dynamic Data; which is of course available for those using the Enhanced Data Update. The use of multiple Dynamic Data files at the same time - when only one is intended to be used at a time - can result in the database failing to load.
J3RM14H
Hi,
I've just paid the 5$ contribution for the better data update… How can I download it? I can't seem to find it anymore…
thaton93
I cannot even get the files to open.
I have the fmf files in the editor folder, absolutely no direction on how this works, whats going on here