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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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bluenosejak
Anyone got stuck on “Setting up game database”? DId you just have to leave it for ages and back to it? Doesn't seem to have moved an inch yet!
Gareth Lynam
Did this get resolved? I am having the same issue 😢
JC1389
Hi guys, awesome work on the update. Just stuck with a minor glitch. Latest download works fine however when I viewed Man Utd under legends where Alex Ferguson is its blank/greyed out but still has Manager alongside it. Went into Editor, unsure of which file to Edit I chose “Changes” and it was blank for him under relationships. Reinstated him, saved, reloaded and it remained the same but duplicated the blank name. So i have two blank slots and manager alongside it. Any ideas?
Jake_laughton
having the same issue
bluenosejak
It took nearly an hour to get through so just needed to wait, suppose it's down to the big database within the files
M.C
Sorry not to have replied before - that really elongated wait time on the ‘Setting up game database’ step (and it will appear not to progress, visually, for most of the wait time) is because of the ‘Player History’ file. It adds 3,000,000+ records and so reading and executing those changes takes a long time.
It's not a bug, but it is a content-heavy file. It is optional to use and once it has done the one-time load, it has no effect on performance in-game, processing breaks or, indeed, the time it takes to load an ongoing save.
Jake_laughton
the player history file is optional so i never put it in. its just the basic usual files that's causing a long wait for me, non dynamic data etc, the only large file is the changes file, i have no face packs either. if i take the update files out its a lot quicker so i proved its not the game too.
M.C
The use of the SortItOutSI Data Update will, 100%, make things take longer to load. This is true for both the initial game setup stage (before you choose which leagues to have activated) and the main game setup stage (before you choose the team to manage). Specifically, the Data Update contains numerous files that include updated nation rules and, in some cases, new nations altogether. Reading the contents of these files is required so the game can give you the right choices around which leagues to activate.
However, the amount longer that it would be should be tolerable. It's hard to place an exact number on it - it'll vary by hardware. For me, that initial game setup stage (before choosing leagues) takes about 3-4 seconds without the update. With the update, it takes 40-45 seconds.
If you are finding it is not completing at all, then that suggests a more fundamental problem. If you're finding it takes longer, that is normal.
vlvll3
hello,the file that allows me to view the players history isnt working for me, although its located in the same place as all the other files. how can this be solved?
vlvll3
the problem was solved on its own but now even though the file is visible when creating a career i still cant view the players histories
Josep Carol Cols
Hello,
I downloaded the latest Dynamic Update from the button on the website. I unzipped the zip file and copied it to the Data Editor folder following the instructions. I don't see any files named Dynamic New Players X in the Optional Dynamic Data folder. Has something changed in the update or is it a bug?
cristianblack599
me too
M.C
Just to confirm: it's not an error. The ‘Dynamic New Player’ data files were removed because they were no longer needed.
In reality, they should've been removed a while ago - they were needed when the ‘New Players’ were in a separate file from the ‘Changes’. Ever since they were consolidated into a single file, the ‘Dynamic Data’ files are all you need. These contain the dynamic ability randomisations for the newly-created players, too.
What we do need to do is update the associated Readme file.
Boizu Daiki
I have already updated the 2024 file and started a new game, but why doesn’t the FM in-game editor show up in the game?"
Tomi Mauro
Descargo el ultimo UPDATE del FM24 y no me aparece el archivo con las transferencias que dice "CHANGES".
Tomi Mauro
Buenas noches! Descargo la actualizacion y no me aparece el archivo con las transferencias. Solo me aparecen el de las ligas. Pero el que dice “CHANGES” no. Alguna solucion pronto? Gracias
M.C
I appreciate your first post didn’t get a reply, but there’s no need to repeat your post. We also ask that all posts are made in English.
The structure of the Data Update has changed recently. The ‘Changes’ file is now called ‘Contracts’.
All of the content is still there - just the files have been shuffled around a bit.
Tiago Caracol
Hello.
First of all, congratulations on the excellent work. With the new data update, how do you avoid having Dynamic Attributes?
M.C
At the moment, the Dynamic CA/PA are built in to the Enhanced Data Update; there is no method to use the update without them.
Those dynamic variations, however, are small offsets designed to present a little bit of variety between saves. They are modest variations to keep things unpredictable - not something that will randomise the footballing world entirely.
Of course, there have been very recent advances to the automation behind how the Data Update is built - so the Enhanced Data Update is now re-published every 20 minutes. I do know that the site admin has plans to develop a ‘build your own update’ / modular approach and I believe amongst those developments will be things like being able to choose whether to use the randomisation or not. It is not ready yet, though, and I am not in a position to suggest a timeline.
gbrsoares1
Cagarion
Sorry but is there anyone here using “No Date Changes Update" version? its not get updated even tho its say released on 11 September but the files that given will always on 8 September.
Rikki Tikki Tavi
Hello,
When European rankings for UCL spots are announced on 15th of June 2024 the game crashes.
Any ideas how to fix this?
Friendly Regards
Madara11
I have the same problem. Cant choose Sortitoutsi update. Did you solve the problem?
M.C
I think your issue may be different - if you are using the current/latest version of the Enhanced Data Update (which I believe you are).
At present, there is an issue with the Enhanced Data Update presenting a download of a single file named sortitoutsi.net FM24 Data Update - Live.fmf. In reality, this is supposed to be a .zip file and the contents are, in fact, a valid zip file.
As a workaround, anyone downloading the Enhanced Data Update should rename the file to a .zip file. This will then allow it to be extracted and you'll find all of the contents of the Data Update inside (multiple .fmf files), which should be installed as normal.
We are working on getting this resolved ASAP and this is just temporary guidance for the short-term.
did0w
hi ! i have a problem or maybe i'm lost.
on July i downloade update 24/25 classic fm.
today i downloaded enhanced data update.
this i missed a folder to download between both ?
in the live update i cannot find the folder “ changes ” .. so where are set the transfer ? and where are the new players very youngs ?
thanks a lot
M.C
The structure of the files has changed a bit since you last downloaded, I think.
Have a look here - it should explain the differences and answer your question: https://sortitoutsi.net/content/74544/our-data-update-just-got-a-huge-upgrade
willcoop
Having issues with making a network save with this database any reason for this? Can’t get my friend to join the server?
shaneil
Hi,
I've installed the update fine (with all the correct fmf files) and started up the game only to find that the newer transfers (summer 2025) are missing. for example no cunha at man utd, although zirkzee etc are there. The leagues are updated with the newly promoted teams.
I've followed the installation guide and troubleshooting guide so can't seem to find what the problem is? thanks
suss1690
Hi all, have downloaded the basic Data update for FM24 today, and extracted all files to the editor data folder as normal. Started new game in original game mode with the 24.3.0 daabase and 51 changes all selected, however when the new game loads, no changes have taken place (transfers or clubs in league correct or Brazilian team names etc)
The in-game status shows database status as 24.3.0 Update also, so something must have worked.
Any ideas on what else I can do, I have been downloading and implementing database changes for years, but this one has me beaten?
Thank you
CoffeeHawks
Can I assume that the New Players can be used standalone?
It's just adds the new Wonderkids?
Edit: Actually, never mind. I've answered the question. Probably should've asked before paying.