What uploading a database means in Football Manager
A database in Football Manager is a file that contains all the leagues, teams, players, and competition structures the game uses. When you upload a new database, you are replacing the default one with a custom version — usually one that adds lower divisions, fictional leagues, or updated player information that the standard game does not include.
The process differs slightly depending on whether you are on PC or Mac, and whether you are using Steam or a standalone copy. The core steps are the same: download the database file, place it in the correct folder, and tell Football Manager to load it when you start a new save.
Most custom databases come from the Football Manager community forums or sites like FMScout. They arrive as a single file with a name like "database.fmf" or similar. You do not need to install anything — you just move the file to where the game looks for it.
Key Takeaways
- Custom databases go into your Football Manager data folder, not into the game installation folder itself.
- On Windows, this folder is usually in Documents\Sports Interactive\Football Manager [year], and on Mac it is in your user Library folder under the same path.
- After placing the database file in the correct location, start a new save and the database will appear as an option on the setup screen.
- If the database does not appear, check that the file name does not have extra spaces or special characters, and that you put it in the data folder, not the cache folder.
- Some databases require a specific version of Football Manager to work — check the download page before you download.
Finding your Football Manager data folder on Windows
On Windows, Football Manager stores custom databases in your user Documents folder, not in Program Files where the game itself lives. Open File Explorer and navigate to Documents > Sports Interactive > Football Manager [year], where [year] is the version you own (2024, 2025, and so on).
If you do not see a Sports Interactive folder, create one. Right-click in your Documents folder, select New > Folder, and name it "Sports Interactive". Then create a subfolder inside it named "Football Manager 2024" (or whichever year you have). Inside that folder, you will see several subfolders including one called "data" — this is where the database file goes.
If the data folder does not exist, create it the same way. The full path should look like this: C:\Users\[Your Username]\Documents\Sports Interactive\Football Manager 2024\data. Once you have the data folder open and ready, you can move your downloaded database file into it.
Finding your Football Manager data folder on Mac
On Mac, the data folder is hidden inside your user Library. Open Finder, click Go in the menu bar, and select Library. You may need to hold the Option key while clicking Go to see the Library option. Once inside Library, navigate to Application Support > Sports Interactive > Football Manager [year].
Inside the Football Manager folder, you will see a data folder. This is where your custom database file goes. If you do not see a data folder, create one by right-clicking in the Football Manager folder, selecting New Folder, and naming it "data".
The full path on Mac looks like this: ~/Library/Application Support/Sports Interactive/Football Manager 2024/data. Once you have located or created the data folder, you are ready to move your database file into it.
Downloading and placing the database file
Download your custom database file from the source — usually the Football Manager forums, FMScout, or another community site. The file will typically be a single file with a name like "database.fmf", "lower_divisions.fmf", or something similar. Do not unzip or extract it unless the download instructions specifically tell you to.
Once downloaded, move the file into the data folder you located in the previous steps. On Windows, you can drag and drop it, or right-click and select Cut, then navigate to the data folder and Paste. On Mac, do the same — drag the file into the Finder window showing your data folder.
Check that the file name does not have extra spaces, brackets, or special characters. Football Manager can be picky about file names. If the original file name is something like "[FM2024] database (v2).fmf", consider renaming it to something simpler like "database.fmf" before moving it.
Starting a new save and selecting your database
Open Football Manager and click New Game. On the setup screen, you will see a dropdown menu for Database. Click it and look for your custom database in the list. If you uploaded it correctly, it will appear here with the file name you gave it.
Select your database from the dropdown. The game will load it and show you the leagues and teams it contains. You can then proceed with the rest of the setup — choosing your team, difficulty level, and other options — as normal.
If your database does not appear in the dropdown, do not start the save yet. Close the game completely, check that the file is in the correct data folder (not the cache folder or the game installation folder), and make sure the file name is spelled correctly. Then restart the game and check the dropdown again.
Troubleshooting when the database does not appear
If you have placed the file in the data folder but it still does not show up in the dropdown, the most common cause is that the file is corrupted or incompatible with your version of Football Manager. Check the download page or forum post where you got the database — it should say which version of the game it works with. If you have Football Manager 2024 but the database is for 2023, it will not load.
Another common issue is that the file got placed in the wrong folder. Double-check that it is in the data folder, not in cache, graphics, or any other subfolder. On Windows, the full path should end with "...Football Manager 2024\data". On Mac, it should end with "...Football Manager 2024/data".
If the file name has unusual characters or very long spaces, rename it to something simple like "database.fmf" and try again. Some systems have trouble reading file names with brackets, parentheses, or multiple spaces. After renaming, restart Football Manager and check the dropdown once more.
Using multiple databases at once
You can have several database files in your data folder, and Football Manager will show all of them in the dropdown on the setup screen. This lets you choose which one to use each time you start a new save. You do not need to move files in and out — just leave them all there and pick the one you want when you create a new game.
If you have many databases and want to keep things organized, you can create subfolders inside the data folder and put related databases together. Football Manager will still find them. For example, you might create a folder called "lower_divisions" and put all your lower-league databases inside it.
Be aware that having many large database files in the data folder can slow down the game's startup time slightly, since Football Manager has to read all of them when it loads. If you notice the game taking longer to start, consider removing databases you are not using.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a database from an older version of Football Manager in a newer version?
Usually not. A database made for Football Manager 2023 will not load in Football Manager 2024. Check the download page to confirm which version the database was made for, and use it only with that version. Some creators release updated versions for new years, so check if a newer version exists.
What if the database file is inside a zip or rar file?
Extract it first. Right-click the zip file and select Extract All (Windows) or double-click it (Mac). This will create the actual database file. Then move that file into your data folder. Do not move the zip file itself — the game cannot read it.
Do I need to restart my computer after uploading a database?
No. You only need to close Football Manager completely and reopen it. The game will read the data folder fresh each time it starts and show any new databases you have added.
Can I delete a database after I have started a save with it?
Yes. Once you have created a save, the database information is stored inside that save file. You can delete the original database file from your data folder without affecting the save. The save will continue to work normally.
Why does my database show up in the dropdown but give an error when I try to load it?
The file is likely corrupted or was not downloaded completely. Try downloading it again from the original source. If the error persists, the database may not be compatible with your exact version of Football Manager — check the creator's notes on the download page to see if there are known issues.