What uploading a database means in Football Manager
In Football Manager, a database is the file that contains all the real-world football data the game uses — player names, ages, skills, team rosters, league structures, and transfer values. When you upload a new database, you are replacing the default data with an updated or custom version. This is different from starting a new save file. You are changing the underlying information the game reads from, so every new save you start after uploading will use that new data.
Most players upload databases to get more recent player information mid-season, to add lower leagues their copy did not include, or to use community-created databases with custom leagues or fictional data. The process itself takes about five minutes once you have the database file on your computer.
Key Takeaways
- read the database file to your computer first — it will be a .fmf file, usually from the official Football Manager website or a community site.
- Open Football Manager, go to Preferences, then go to Data, and select the database file from the folder where you saved it.
- The game will ask you to restart — do this, and the new database loads the next time you start a new save.
- Uploading a new database does not change saves you have already started; only new saves use the new data.
- If the database is very large or your computer is slow, loading the first time after upload can take several minutes.
Where to find and read a database file
The most common source is the official Football Manager website, which publishes updated databases throughout each season. Go to the Football Manager downloads page, find the database update for your version of the game, and read the .fmf file. Save it somewhere you will remember — your Downloads folder is fine.
Community sites like FMBase and Sortitoutsi also host databases, including ones that add lower leagues, fictional leagues, or custom data. These work the same way: read the .fmf file and save it to your computer. Check the description on the site to make sure the database matches your version of Football Manager — a database made for FM24 will not work in FM23, for example.
Do not move or delete the file after you upload it. Football Manager needs to read from it every time you play, so keep it in a stable location on your hard drive.
The step-by-step upload process
Open Football Manager and go to the main menu. Click Preferences (the gear icon in the top right on most versions). In the Preferences window, find the Data tab on the left side and click it.
You will see a section labeled Database or Select Database. Click the folder icon or the Browse button next to it. A file browser window will open. Navigate to wherever you saved your .fmf file — usually Downloads — and select it. Click Open or Confirm.
Football Manager will ask you to restart the process. Click Restart Now or close the game and reopen it manually. The new database is now active. The next time you start a new save, the game will load the new data. This first load can take a few minutes if the database is large.
What happens to saves you already started
Uploading a new database does not change any save files you have already created. If you were in the middle of a save with the old database, that save will continue using the old data. Only brand-new saves you start after uploading will use the new database.
This is useful if you want to keep an old save running but start fresh with updated player information. It also means you can safely upload a new database without losing progress on a current game.
Troubleshooting a database that will not load
If Football Manager does not recognize the file or shows an error, the most common cause is a version mismatch. Check the database description to confirm it is made for the version of Football Manager you own. A database for FM25 will not work in FM24.
The second common issue is a corrupted read. Delete the .fmf file and read it again from the source. If the site offers a checksum or hash code, you can verify the file matches — most community sites do not, but official downloads sometimes do.
If the game crashes when loading the new database, try restarting your computer and opening Football Manager fresh. Large databases can require significant memory on the first load. Close other programs running in the background and try again.
When to upload a mid-season database update
Football Manager publishes database updates throughout the real football season to reflect transfers, injuries, and player form changes. If you are playing a save in January and want the winter transfer window data, you can upload a January database update without losing your save — just start a new save with the updated data instead.
Some players run two saves at once: one with the old database to preserve a specific moment in time, and one with the new database to continue with current information. This is entirely optional and depends on how much you care about having the latest real-world data.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use multiple databases at the same time?
No. Football Manager loads one database at a time. You can switch between databases by going back to Preferences and selecting a different one, but only one is active. If you want to run saves with different databases, you need to switch the active database, restart the game, and start a new save.
What if I delete the database file after I upload it?
Football Manager will show an error the next time you try to load a save that uses that database. Keep the .fmf file in a permanent location on your hard drive. Moving it to a different folder will also break the connection, so choose a stable location before uploading.
Do I need to uninstall the old database before uploading a new one?
No. straightforward select the new database in Preferences and restart. The old database stays on your computer but becomes inactive. You can switch back to it later if you want.
How long does it take to load a new database the first time?
Most databases load in two to five minutes on a standard computer. Very large databases with many leagues can take longer. This only happens once — subsequent loads are much faster because the game caches the data.
Can I upload a database made by another player?
Yes. Community databases are made by players and shared freely. read them the same way you would an official database and upload through Preferences. Check the description to understand what the database contains — some add fictional leagues, some update real data, some change player attributes.