Download & extract
Use the extracted .fmf files. Do not place the ZIP file itself into the game folder.
How to install Football Manager database files
Learn where to place downloaded files, how to enable them when starting a new career, and how to avoid common database conflicts.
Move to Editor Data
Place the files into your Football Manager editor data folder.
Start a new career
Custom database files are selected before creating a new save.
Avoid conflicts
Do not enable multiple files that edit the same nation rules at the same time.
Screenshot note:
Screenshots may look slightly different depending on your Football Manager version, but the installation process is usually the same.
Step 1
Download and extract the files
After downloading a file from Riddler’s Project, check whether it is a ZIP archive. If it is, extract it first and use the .fmf files inside.
Common mistake: Football Manager will not read the ZIP file itself as an editor data file.
Step 2
Move files into the Editor Data folder
Move the extracted files into your Football Manager editor data folder. On Windows, the folder is usually located here:
Documents / Sports Interactive / Football Manager 20XX / editor data
Replace 20XX with your Football Manager version. If the editor data folder does not exist, you can create it manually.
Step 3
Start a new career and select the correct update
Open Football Manager and go to Start a New Game → Career. Before creating the save, select the database update that matches the downloaded file.
Each custom file is made for a specific update. Always check the file description and use the matching update where possible.
Step 4
Enable editor data files carefully
When selecting editor data files, enable only the files you want to use in your new save. Be especially careful with files that edit nation rules.
Important: Avoid duplicate nation rules
If two files edit the same nation rules, Football Manager will usually allow only one of them. For example, do not enable two Barbados nation rules files at the same time.
If you downloaded both classic and exclusive versions from Riddler’s Project, keep only one active. In most cases, I recommend using the Exclusive version.
Step 5
Add playable nations and leagues
After confirming the selected editor data files, choose Advanced Setup and open Add/Remove Leagues. Select the nations and competitions you want to make playable.
You can activate only the highest league, or you can add lower levels too. The more competitions you load, the slower the save may become.
Step 6
Choose database size and player pool
In Advanced Options, choose your database size and player settings. A larger database gives you more players, but the game may take longer to load and process.
Recommended player setup
- Players based in nation
- Players of nationality
These settings are individual, but they are useful if you want a richer player database for smaller nations.
Step 7
Optional: Set Detail Level
After your save is created, you can open the in-game menu and adjust Detail Level. This controls which matches are fully simulated.
Higher detail gives better realism and lets you watch more matches in 2D/3D, but it can slow down processing.
If something does not work
File does not appear
Check that the file is extracted, has the .fmf format, and is inside the correct editor data folder.
Save cannot be created
Check for duplicate nation rules or files made for a different database update.
Game is too slow
Reduce playable leagues, database size, or detail level. Very large setups can take much longer to process.