Updated November 14, 2026
The Football Manager 27 Pre-Game Editor can open with what looks like an empty database. No players, clubs, or staff appear, and clicking Load Database may seem to do nothing.
If you have used the editor in previous Football Manager games, this can be confusing. You might expect a database selection window to appear automatically, but FM27's editor can behave differently.
The good news is that a blank results screen does not necessarily mean the database is broken. In many cases, applying a search filter makes the missing records appear.
There is also a separate problem where custom .fmf editor files are saved successfully but do not appear when starting a new career.
Here is how to fix both problems without unnecessarily reinstalling Football Manager 27.
Quick Answer: How to Fix the Blank FM27 Pre-Game Editor
If the FM27 Pre-Game Editor opens without showing players or clubs, try Apply Filter first.
- Open the Football Manager 27 Pre-Game Editor.
- Select People or Clubs from the navigation.
- Find the filter controls.
- Select Add Condition and choose a simple search condition, such as a country.
- Click Apply Filter.
- Check whether matching players or clubs appear.
If records appear, the editor can access the database. The original problem was the empty results display, not necessarily a database-loading failure.
Important: You do not need to move .fmf files or reinstall the editor just because the People or Clubs list initially appears blank.
If Apply Filter still returns nothing, continue with the troubleshooting steps below.
Why Is the FM27 Pre-Game Editor Blank?
The FM27 Pre-Game Editor allows you to modify the game's database before beginning a new career.
You can edit players, clubs, staff, competitions, finances, and other database information.
However, when you open a category such as People or Clubs, the editor may not immediately display every available record.
Instead, the list can remain empty until you apply a search filter.
This creates two different situations.
1. The Database Is Available, but No Results Are Displayed
The editor opens normally, but the player or club list is blank.
Applying a filter reveals matching records.
In this situation, the editor can access the database, and reinstalling the application is unnecessary.
2. The Editor Cannot Access the Database Correctly
The editor remains empty even after applying a valid filter, or an error message appears when attempting to load the database.
This requires additional troubleshooting.
FM27 Editor Problems: Quick Comparison
| Problem | What to try first |
|---|---|
| No players showing | Apply a People filter |
| No clubs showing | Apply a Clubs filter |
| Load Database does nothing | Test whether filtering reveals records |
| Custom .fmf file missing | Check the editor data folder |
| Edited database missing in a new career | Check database selection during setup |
| Editor remains empty after filtering | Check installation and updates |
The quickest way to identify your problem is to test the filter before changing any files.
How to Show Missing Players and Clubs in FM27 Editor
Step 1: Open the People or Clubs Section
Launch the Football Manager 27 Pre-Game Editor.
Select the category you want to edit.
For example:
- People: Players, managers, and other staff.
- Clubs: Football clubs and their database records.
If the list is empty, continue to the filter controls.
Step 2: Add a Search Condition
Find Add Condition in the filter area.
Choose a simple condition that should return existing records.
For example, select a country to narrow the search to players or clubs associated with that country.
You can also use a name-based condition to search for a known player or club.
Avoid combining multiple restrictive conditions during your first test.
Step 3: Click Apply Filter
Once your search condition is ready, click Apply Filter.
The editor should display records matching your search if the database is accessible and the condition is valid.
If players or clubs appear, select the entry you want to modify and continue editing.
Step 4: Test Another Category
If you searched for players, switch to Clubs and apply another simple filter.
This helps determine whether the issue affects one search category or the entire editor.
Tip: If a search returns zero results, try another known player, club, or country before assuming the database failed to load. A valid search with no matches is different from a database-loading error.
Apply Filter Not Working? Try These Fixes
If clicking Apply Filter still produces an empty list, try the following checks.
1. Remove Restrictive Search Conditions
A search can return no results if the conditions are too specific.
Remove unnecessary conditions and start again with one simple filter.
For example, instead of combining a country, age, club, and nationality condition, begin with a single country or name.
Check whether the matching records appear.
2. Try a Different Category
Switch from People to Clubs, or from Clubs to People.
Apply a fresh filter.
If one category displays records but another does not, the editor may still have access to the underlying database.
3. Restart the Pre-Game Editor
Close the editor completely.
Then:
- Reopen it through Steam or your installed launcher.
- Allow the application to finish starting.
- Select People or Clubs.
- Apply a simple filter again.
Restarting can help rule out a temporary application problem, although it is not a guaranteed fix.
4. Check for an Actual Database Error
Look for messages indicating that:
- The database cannot be opened.
- A required file is missing.
- The selected database cannot be recognized.
- The editor encountered an error while loading data.
If you see an error message, record its exact wording.
A blank list and a database-loading error are not necessarily the same problem.
If filtering works, continue using the editor. If every category remains empty or a loading error appears, move on to the installation checks.
FM27 Custom Editor Files Not Showing? Check the .fmf Folder
Another FM27 issue occurs after you successfully edit the database and save your changes.
The editor creates a custom .fmf file, but Football Manager 27 does not show that file when you start a new career.
One possible cause is that the file was saved inside the editor's own folder rather than the folder used by Football Manager 27.
Step 1: Find Your Saved Editor File
On Windows, open File Explorer and navigate to:
Documents\Sports Interactive\Editor 27\editor data
Look for the .fmf file containing your changes.
For example:
My Custom Database.fmf
The filename depends on what you entered when saving your edited database.
Step 2: Copy the File into FM27's Editor Data Folder
Open another File Explorer window and navigate to:
Documents\Sports Interactive\Football Manager 27\editor data
Copy the .fmf file from the Editor 27 folder into the Football Manager 27 folder.
The destination should look like this:
Documents\Sports Interactive\Football Manager 27\editor data\My Custom Database.fmf
If the editor data folder does not exist, create it inside the Football Manager 27 folder.
Important: Copy the file rather than deleting the original. Keeping a backup protects your changes.
Step 3: Check OneDrive and Documents
Some Windows systems have more than one Documents location, particularly when OneDrive folder backup is enabled.
For example:
C:\Users\YourName\Documents\Sports Interactive
and
C:\Users\YourName\OneDrive\Documents\Sports Interactive
If the editor saves your custom database in one location while FM27 uses another, the game may not detect the file.
Check both locations and identify which folder the game is using.
Do not delete either folder while troubleshooting.
Step 4: Restart Football Manager 27
After copying the .fmf file, close and reopen Football Manager 27.
Start a new career and check the editor data selection options.
If your custom file now appears, select it before continuing with career setup.
Remember: Moving an .fmf file will not fix a blank People or Clubs list inside the Pre-Game Editor. These are separate problems.
How to Enable FM27 Editor Files When Starting a New Career
Saving your edited database is only part of the process.
You must also select the custom editor data when creating a new Football Manager 27 career.
Step 1: Start a New Career
Open Football Manager 27 and begin creating a new save.
Continue to the database setup screen.
Step 2: Open the Database Selection Menu
Look toward the top-right corner of the database setup screen.
Find the database selection control, which may display Football Manager.
Open this dropdown to access the available database options and editor data files.
Check this screen before proceeding to league selection.
Step 3: Enable Your Custom Editor File
Open the Editor Data Files selection.
Find the .fmf file you want to use and enable it.
If you have multiple custom database files, confirm that you have selected the correct ones.
Be careful when combining files that modify the same clubs, players, or competition rules.
Step 4: Continue Creating Your Save
Once your editor data is selected, continue through the career setup process.
Your changes should be included when the new database is created, provided the file is compatible and passes the game's validation checks.
Can You Add Custom Editor Data to an Existing Save?
Pre-Game Editor changes are designed to be applied when creating a new career.
Copying an .fmf file into the editor data folder does not automatically update an existing save.
If you want to use a modified pre-game database, you normally need to begin a new career with the file enabled.
FM27 Pre-Game Editor Still Not Loading? Additional Troubleshooting
If the editor remains empty after applying valid filters, check the application installation and database files.
Check That the Correct Editor Is Installed
The Football Manager 27 Pre-Game Editor is a separate application from the main game.
If you use Steam:
- Open your Steam Library.
- Select the library filter dropdown.
- Enable Tools.
- Find Football Manager 27 Editor.
- Make sure it is installed.
For Microsoft Store installations, search for the Football Manager 27 Pre-Game Editor in the Store.
For Epic Games Store installations, locate the editor in your Epic Games library and make sure it is installed in the same location as the main game.
Verify the Editor's Installed Files on Steam
If you use Steam, verify the editor's installation files.
- Open your Steam Library.
- Find Football Manager 27 Editor.
- Right-click the editor and select Properties.
- Open Installed Files.
- Select the option to Verify integrity of files.
- Wait for Steam to finish checking the installation.
This may help if application files are damaged or incomplete, but it will not necessarily resolve an empty results list.
Check for Game and Editor Updates
Make sure Football Manager 27 and its Pre-Game Editor are updated through your launcher.
If a custom database stopped working after a game update, check whether the file is compatible with the database version you selected.
Do not manually rename, replace, or delete the game's original database files.
Test Without Custom Editor Data
If you have installed custom editor files, temporarily move them to a backup folder outside the game's editor data directory.
Restart the editor and test a simple People or Clubs filter.
If the problem continues, restore your files and investigate other causes.
This is a diagnostic step, not a guaranteed fix.
Check Windows Documents and Folder Permissions
If the editor cannot save changes, check whether Windows is allowing it to write files to Documents.
OneDrive synchronization, folder permissions, or Windows security settings may interfere with file access.
Make sure the folder exists and that you can save files there normally.
Avoid disabling Windows security features just because the editor displays an empty list.
Report Persistent Database Errors
If the editor still cannot display records, gather these details:
- Your platform: Steam, Epic Games, or Microsoft Store.
- Your operating system.
- Whether People and Clubs both show empty lists.
- Whether Apply Filter produces any results.
- The exact database-loading error, if one appears.
- Whether the problem occurs without custom editor files.
You can request assistance through the Sports Interactive Community or SEGA Support.
Providing the exact error and the steps you already tried can help distinguish a genuine database problem from normal filter behavior.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does FM27 Pre-Game Editor show no players or clubs?
The editor may open with an empty results list even when the database is accessible. Select People or Clubs, add a search condition, and click Apply Filter to display matching records.
How do I fix a blank FM27 Pre-Game Editor?
Start by applying a simple filter, such as a country or known club name. If records appear, the editor can access the database. If every search remains empty, check for loading errors, installation problems, and available updates.
Why does clicking Load Database do nothing in FM27?
The FM27 editor may not display the same database selection prompt used in previous versions. Before assuming the database failed to load, test whether applying a filter reveals players or clubs.
Does the Apply Filter workaround work on Mac?
If the editor opens on Mac but displays no records, applying a filter is a reasonable first check. However, it is not a guaranteed solution for every macOS database-loading issue.
What should I do if FM27 Editor cannot recognize 2700_fm?
If the editor displays an error mentioning 2700_fm, record the complete message and check whether the problem occurs with the default database or only with a custom editor file.
Make sure the game and editor are updated. Do not rename or delete database files without identifying the cause.
Where should FM27 .fmf files be saved?
On Windows, custom editor files used by Football Manager 27 should normally be placed in:
Documents\Sports Interactive\Football Manager 27\editor data
Make sure the file has the .fmf extension and is not still inside a compressed archive.
Why is my edited FM27 database missing when starting a career?
Check whether the editor saved the file inside Editor 27\editor data instead of Football Manager 27\editor data.
Also check the database selection dropdown during new-career setup and make sure your file is enabled.
Can I use FM27 Pre-Game Editor changes in an existing career?
No. Pre-Game Editor database changes are normally applied when creating a new career. They do not automatically update an existing save.
Should I reinstall the FM27 Pre-Game Editor?
Not immediately.
First, apply a filter to check whether the database records are accessible.
If the editor still fails to load records, verify its installed files and check for updates before considering a reinstall.
Final Checklist: Get the FM27 Pre-Game Editor Working
Before reinstalling Football Manager 27, go through this checklist:
- Open People or Clubs in the Pre-Game Editor.
- Add a simple search condition.
- Click Apply Filter.
- Check whether matching records appear.
- If a custom
.fmffile is missing, inspect the Editor 27 folder. - Copy the file into Football Manager 27's editor data folder if necessary.
- Check the correct Documents or OneDrive location.
- Select your custom file from the database menu when starting a new career.
- Verify editor files or check for updates if the problem continues.
Bottom line: If FM27's Pre-Game Editor opens without showing players or clubs, try Apply Filter before reinstalling anything. An empty list does not automatically mean the database is broken. If the editor works but your custom database is missing from a new career, check the .fmf file location and database selection menu instead. Those are separate issues that require different solutions.
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