Live tracker of every Football Manager 2026 update. All hotfix numbers, dates and patch notes in one place. Most fixes apply to existing saves.
Live tracker of every Football Manager 2026 update.
FM26 - All Hotfixes and Patch Notes
Live log of every update - newest on top
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How to install the Football Manager 26 Steam Public Beta
Follow these steps to access the Football Manager 26 Steam Public Beta branch and test new updates before they go live.
- Locate Football Manager 26 in your Steam Library, right-click on it and select Properties.
- In the new window, select Betas from the menu on the left side.
- Under Beta Participation, open the dropdown and select public_beta.
- Steam will automatically download the Beta build. Launch it like any other game.
- Before launching, confirm your library entry says Football Manager 26 (Beta).
Beta Track FAQ
How to install the Beta Track version on Steam?
Just follow the steps above.
Can I install the Beta Track on Epic or Microsoft Store?
No – the Public Beta is available only for FM26 purchases made on Steam.
Can I load FM23–FM26 save games on the Beta version?
Yes, your older saves will work on the Beta Track.
Can I load Beta Track saves on the retail version?
Yes. Once the retail build updates to the same version, your saves will be fully compatible.
How do I revert to the retail version?
- In Steam Library, right-click Football Manager 26 → Properties → Betas
- In the Beta Participation dropdown, select None
- Close the window — Steam will revert you to the retail version automatically
What’s the difference between retail and Beta Track?
The Beta Track lets you preview fixes and improvements before public release. It’s perfect for players who want to help test stability updates or see what’s coming next.
Hotfix 26.0.5.2229500 New
This update delivers more than 200 fixes and improvements across multiple areas of the game, focusing on gameplay, match performance, stability, and several long-standing UI issues.
View full changelist
- Added legacy preference option to continue through messages via the space bar.
- Numerous tile/card polish and alignment fixes.
- Numerous further fixes to translations.
- Substantial crash and stability fixes (some listed below).
- Fixed crash when adding Club Affiliation via Pre-Game Editor (PGE).
- Fixed crash when changing manager’s team via In-Game Editor (IGE).
- Fixed IGE issue where Transfer and Wage Budget edits wouldn’t apply.
- Fixed soft lock when trying to move a player to another club using the IGE.
- Fixed crash on M1/Intel Macs when starting a match.
- Further fixes to Matches freezing in singleplayer and online modes.
- Fixed slowdown in 2D match overview screen.
- Scroll bar now remembers position when returning to a tile/card.
- Added Save Team Selection and Clear Squad/Subs options in Tactics.
- Fixed “Auto-size all Columns” leaving empty space on tables.
- “Sort Attributes Using English Language Sorting” now works correctly.
- Japan: Fixed foreign player limit rules.
- England: Fixed issue preventing season start due to scheduling bug in National League Playoff Final.
- USA: Updated Designated Player rule path.
- Fixed sorting by Role Ability in Player Selector during matches.
- Added Star Ratings widget to Squad Planner.
- Body language now correctly updates during meetings.
- Global Search bar now closes when hyperlink is pressed.
- Fixed swapped club badges in Cup Final news items with neutral venues.
- Opposition Instruction advice now applies correctly.
- Fixed Recruitment Focus showing as complete when cancelled.
- Fixed incorrect season ticket waiting list counts (showing 0).
- Fixed NXGN award not being handed out.
- Fixed “Place of Birth” field not populating during manager creation.
- Fixed save game prompt overlap during Portal tutorial.
- Fixed issue where Saudi clubs didn’t renew contracts often enough.
- Fixed profile preview ‘i’ appearing for non-player entities.
- Agent feedback now correctly appears in Market Interest dialogues.
- Realigned columns in Interested Clubs list during offers.
- Fixed issue returning to start screen after deleting all manager profiles.
- Realigned Career Milestones and fixed cutoffs on Registration card.
- Fixed automatic message opening on Messages tab select.
- ‘Arrange Friendly’ button now shows correctly on first Fixture Schedule open.
- Pre-Match Lineups hide Form when no data exists.
- Future Transfers filter in Transfer History now functions properly.
- Fixed “Change/Withdraw Offer” buttons not updating immediately.
- Fixed Manager Creator storing previous role incorrectly.
- Mentality now updates correctly when changed mid-match.
- Reworked positional familiarity colour display on player map.
- Fixed ‘Really Good’ morale icon display.
- Team Priorities card now functions correctly.
- Fixtures card now distinguishes penalty shootout scorers correctly.
- AI Club Fixtures now display correctly if user is unemployed.
- Fixed incorrect head coach name in UEFA Women’s CL pre-match lineup graphic.
- Finances > Summary now displays correctly for teams without FFP.
- Recruitment > Player Database – role selection now highlights correct Key Attributes.
- Fixed Ability and Potential columns showing empty data in Recruitment Focus view.
- Newly promoted clubs now receive realistic wage budgets.
- Agreed Playing Time column now shows correct data.
- Multi-Select for “Available for U21/U18 match” now works properly.
Applies to existing saves after updating and reloading.
Hotfix 26.0.4.2230011
A major FM26 update is now live via the Steam Public Beta track, bringing over three hundred fixes and quality of life upgrades. Highlights include customisable attribute colours, a new option to disable or slow UI transitions, and a fresh 1.5x match speed setting. This patch reflects your early beta feedback — addressing crashes, polishing UI elements and improving match stability. If you’re on the beta branch, here’s everything you need to know.
This build delivers over 300 fixes and enhancements across stability, UI, match performance and presentation. It introduces more personalisation through new display preferences and smoother transitions. Below are the key highlights and changes included.
Key changes and fixes
- Substantial crash and stability fixes.
- Numerous string translation and text alignment fixes.
- Numerous tile and card polish updates.
- Further fixes to matches freezing at the start of the second half in Career mode.
- Added preference to turn off or alter the speed of UI transitions between screens.
- New default colouring of attributes to make ratings more distinguishable.
- Added preference option to customise attribute colours manually.
- Added 1.5x Match Speed during highlights and 4x Match Speed between highlights.
- Manually scouting a player now correctly delegates an appropriate scout.
- Newgen portraits now appear during match broadcast graphics.
- Fixed issue preventing substitutions from processing when made at half time via tactics screen.
- Fixed issue where white match ball would appear in snowy conditions.
- Set piece attributes now visible when assigning Set Piece or Penalty takers.
- Tactic Familiarity now correctly progresses over time within Match Day > Tactics.
- Fixed issue causing World Golden Ball award bias towards South American players.
- Text scaling preference option now saves correctly after exiting the game.
- Fixed issue preventing user from closing Fixtures & Results popup post-match.
- Fixed issue causing Player Database to return incorrect results when switching Interest Levels.
- Fixed issue forcing users to holiday past End of Season Team Meetings.
- Staff Responsibilities page made more accessible and easier to locate.
- Club Staff carousel options now navigate correctly to chosen views.
- Career Stats no longer display GK columns for outfield players.
- Fixed issue preventing UCL squad registration despite correct homegrown numbers.
- Correct pronouns now used within ‘Ask Agent About Availability’ conversation.
- Mental Attributes now display correctly when set within Staff Database tool.
- Fixed issue preventing display of promoted/relegated clubs in Season Preview.
- Club badges now shown on Media Dream Eleven.
- Back navigation arrow shortcut now functional across cards and tools.
- Debt and Loan start/until dates now display correctly within Club > Finances.
- Fixed missing squad numbers when making a single substitution.
- Improved visibility of injury icon on red kits.
- ‘None’ can now be selected as an option for Individual Training.
- Users can now remove previously set Individual Training Focus.
- Managerial Vacancies now display both men’s and women’s teams.
- Fixed issue where player rejected own asking price during negotiations.
- Fixed issue blocking progress if a loanee was injured on international duty.
- Manager Creation - accessories and wrinkles now display correctly.
- Manager attire colour choices now save correctly.
- Fixed issue where remove button didn’t appear in Squad Planner.
- Fixed issue allowing sale of instalments within clauses tool incorrectly.
- Club Header in Welcome Pack now displays correct information.
- Transfer instalments can now only be mortgaged from point of takeover.
- Refined 2025 squad registration rules for NWSL.
- ‘Exit Talks’ button now functions correctly within Contract Negotiations.
- Reworked Match Momentum Graph for better contrast and readability.
- Opposition team now highlighted in Europa and Conference League pre-match tables.
- Winners now display correctly within Competitions card.
- Instant Result for friendlies now returns you to the main portal correctly.
- Red card icons now display correctly in men’s Champions League scorebars.
- Fixed aggregate score spacing within Champions League scorebars.
- Spacebar can now be used to interrupt holiday or processing.
- ‘Find Similar Player To…’ now filters correctly in Player Database.
- Fixture tile on Portal now updates correctly post-match.
- ‘Scouting Finished’ and ‘Intermediary Suggestion’ headlines now display player names.
- Fixed Attributes Graph lines missing in Progress Report.
- Added Leave button to Continue panel for spectators during online matches.
- Fixed inconsistency of teams being pre-selected by default in Quick Start.
- Fixed Serie A non-EU rule preventing valid registrations.
- Unmanageable divisions no longer shown in Advanced Game Setup.
- Improved tooltip logic and wrapping for in-game hints.
- Tooltip restored to First Team > Form showing numeric ratings.
- Changed colour styling in First Team > Position Selectors for clarity.
- Fixed Medical Centre > Season Summary table not loading despite injured players.
Available on the Steam Public Beta track. Applies to existing saves after updating and reloading.
Hotfix 26.0.3.2228945
A smaller FM26 update is live on Steam and Epic. The headline change gives you proper control over pre-generated versus dynamically generated player and staff images.
An in-game toggle was not behaving as intended in previous builds, so SI have revised the flow to make it clearer and better for lower-end hardware, which was always the goal.
To be crystal clear, Newgen faces are not all pre-determined. You can now choose your preferred behaviour in the settings. A few stability and translation tweaks are bundled in too. Full notes below.
This update focuses on giving you control over how player and staff images are displayed, with an emphasis on performance for lower-end devices. It also includes match and stability fixes plus translation updates.
What’s fixed
- Fixed an issue affecting the preference to show pictures of players and staff generated by the game.
- Added a preference to switch between pre-generated or dynamically generated player and staff images, improving performance options for lower-end hardware.
- Further fixes to matches freezing.
- Various stability fixes.
- Updated translations.
Applies to existing saves after updating and reloading.
Hotfix 26.0.2.2228087
Please find the changes included in today’s hotfix below.
What’s fixed
- Various crash and stability fixes
- Added Staff informational tooltip - the i icon - on various screens
- Opening a player profile now automatically selects their best position and role
- Users can now compare two players that are on the Scouting Shortlist
- Added button to squad card to allow you to hold a team meeting
- Added Transfer Budget Remaining and Wage Budget Remaining on Transfer Activity card
- Fitted more teams onto league tables without having to scroll
- Fixed issue where match would sometimes freeze after half time
- Fixed mohawk style hair appearing on too many players at once in matches
- Fixed being unable to select or click player models to show names during a match
- Fixed Match Stats tile data disappearing during matches
- Fixed rare instance of goalkeepers teleporting during a match
- Fixed forced substitutes not taking place immediately, for example injured goalkeeper
- Fixed issue where all staff were listed as Team - Senior Squad even if their job was with a youth team
- Fixed issue where manually assigning a Scout or Analyst to a Recruitment Focus caused other details to not apply
- Fixed issue where creating a Recruitment Focus with Further Details caused other details to not apply
- Fixed Back arrow in full screen meetings changing header but not taking user back correctly
- Fixed match issue preventing players being moved in combined tactics screen if two or more subs had been made
- Fixed being unable to save changes to an already created tactic
- Fixed issue where selecting another users’ fixture schedule took you to your own schedule
- Fixed scoreboard appearing empty during Europa League and Conference League matches
- Fixed user being unable to add Personality to custom columns
- Fixed various clubs such as Borussia Dortmund and Fulham not receiving youth intakes
- Fixed issue where Goals highlights for past matches jumped straight to post match cut scene
- Fixed training sessions changed by user resetting after a few days
- Fixed incorrect badges displaying for players at AI clubs within Transfer Activity tool
- Fixed issue where clicking a player's name via See All showed them as a player at your club
- Fixed being unable to see a second status icon if there was more than one per player
- Fixed opening Tactic or Match Feedback from the Secondary Nav Bar leading to the wrong card
- Fixed Loan Playing Time always showing as Surplus to Requirements
- Fixed loan report showing goalkeeper stats for outfielders
- Fixed upside down pitch overlapping text on Match Report of a loaned out player
- Fixed Data Hub screen splitting in half when the tab was not set to Key Findings
- Fixed no spacing between league name and nation name of the club in Affiliates card
- Fixed tiles in Team Instructions being cut off on Medium and Low resolutions
- Fixed fee column not being wide enough on Transfer History card
- Fixed News Aggregator Around the World - Stages and Transfer tiles appearing empty on some saves
- Fixed EFL clubs having too many General Sponsors
- Fixed Club Vision tile spacing issues and text overlaps
- Fixed text overlap on Atmosphere tile
- Fixed staff numbers and icons being misaligned on Club - Staff Report and Club Staff page
- Stages - Season Preview: Reputation block now aligns with Club Name in the Managers tile
- Fixed match result truncating over two lines when a team scores double digits or after a penalty shoot out
- Fixed dropdown options in Staff Search Add Attributes appearing as numbers instead of text
- Fixed assigning Scout or Analyst showing attribute numbers instead of text in Recruitment Focuses
- Fixed player column size in Youth Setup being too short while the Position column was too large
- Fixed assistant manager advice blocking Squad Registration confirmation
- Fixed random empty box visible when viewing empty Promises tile
- Fixed various misalignments on certain Portal - Messages
- Fixed filters in Data Hub Team Analytics and Player Analytics not working as intended
- Fixed misalignment for the frequency on Advice and Reports tile
- Fixed a second Stages tile appearing in Match Day dashboard on medium resolutions
- Added tooltip and fixed text overrun on Injury Update message
- Competitions - Past Winners: team that finished 2nd place is now visible
- Added visual improvements to the fixture schedule card
- Opposition Instructions: Ask assistant renamed to Apply all advice
Applies to existing saves after updating and reloading.
Hotfix 26.0.1.2227341
Another FM26 hotfix is live on Steam and Epic. Thanks for the huge wave of feedback - engagement has been off the charts with more than 200,000 managers playing every day since launch, nearly double a usual Beta. The SI teams are combing through reports across socials, forums and SEGA channels to prioritise the issues that hit the most players. Here is what changed today.
What’s fixed
- Various crash and stability fixes
- Fixed club logos for unlicensed teams appearing in low resolution
- Fixed an issue where players set as bald in the database had hair in matches
- Fixed Player Report attributes not alphabetically listing when changing languages
- Fixed screen corruption on Staff Report in mid or low resolution
- Fixed player names overlapping in Opposition Instructions
- Fixed issue where Bans had an empty state display
- Fixed an issue where the match sometimes paused when changing instructions
- Fixed misaligned shirt icons in matches when a player was subbed or scored or assisted
- Fixed wrong symbol for red cards on the full time report
- Added missing club logos on the home screen when loading the game
- Do It button in pre match flow now works as expected
- Red card icon now appears on the match events tile when a player is sent off after a second yellow
- Key attributes for staff are now highlighted when a role is selected
- Windowed mode not working on Mac now fixed
- Fixed soft lock when offering a player for a trial
- Fixed soft lock when adding a youth player to first team training units
Applies to existing saves after updating and reloading.
Hotfix 26.0.0.2226107
Today’s update is live for both Steam and Epic. There is no need to switch to a Beta branch - just restart FM26 and the update should download automatically. If it doesn’t, please log a ticket so support can assist. Updates planned for Wednesday (29th) and Thursday (30th) will also arrive directly via Steam and Epic.
What’s fixed
- Various crash fixes
- Fixed a crash where users’ Pictures folder is missing or unavailable
- Fixed issue where wrong column label appears on Recruitment - Contracts
- Fixed icons for Captain and Vice-Captain being the wrong way round on the Captains tile
- Added Opposition Instructions, Set Pieces and Penalties links to the pre-match Team Selection screen
- Fixed issues with the PKD column not being correctly ordered after creating a tactic
- Fixed issue where the X button on the Fitness card couldn’t be closed when opened from the Tactics or Squad screen
- Fixed issue where the Loan report tile doesn’t appear when the Loan Card is first opened
- Fixed work permit warning incorrectly generating in the Transfer Offer tool
- Fixed displayed option not visually changing when user adjusts Mentality or Tactical Style during a match
- Fixed soft lock where users were able to open another team’s match highlights during their own match
- Fixed Champions League squad registration already being selected by assistant manager on game start
- Fixed search bar incorrectly showing players as playing for your club after clicking ‘See All’
- Fixed issue where you were sometimes unable to pick a team for a match
- Fixed issue where you couldn’t see or load files when your folder path had non-English letters in
- Fixed issue where going to your squad or recruitment screens could cause a crash
- Fixed issue when using player search
- Fixed issue when viewing transfer activity
- Fixed issue when viewing transfer offer
- Fixed an issue where the Aged Between (Years) filter within Player Search did not function correctly
- Online: Fixed being unable to make transfer offers whilst the host player is in a match
- Fixed Player - New Routine interactions resetting Set Piece Type to Corner
- Fixed Staff popup incorrectly displaying as a Player Report instead of a Staff Report
- Fixed issue when controller introduction triggered
- Fixed issue when renaming custom view
- Fixed an issue where changing tactics would result in Team Selector being empty
- Fixed some Italian managers having an illogical IP - OOP requirement when in Transfer Room Out
- UI improvements to the season stats panel on a player’s profile
Applies to existing saves after updating and reloading.
Hotfix 26.0.0.2224769
We’ve released a hotfix for the Football Manager 26 Advanced Access Beta that addresses issues reported by the community since launch. These changes will be reflected in existing save files.
What’s fixed
- Various stability fixes
- Fixed crash when creating a new save game
- Fixed issue where back button incorrectly takes user to previous team meeting
- Filter on tactics screen now works in all resolutions
- Fixed issue with radio buttons text formatting during manager creation
- Fixed crash when using Player instruction
- Fixed issue where sometimes the continue button wouldn’t work
- Player silhouette icons are no longer misaligned in Squad > First Team
- Fixed soft lock after creating a new FMFC account and attempting to sign in
- Fixed occasional crash when using any team talk option after a match
- Fixed issue where sometimes you were unable to leave a match
- Fixed issue where player-exchange transfers could cause the joining player to become a free agent on completion
- Fixed issue where users were unable to close the Tactical Analysis view if they visited a player profile
- Fixed issue where keyboard shortcuts could cause a soft lock during manager creation
Applies to existing saves after updating and reloading.
FM26 Updates - FAQ
How do I update FM26?
- Steam: Library - right click Football Manager 2026 - Properties - Updates - verify files if needed.
- Epic: Library - three dots on FM26 - Manage - Update. Restart the launcher if it stalls.
Do hotfixes apply to existing saves?
Yes. Unless SI state otherwise, fixes apply after you update and reload your save.
Where do I report a bug?
Post it on the official tracker with clear steps to reproduce and screenshots or a save file: FM26 Bugs Tracker.
How do I check my game version?
From the main menu, look in the bottom corner of the screen or on the title screen. It will show something like 26.0.0.2226107.
Epic vs Steam - do both get hotfixes?
Hotfixes roll out via Steam and usually Epic. If SI restrict a Beta branch on Epic, you will need the next main build to see changes.
Update not downloading?
Restart Steam or Epic, clear download cache, and verify files. Temporary CDN delays can hold updates back for a short while.
Can I roll back to a previous version?
Steam sometimes offers a previous build under Betas. If there is no option, rollbacks are not available for that patch.
Tip - the newest hotfix is always at the top of this page. Use the jump list to hop to any build.
