Fix Football Manager 26 Not Launching / Stuck on Loading on PC (2025 Guide)

If Football Manager 26 won’t launch, freezes on startup, or gets stuck on a black screen after clicking Play, you’re not alone. Many players report the game failing to open or responding with no activity at all.

This issue can occur due to missing or corrupted game files, outdated GPU drivers, antivirus interference, or broken DirectX / Visual C++ components. Fortunately, you can fix this quickly by following the methods below.

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⚙️ Common Causes

Before diving into solutions, here’s what commonly prevents Football Manager 26 from launching properly:

• Corrupted or missing game files
• Outdated graphics drivers
• Windows Defender or antivirus blocking the game
• Missing DirectX or Visual C++ Redistributables
• Background applications or overlays interfering
• Missing administrator permissions

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🧩 Fix 1: Run Football Manager 26 as Administrator

Some system operations require elevated permissions to run correctly.

Steps:

1. Right-click the Football Manager 26 shortcut or .exe file.
2. Select Properties → Compatibility.
3. Check Run this program as an administrator.
4. Click Apply → OK, then launch the game again.

✅ Result: Prevents permission-related launch issues.

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🧱 Fix 2: Verify Integrity of Game Files

Corrupted or missing files can stop the game from opening.

Steam Steps:

1. Open Steam → Library.
2. Right-click Football Manager 26 → Properties → Installed Files.
3. Click Verify Integrity of Game Files.

Epic Games Steps:

1. Open Epic Games Launcher → Library.
2. Click the three dots (⋯) beside Football Manager 26.
3. Select Manage → Verify.

✅ Result: Automatically restores any broken or missing files.

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⚡ Fix 3: Update Your Graphics Drivers

Outdated GPU drivers can cause launch failures or black screens.

Steps:

1. Press Windows + X → Device Manager.
2. Expand Display Adapters.
3. Right-click your GPU → Update Driver → Search automatically.
4. Or manually download from official sites:
   • NVIDIA Drivers
   • AMD Drivers
   • Intel Drivers

✅ Result: Ensures the GPU is compatible with Football Manager 26’s rendering engine.

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🔧 Fix 4: Disable Antivirus or Add Game to Exceptions

Security software might mistakenly block the game’s executable.

Steps:

1. Open your antivirus or Windows Security → Virus & Threat Protection.
2. Go to Manage settings → Add or remove exclusions.
3. Add the Football Manager 26 installation folder.
4. Restart your PC and try again.

✅ Result: Prevents security programs from interfering with the game’s launch process.

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🧰 Fix 5: Reinstall or Repair DirectX and Visual C++

If runtime components are damaged or missing, the game may fail to start.

Steps:

1. Download the DirectX End-User Runtime Web Installer from Microsoft.
2. Install Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributables (2015–2022) – both x86 and x64 versions from here.
3. Restart your PC after installation.

✅ Result: Restores essential libraries required to launch the game.

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💡 Fix 6: Disable Overlays and Background Apps

Third-party overlays (like Discord or Steam) can block game initialization.

Steps:

• Steam Overlay: Go to Steam Settings → In-Game → Disable Overlay.
• Discord Overlay: User Settings → Game Overlay → Disable In-Game Overlay.
• GeForce Experience: Settings → In-Game Overlay → Turn Off.

✅ Result: Prevents conflicts with DirectX or the game window.

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🧠 Fix 7: Update Windows

Windows updates often include fixes for DirectX and driver compatibility.

Steps:

1. Press Windows + I → Windows Update.
2. Click Check for updates.
3. Install everything available, then restart your PC.

✅ Result: Ensures maximum stability and compatibility.

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💽 Fix 8: Reinstall Football Manager 26 (Last Resort)

If all else fails, reinstalling ensures a clean setup.

Steps:

1. Uninstall Football Manager 26 from Steam or Epic.
2. Delete leftover files from: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Football Manager 26
3. Restart your PC, then reinstall the game — ideally on an SSD.

✅ Result: Replaces all damaged files with a fresh copy.

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💡 Additional Tips

• Restart your PC before launching again.
• Disable Windows Game Mode or Xbox Game Bar.
• Avoid launching from external or network drives.
• Run Steam or Epic Games as Administrator.

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❓ FAQs

Q1: Why won’t Football Manager 26 start after clicking Play?
A: Usually due to missing game files, outdated drivers, or blocked permissions.

Q2: Can antivirus software block Football Manager 26?
A: Yes. Security tools can falsely flag the game — whitelist it to fix this.

Q3: Do I need to reinstall the game to fix it?
A: Only if verifying files or repairing DirectX doesn’t help.

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🏁 Conclusion

If Football Manager 26 won’t launch or gets stuck on loading, the problem is most likely caused by corrupted files, outdated drivers, or missing DirectX components. By following the fixes above — especially verifying files, updating drivers, and running as administrator — you can resolve the issue quickly and get back to managing your team without interruptions.