If you’re trying to launch Football Manager 26 and encounter the message:
⚠️ “A serious error was encountered and the application will close.”
—you’re not alone. This frustrating error can appear when launching the game, loading a save, or even during gameplay.
The issue usually happens because of corrupted game or save files, broken cache, graphics driver conflicts, or missing system components.
In this guide, we’ll go through all proven methods to fix the “Serious Error” in Football Manager 26 and get you back to managing your team smoothly.
⚙️ Common Causes
The “A serious error has been encountered” message in Football Manager 26 may occur due to:
- Corrupted or outdated save files
- Broken game cache or preferences folder
- Outdated or faulty GPU drivers
- Third-party mods or custom skins
- Missing DirectX / Visual C++ runtime libraries
- File permission or antivirus conflicts
🧩 Fix 1: Verify Integrity of Game Files
The first step is to ensure your Football Manager 26 installation isn’t missing or corrupted.
Steps (Steam):
- Open Steam → Library.
- Right-click Football Manager 26 → Properties → Installed Files.
- Click Verify Integrity of Game Files.
- Wait for Steam to check and repair damaged files.
✅ Result: Restores any broken or missing files that may cause serious application errors.
🧹 Fix 2: Delete Cache and Preferences Folders
Corrupted cache or preference files often trigger this error during startup.
Steps:
- Press Windows + R, type the following, and hit Enter:
%appdata%\Sports Interactive\Football Manager 2026 - Locate and delete the following folders:
- Caches
- Preferences
- Restart the game.
✅ Result: Forces the game to rebuild fresh configuration data, removing faulty cache files.
🧮 Fix 3: Update Your Graphics Drivers
Faulty or outdated graphics drivers are a leading cause of crashes and serious errors.
Steps:
- Press Windows + X → Device Manager.
- Expand Display adapters.
- Right-click your GPU → Update driver → Search automatically.
- Alternatively, download the latest drivers manually from official sources:
✅ Result: Ensures compatibility with Football Manager 26’s rendering engine and prevents GPU crashes.
🛠️ Fix 4: Disable Mods, Custom Skins, and Graphics Packs
If you use custom skins, facepacks, or logos, they might conflict with the new game update.
Steps:
- Go to:
Documents\Sports Interactive\Football Manager 2026 - Rename your graphics or skins folder temporarily to something like:
graphics_backup - Launch the game again.
✅ Result: Confirms whether a custom skin or mod was causing the serious error.
⚡ Fix 5: Reinstall or Repair DirectX & Visual C++
Corrupted or missing system components often cause startup crashes.
Steps:
- Download and install the latest:
- Restart your PC afterward.
✅ Result: Restores all required runtime components for the game to launch correctly.
🔒 Fix 6: Run Football Manager 26 as Administrator
Missing permissions can stop the game from reading or writing necessary files.
Steps:
- Right-click the Football Manager 26 shortcut or .exe file.
- Select Properties → Compatibility tab.
- Check Run this program as an administrator.
- Click Apply → OK.
✅ Result: Ensures the game has full access to its save directories and system files.
🧰 Fix 7: Disable Antivirus or Add Exception
Security software sometimes blocks Football Manager’s executable or temporary files.
Steps:
- Open your Antivirus / Windows Security.
- Go to Manage settings → Exclusions.
- Add the following folders:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Football Manager 2026 Documents\Sports Interactive\Football Manager 2026 - Restart your PC and relaunch the game.
✅ Result: Prevents antivirus from blocking core game files.
🧾 Fix 8: Reinstall Football Manager 26 (Last Resort)
If all else fails, reinstalling ensures a completely clean setup.
Steps:
- Uninstall the game via Steam or Control Panel.
- Delete leftover folders from:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Football Manager 2026 Documents\Sports Interactive\Football Manager 2026 - Reinstall the game — preferably on an SSD.
✅ Result: Eliminates any lingering corrupted data and restores game stability.
💡 Additional Tips
- Update Windows to the latest version (Settings → Windows Update).
- Avoid using autosave immediately before quitting the game.
- Back up saves regularly in a separate folder.
- If using mods, always match them with your game version.
❓ FAQs
Q1: What does “A serious error has been encountered” mean?
A: It usually indicates corrupted game data, a faulty cache, or a graphics conflict.
Q2: Will reinstalling Football Manager 26 delete my saves?
A: Only if you manually delete the Documents\Sports Interactive folder — back it up first.
Q3: Can mods or skins cause this error?
A: Yes. Outdated or broken skins and graphic mods are a common trigger.
Q4: Does verifying files fix saved games too?
A: No — verifying only fixes installation files. If your save file is corrupted, try loading an older autosave.
🎯 Conclusion
The “A serious error has been encountered” issue in Football Manager 26 usually stems from corrupted cache files, outdated drivers, or mod conflicts.
By verifying your files, clearing cache folders, updating drivers, and disabling mods, you can easily resolve this error and get back to building your dream football legacy.
Once fixed, the game should run smoothly without interruptions or random crashes.
