If you are unable to connect to a lobby or your network games suddenly stop working. First, please check the PlayFab server status (this is for both PC & Console). If the servers are working as expected and you're still having issues, please try the following:
Make sure you have allowed firewall permissions for Football Manager.
- Open Windows Security: Press the Windows key and search for "Windows Security," then select it from the results.
- Navigate to Firewall Settings: In the Windows Security window, click on "Firewall & network protection".
- Access App Permissions: Click on "Allow an app through firewall".
- Enable Changes: If the option is greyed out, click on "Change settings" to allow modifications.
- Add the Football Manager App: Click "Allow another app" and then "Browse".
- Locate the Executable: Navigate to your Football Manager installation folder, which is usually in the Steam directory (e.g., C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\[Football Manager title]), and select the Football Manager executable.
- Confirm and Add: Click "Open" and then "Add".
- Enable Network Permissions: Find Football Manager in the new list and make sure to check the boxes for both "Private" and "Public" network access.
- Save Changes: Click "OK" to save your settings.
Make sure you have allowed firewall permission for Football Manager:
- Go to the Apple menu > System Settings.
- Click Network in the sidebar, then click Firewall.
- If the firewall is off, turn on the toggle switch.
- Click "Options" (You may need to unlock the settings by clicking the lock icon and entering your password).
- Click the "+" button to add Football Manager to the list. Navigate to your Applications folder and select the Football Manager application. Click Add.
- Set the connection to allow by finding Football Manager in the list and clicking the drop-down arrow next to it. Select "Allow incoming connections".
- Click "OK" to save your changes.
If the above doesn't help, please try below troubleshooting methods:
- Make sure your time zones and clocks on your machines are correct.
- Make sure the host is the user with the best internet connection - you can always check this with https://www.speedtest.net/
- On rare occasions, if your friends can't join your save game, the best way to solve this is to change the lobby setting to "Anyone Can Join" and add a password.
- Save the online game and reload the save. The client should then wait for a few seconds before searching for the lobby on the join online game page.
- On Epic, you will be asked for authentication with your default browser opening to the authentication permissions page when you launch the game the first time. You can always check this on Epic by signing into your account, and ensuring you have allowed this by clicking ‘account’ -> ‘connections’.
- If you are inviting your friends to a lobby, the best way would be to use the Steam (‘shift’ + ‘tab’) or Epic (‘shift’ and ‘F3’) overlays or via the game status page. For Windows Store, use the Xbox App or the game bar overlay.
- If playing on the Microsoft Store/Game Pass version of the game, you may be required to change some of your settings in order to find other players via cross-play. Please perform the following steps:
- Press your 'Windows' key and 'G' to bring up the Gamebar
- Click 'Settings' (the cog icon)
- Click on 'Accounts'
- Scroll down and click 'Manage Privacy Policy' which will ask you to open a new app
- Sign in to your account when prompted if you are not logged in
- Click 'Online Security on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows 10 devices'
- Allow the option under 'You can play with outside of Xbox Live'
- Restart your PC and launch FM from Windows Store/Game Pass
If the above instructions couldn’t resolve your issue, please submit a support ticket and provide your network logs from the host of the lobby and any clients joining the lobby so our team can investigate your issue as quickly as possible.
Below are the instructions on how to get the logs (Please only send us the logs after trying all the other steps first).
You can find the "Logs" folder here:
- In File Explorer, type %localappdata% and press 'enter'
- Click on the folder "Sports Interactive"
- Click on the folder "Football Manager 26"
- Click on the folder "Logs"
- Copy these two logs MULTIPLAYER_CHANNEL.txt and USER_ACCOUNT_PLAYFAB_CHANNEL.txt
- Add you name to these logs for example “MULTIPLAYER_CHANNEL.txt john smith”
- Attach these logs with any network issue along with your save, images or videos
You can find the "Logs" folder here:
- Click on "Go" at the top bar on Desktop
- Hold down the 'Alt' key -> click on "Library"
- Click "Application Support" -> "Sports Interactive" -> [Football Manager title] -> "Logs"
- Copy these two logs MULTIPLAYER_CHANNEL.txt and USER_ACCOUNT_PLAYFAB_CHANNEL.txt
- Add you name to these logs for example “MULTIPLAYER_CHANNEL.txt john smith”
- Attach these logs with any network issue along with your save, images or videos