How to Fix Football Manager 2024 Stuck on Loading Screen on PC

Football Manager 2024, developed by Sports Interactive and published by Sega, is the newest addition to the popular football management simulation series. In the game, players take on the role of a football club manager, handling everything from tactical strategies to player transfers. However, there have been numerous reports of a technical issue where the game gets stuck on the loading screen. This guide aims to provide solutions to resolve this loading screen problem in Football Manager 2024.

Why Does Football Manager 2024 Get Stuck on Loading Screen Issue?

The issue of Football Manager 2024 getting stuck on the loading screen can be caused by several factors:

System Requirements: If your computer doesn’t meet the minimum system requirements for Football Manager 2024, this could lead to performance issues like getting stuck on the loading screen.
Outdated Graphics Drivers: Graphics drivers that are out-of-date can cause compatibility issues with newer games, leading to problems like freezing or getting stuck during loading.
Corrupted Game Files: If some of the game files are corrupted or missing, it might prevent the game from loading properly.
Background Applications: Sometimes, other applications running in the background can interfere with the game, causing it to get stuck during loading.
Antivirus or Firewall Interference: Occasionally, antivirus software or firewalls might mistakenly identify a game file as a threat, which can disrupt the game’s operation.
Outdated Game Version: If you’re not running the latest version of Football Manager 2024, there could be bugs that have been fixed in newer updates.
Overloaded Cache Files: Sometimes, the cache files can become overloaded or corrupted, which can impact game performance.
Conflicting Settings or Mods: Custom settings or mods can sometimes cause conflicts that result in loading issues.

Understanding the specific cause in your case requires some troubleshooting, from checking system compatibility to updating drivers and the game itself.

9 Ways to Fix Football Manager 2024 Get Stuck on Loading Screen Issue

To fix the issue of Football Manager 2024 being stuck on the loading screen on PC, you can try the following solutions:

Check System Requirements

Ensure your PC meets the minimum or recommended system requirements for Football Manager 2024. Upgrading hardware components, if necessary, can resolve compatibility issues.

Minimum Requirements:

Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
OS: Windows 10/11 with updates – 64 bit
Processor: Intel Core 2 or AMD Athlon 64 X2
Memory: 4 GB RAM
Graphics: Intel GMA X4500, NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT, AMD/ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3650 – requires 256MB VRAM and DirectX® 11
DirectX: Version 11
Storage: 7 GB available space

Update Graphics Driver

Updating your graphics driver is a critical step in maintaining optimal performance for games and software that require high graphical fidelity, like Football Manager 2024. Graphics drivers are software that allow your operating system and programs to use your computer’s graphics hardware. If they’re outdated, it can lead to various issues, including game crashes, stuttering, poor performance, and in your case, getting stuck on loading screens. Here’s how you can update your graphics drivers:

Identify Your Graphics Card:
- Before updating your drivers, you need to know your computer’s graphics card (GPU). This information is found in the Device Manager under “Display adapters” in Windows.
Visit the Manufacturer’s Website:
- Common GPU manufacturers are NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel. Visit the appropriate website depending on your graphics card.
- For NVIDIA: NVIDIA Drivers.
- For AMD: AMD Drivers and Support.
- For Intel: Intel Graphics Drivers.
Download the Latest Drivers:
- On the manufacturer’s website, you’ll typically find a section where you can enter your GPU model to find the correct drivers.
- Download the latest drivers compatible with your operating system (e.g., Windows 10, Windows 11).
Install the Drivers:
- After downloading, open the installation file and follow the on-screen instructions to install the new drivers. This might require administrator permissions.
- The process usually involves a few clicks and may require you to agree to terms and conditions or choose installation preferences.
Restart Your Computer:
- After the installation is complete, restart your computer. This ensures that the new drivers are properly integrated, and your system uses the updated drivers.
Check for Automatic Updates:
- Some graphic card utilities (like NVIDIA’s GeForce Experience or AMD’s Radeon Software) offer options to check for and install updates automatically. Enabling this feature can keep your drivers up to date without manual intervention.

Updating your graphics drivers can solve issues and improve the overall performance and visual quality of your games and applications. Keeping your drivers updated is recommended to ensure the best experience, especially if you frequently play new or graphically intensive games.

Verify Game Files:

Verifying game files is a common troubleshooting step that can resolve issues like being stuck on the loading screen on a PC. This process checks for corrupted or missing files and replaces them with the correct versions. Here’s how to verify game files on both the Steam and Epic Games Launcher:

For Steam:

Launch the Steam application on your PC.
Click on ‘Library’ at the top of the Steam client to view your game collection.
Find Football Manager 2024 in your game list and right-click on it.
In the context menu that appears, select ‘Properties.’
In the Properties window, click on the ‘Local Files’ tab.
Click on the button that says ‘Verify Integrity of Game Files…’
Steam will now check your game’s files and download any missing or corrupted files.
The verification process can take several minutes, depending on your system and the size of the game.
After the process is complete, close and restart the Steam client.
Once Steam is open again, try launching Football Manager 2024 to see if the issue has been resolved.

For Epic Games Launcher:

Open Epic Games Launcher:
Click on ‘Library’ in the left sidebar.
Locate Football Manager 2024 in your library.
Under the game icon, find the three dots (‘…’) to open the game options.
In the dropdown menu, click on ‘Verify.’ The launcher will begin the process of verifying your game files.
Wait for the verification to complete. Depending on the game’s size and your PC’s performance, it may take some time.
After the verification, attempt to launch the game from the Epic Games Launcher to see if the problem has been resolved.

Running these processes can fix many common issues with game’s infinite loading screen. If the game gets stuck on the loading screen, follow our next step.

Close Background Applications

Closing background applications is an important step in resolving issues like a game getting stuck on the loading screen, in your case with Football Manager 2024. Background applications can consume system resources such as CPU, RAM, and disk usage, which might otherwise be necessary for the optimal running of the game. Here’s how you can close background applications and why it’s beneficial:

How to Close Background Applications

Using Task Manager (Windows):
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Look under the “Processes” tab to see all currently running applications and processes.
- Identify applications that are not essential for the running of your system or game. Common examples include web browsers, email clients, or any third-party apps.
- Click on the application and then select “End Task” to close it.
Checking System Tray:
- Some applications run in the background but can be accessed from the system tray (the small icons near the clock on the Windows taskbar).
- Right-click on these icons and choose “Exit” or “Close” to shut down these applications.
Disabling Startup Applications:
- In Task Manager, switch to the “Startup” tab.
- This tab shows applications that automatically start when your computer boots up.
- Disable applications that are unnecessary for startup to free up resources upon booting.

Benefits of Closing Background Applications

Free Up Resources:
- Closing background applications frees up CPU, RAM, and disk resources, allowing the game to use these resources more effectively.
Reduce Potential Conflicts:
- Some background applications might conflict with the game’s processes or network connections, causing issues like freezing or getting stuck on loading screens.
Improve Game Performance:
- You can often see improved performance and reduced loading times by allocating more system resources to the game.
Troubleshooting:
- If a specific application is causing the issue, closing it can help identify the culprit. This is useful in pinpointing whether the problem is with the game or another software.

Precautions

Be cautious when closing processes in Task Manager, as some are vital for Windows to function correctly. If you’re unsure about a process, it’s best to leave it running or search online for more information.

Closing background applications is a simple yet effective troubleshooting step for many common gaming issues, and it’s often one of the first steps to try when encountering performance problems.

Disable Antivirus/Firewall Temporarily

Sometimes, your antivirus or firewall can interfere with your games. Try disabling them temporarily to see if the game runs.

Antivirus Software:
- Open your antivirus program.
- Look for an option that says ‘Disable’ or ‘Turn off.’ This option may be under a ‘Settings’ or ‘Advanced’ menu.
- Remember to enable your antivirus software again after testing.
Windows Firewall:
- Go to Control Panel.
- Click on ‘System and Security’, then ‘Windows Defender Firewall’.
- Click ‘Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off’ on the left side.
- Turn off the firewall for both private and public networks, but be sure to turn it back on after testing.

Update Football Manager 2024

Updating your games is essential for fixing any loading screen bug. Here’s how you can check for updates for Football Manager 2024 on both Steam and Epic Games Launcher.

For Steam:

Launch the Steam client on your PC.
Click on ‘Library’ at the top of the Steam client to view your game collection.
Scroll through your game list to find Football Manager 2024.
If there is an update available, Steam typically begins downloading it automatically when you’re connected to the internet. However, if automatic updates are not enabled for the game, you can right-click the game in your library and select ‘Properties’.
Go to the ‘Updates’ tab in the Properties window and ensure that ‘Always keep this game updated’ is selected.
If you believe there is an update that has not been downloaded, right-click the game and select ‘Properties’, then under the ‘Local Files’ tab, click ‘Verify Integrity of Game Files…’. Steam will check for updates and missing files simultaneously and download any available updates.
Sometimes, simply restarting Steam can prompt the client to check for updates.

For Epic Games Launcher:

Open Epic Games Launcher
Click on ‘Library’ in the left sidebar.
If Football Manager 2024 has an update available, there should be an ‘Update’ button visible on the game tile.
Click the ‘Update’ button to start the downloading process.
The Epic Games Launcher typically checks for updates whenever it is launched, but you can always click on the game tile to check for updates manually.
To ensure that your games always receive the latest updates, click on your profile in the bottom left corner, then click on ‘Settings’.
Scroll down to the ‘Manage Games’ section and ensure that ‘Auto Update Games’ is enabled.

By keeping Football Manager 2024 updated, you can avoid many infinite loading screens and other performance problems. Always ensure that your internet connection is stable during the update process to prevent any file corruption.

Clear Cache Files

Clearing the game’s cache can resolve issues caused by overloaded or corrupted cache files. You can do this from within the game’s settings or manually from its installation directory.

Reinstall Football Manager 2024

Should resetting the game fail to fix the issue, reinstalling might be the next step:

Click on the Start menu and type in ‘Control Panel’, then open it.
In the Control Panel, go to ‘Uninstall a Program’.
Find Football Manager 2024 in the list, right-click on it, and select ‘Uninstall’. Follow any prompts to confirm the uninstallation.
Allow the uninstallation process to run its course, following any on-screen instructions.
After uninstalling, it’s important to restart your PC to ensure that all files related to the game are properly removed.
Once your PC is back on, open the game launcher you use, whether it’s Steam or the Epic Games Launcher.
Navigate to Football Manager 2024 and select it to reinstall. Wait for the installation to complete before attempting to launch the game again.

Reinstalling a game can often resolve stuck on the loading screen caused by corrupted or missing files and is typically a last resort after other troubleshooting methods have failed. Always ensure your game saves and user data are backed up, if possible, before proceeding with a reset or reinstall.

Consult Support Forums:

If the problem persists, visit Football Manager 2024’s support forums or contact customer service. Other users might have experienced similar issues and could have specific solutions.

In conclusion, if you’re experiencing issues with Football Manager 2024 getting stuck on the loading screen on your PC, these are the practical steps you can take to resolve the problem. By methodically following these steps, you can diagnose and often resolve the issue, leading to a smoother and more enjoyable gaming experience with Football Manager 2024. Remember, maintaining your PC’s health and keeping software up to date are key practices for avoiding similar issues in the future.