<!-- Source: https://docs.fmrte.com/getting-started/load-game/mac | FMRTE official documentation -->

# Load your game on a Mac

> Documentation release: **FMRTE 27** (published release).

> **YOU NO LONGER NEED TO TURN OFF SIP**
FMRTE now reads Football Manager through a small plugin that the game loads when it starts, so System Integrity Protection (SIP) can stay on.

The **Set up the FMRTE plugin** wizard prepares your copy of the game to load the plugin. You only need to do this once for each copy of the game.

## Open the wizard

Start Football Manager, then select **Load Game** in FMRTE. If FMRTE can't connect, the wizard opens by itself. Select **Next >**.

![Set up the FMRTE plugin wizard on its first page, listing the next steps](https://docs.fmrte.com/img/fmrte27/getting-started/macos-plugin-intro.png)

If the wizard doesn't open, set **Settings → Support → Diagnostics → Game data source** to **Auto detect** (the default). With **Game process**, FMRTE never uses the plugin.

## Step 1: Find game

1. Under **Games found**, choose your copy of the game. FMRTE selects the running copy for you.
2. If you play on Steam, choose your **Steam account**.
3. Select **Next >**.

![Choose your game page with a Steam copy and a Steam account selected](https://docs.fmrte.com/img/fmrte27/getting-started/macos-plugin-choose-game.png)

If your copy isn't listed, select **Browse…** and choose the game's folder.

<details>
<summary>Steam on an Apple silicon Mac: Install Rosetta</summary>

Steam needs Apple's Rosetta to start the game with the plugin. If it's missing, the wizard shows **Install Rosetta** before the review. Select **Install Rosetta** (internet needed, about a minute). Or run the command shown in Terminal, then select **Check again**.

![Install Rosetta page with the Terminal command](https://docs.fmrte.com/img/fmrte27/getting-started/macos-plugin-rosetta.png)

> **NOTE**
Rosetta is only for Steam: Steam uses it to run FMRTE's small launcher. The game itself still runs natively on Apple silicon, not through Rosetta. Heroic and the Desktop shortcut don't need Rosetta.

</details>

## Step 2: Review setup

Check **What FMRTE will change**, then select **Apply setup**. What you see depends on where your copy came from:

**Steam**

**Quit Football Manager and Steam** first, then select **Apply setup**.

![Review setup page for a Steam copy, with the three changes FMRTE will make](https://docs.fmrte.com/img/fmrte27/getting-started/macos-plugin-review.png)

- If the game already has Steam launch options, tick **Replace the current Steam launch options** to continue.
- If FMRTE can't change Steam's settings itself, it shows a **Launch options** line. Paste it into the game's **Properties › General › Launch Options** in Steam, then select **I've set it in Steam**.

**If you use BepInEx mods:** FMRTE adds its plugin to BepInEx's start script instead, and keeps your mods and Steam settings. You don't need to quit Steam.

**Heroic (Epic)**

**Quit Heroic** first, then select **Apply setup**.

![Review setup page for a Heroic copy, with the manual Heroic settings](https://docs.fmrte.com/img/fmrte27/getting-started/macos-plugin-review-heroic.png)

To do it by hand instead: in Heroic, open the game's **Settings** (gear) **› Advanced › Environment Variables**, add `DYLD_INSERT_LIBRARIES` with the **Value** the page shows, then select **I've set it in Heroic**.

Keep FMRTE in Applications on your Mac's own disk: Heroic can't load the plugin from a disk image or another drive.

**App Store or other**

Select **Apply setup**. FMRTE creates a shortcut app on your Desktop, named after the game with "with FMRTE" added, and leaves the game unchanged.

![Review setup page for an App Store copy, with the Desktop shortcut changes](https://docs.fmrte.com/img/fmrte27/getting-started/macos-plugin-review-shortcut.png)

If macOS asks, let FMRTE use your Desktop.

**Epic Games Store**

Not supported: FMRTE can't use the Epic Games Launcher. Install the game with [Heroic Games Launcher](https://heroicgameslauncher.com/), which uses your Epic account, and choose that copy in Step 1.

Before FMRTE changes a file, it saves a copy of the original next to it, ending in `.fmrte-backup`.

## Step 3: Restart

1. Quit the game and start it again the new way:
   
   
**Steam**
From your Steam Library.
   
**Heroic (Epic)**
With **Play** in Heroic.
   
**App Store or other**
From the FMRTE shortcut on your Desktop.
   
2. Wait until the game reaches the main menu.
3. Select **Check connection**.

![Restart the game page with the next steps for Steam](https://docs.fmrte.com/img/fmrte27/getting-started/macos-plugin-restart.png)

When the wizard shows **The plugin is connected**, select **Finish**, then **Load Game**. The status bar shows **(Plugin)** after the game version.

![The plugin is connected page with Connected status](https://docs.fmrte.com/img/fmrte27/getting-started/macos-plugin-connected.png)

If it says **Not connected yet**, make sure you started the game the new way, then select **Check connection** again.

<details>
<summary>If setup stops</summary>

The message at the bottom of the wizard says what to do. The most common ones:

| Message | What to do |
| --- | --- |
| macOS won't let FMRTE connect to this copy | Choose another copy, such as the Steam version, or select **Use FMRTE without the plugin**. That guide changes SIP: read [“Unable to open process” on macOS](https://docs.fmrte.com/help/troubleshooting.md#unable-to-open-process-on-macos) first. |
| FMRTE can't use the Epic launcher | Install the game with Heroic Games Launcher and choose that copy. |
| No Steam account with the game found | Start the game from Steam once, then try again. |
| FMRTE can't be set up from its current folder | Move FMRTE to Applications and try again. |
| Setup didn't finish | Try again. If it keeps failing, [submit a bug report](https://docs.fmrte.com/help/troubleshooting.md#prepare-a-useful-support-report). |

When you report a connection problem, attach `plugin.log` from FMRTE's log folder (**Settings → Support → Diagnostics → Log folder → Open folder**).

</details>

## Update the plugin

After you update FMRTE, the game may still run the old plugin. The wizard then opens as **Update the FMRTE plugin**. Select **Next >**. If the **Update the plugin** page appears, select **Update plugin**. Then restart the game and select **Check connection**.

![Update the plugin page showing the plugin loaded by the game and the new plugin file](https://docs.fmrte.com/img/fmrte27/getting-started/macos-plugin-update.png)

## Undo the setup

The wizard has no undo button. To stop the game loading the plugin:

**Steam**

In Steam, open the game's **Properties › General › Launch Options** and remove FMRTE's launcher line. With BepInEx, replace `run_bepinex_arm64.sh` in the game's folder with its `.fmrte-backup` copy.

**Heroic (Epic)**

In the game's **Settings › Advanced › Environment Variables** in Heroic, delete `DYLD_INSERT_LIBRARIES`.

> **WARNING**
If you move or remove FMRTE, delete this variable too, or the game won't start from Heroic.

**App Store or other**

Move the shortcut to the Bin, and start the game the usual way.
