User Guide
Welcome to the FM Skin Builder User Guide! This tool helps you create custom skins and themes for Football Manager 2026 using a CSS-first approach.
What is FM Skin Builder?
FM Skin Builder is a desktop application that makes it easy to customize Football Manager’s appearance. Instead of manually editing game files, you can:
- Define colors using familiar CSS syntax
- Replace icons and backgrounds with your own images
- Preview changes before applying them
- Build and export your skin with a single click
What You Can Customize
- Colors: Change any color in the FM interface using CSS variables
- UI Elements: Override specific buttons, text, and component colors
- Icons: Replace game icons with your own PNG or SVG files
- Backgrounds: Add custom background images
Getting Started
If you’re new to FM Skin Builder, we recommend following these guides in order:
- Installation - Download and install the app
- Using the App - Learn the desktop interface
- Editing Skins - Create your first skin (most important!)
- Exporting and Testing - Build and install your skin in FM
- Troubleshooting - Fix common issues
For FM24 Skinners
If you’re familiar with Football Manager 24’s XML-based skinning system, you’ll find FM Skin Builder’s CSS approach refreshingly familiar. We’ve designed it to feel similar to FM24’s workflow while taking advantage of CSS’s flexibility.
Check out the Editing Skins guide for a comparison between the XML and CSS approaches.
Need More Control?
Once you’re comfortable with the basics, explore the Advanced Guide for:
- Per-stylesheet targeting
- Vector shape generation
- Debug and verification tools
- Understanding how the tool works under the hood
Ready to get started? Head to Installation to download FM Skin Builder!