Draftmate

Set up Draftmate

You've installed the app — now two quick one-time steps and you're drafting. Takes about 3 minutes. Draftmate runs in Google Chrome on Windows only.

  1. Make sure the installer finished

    If you haven't run the installer yet, do that first: download Draftmate-Setup.exe from your license email, run it, and let it launch Draftmate at the end.

    Seeing a blue "Windows protected your PC" box? That's expected — Draftmate isn't code-signed yet. Click More info, then Run anyway. It's safe; the warning just means we haven't bought a signing certificate yet.

  2. Load the Chrome extension

    This is a one-time step. The installer placed the extension files on your computer; you just need to point Chrome at them.

    • Open Chrome and go to chrome://extensions
    • Turn on Developer mode (toggle in the top-right corner)
    • Click Load unpacked
    • Paste this into the address bar of the folder picker and press Enter to jump straight there:
      %LOCALAPPDATA%\Draftmate\extension
    • Click Select Folder

    Draftmate now appears in your extensions list. (Pin it if you like — click the puzzle-piece icon, then the pin next to Draftmate.)

  3. Open a draft and activate

    • Open any FFPC draft room in Chrome. A slow draft is perfect for your first run.
    • The Draftmate panel docks on the right and asks for your license key.
    • Paste the key from your license email — it looks like DM-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX.
    • When prompted, upload a rankings CSV for the format you're drafting (Bestball, Superflex, or Gorilla / Main Event). You can add more later.

    That's it. The panel reads the live board and keeps your recommendations updated as picks come in.

Troubleshooting

The panel says it can't connect to the bridge

Draftmate has two parts: the Chrome extension and a small background app (the "bridge") that the installer set up. If the panel can't connect, the bridge isn't running.

Open the Draftmate shortcut from your Start menu or desktop to start it. A console window flashes briefly, then it runs in the background on your machine. Refresh the FFPC draft tab and the panel should connect.

I don't see the "Load unpacked" button

You need Developer mode turned on first — it's the toggle in the top-right of chrome://extensions. The "Load unpacked" button only appears once it's on.

The folder %LOCALAPPDATA%\Draftmate\extension doesn't exist

That means the installer didn't finish. Re-run Draftmate-Setup.exe and let it complete all the way through. If you chose a custom install location during setup, look for the extension folder inside wherever you installed Draftmate.

My license key won't activate

Double-check you copied the whole key, including the DM- prefix and all three dash-separated groups. Keys are case-insensitive. If it still won't take, email support@getdraftmate.com with the key and we'll sort it out fast.

Does this work on Mac, or in the FFPC phone app?

Not yet. Draftmate is a Chrome extension paired with a Windows background app, so it needs Google Chrome on a Windows 10/11 laptop or desktop. It doesn't run on macOS, Safari, Firefox, or the FFPC mobile app. Draft from Chrome on a computer for any draft where you want Draftmate.

Still stuck? Email support@getdraftmate.com — we answer fast, especially during draft season.