Steam Family Sharing: How It Works

Steam Family Sharing lets you share your Steam game library with up to five family members or close friends, allowing them to play your games on their own accounts while you are not actively playing. You authorize their devices and accounts, and they get access to your library, with their own saves and achievements. This article explains exactly how it works, how to set it up, common problems, and how it compares to the newer Steam Families feature.

How Steam Family Sharing Works

Steam Family Sharing is built around the idea of library sharing. When you enable it, you authorize specific computers and up to five Steam accounts to access your game library. The person you share with can then install and play your games on their own account, earning their own achievements and storing their own save files in the Steam Cloud.

The key rule is that only one person can play from a shared library at a time. If you (the owner) start playing any game from your library, the person borrowing your library will be given a few minutes to save and exit before being kicked out. If the borrower starts a game first, you can still play, but they will be interrupted. This applies even if you are playing a different game than the one they are using.

Some games are not shareable. These include:

• Games that require a third-party account, key, or subscription (e.g., many MMOs, Ubisoft titles, and games with their own launchers).
• Free-to-play games (they don’t need sharing, but in-app purchases are not shared).
• Titles that the publisher has explicitly opted out of Family Sharing.

Setting Up Steam Family Sharing

To share your library, you need to enable Steam Guard (Steam’s two-factor authentication) on your account. Then follow these steps:

1. Log into Steam on the computer you want to authorize.
2. Click Steam in the top-left corner, then select Settings (or Preferences on macOS).
3. Go to Family (or Family Library Sharing in older versions).
4. Check the box that says Authorize Library Sharing on this computer.
5. Under Manage Shared Libraries, select the accounts you want to share with (they must have logged into Steam on this computer at least once).
6. Click OK to save.

The person you shared with will see your library appear in their Steam client under the Library tab, labeled with your account name. They can then install and play any shareable game.

How to Borrow a Shared Library

If someone has shared their library with you, here’s what you need to do:

1. Log into Steam on the same computer where the owner authorized sharing.
2. Go to your Library; you should see a dropdown filter at the top that includes the owner’s name.
3. Select the owner’s library to browse their games.
4. Click Install on any game you want to play.
5. Launch the game. You will play on your own account, so your achievements, playtime, and saves are yours.

You cannot borrow a library from a computer that hasn’t been authorized by the owner. Also, you must have an internet connection to verify access, though after a recent update, you can play offline for a limited time if you’ve launched the game before while online.

Common Problems and Solutions

Here are frequent issues and how to fix them:

• “Library is in use” error: This means the owner (or another borrower) is currently playing a game from that library. You can either wait or ask them to exit. The owner always has priority.
• Game won’t launch: Some games are excluded by the publisher. Check the game’s store page for “Includes Family Sharing” or similar wording. If it’s not there, it can’t be shared.
• Borrower gets kicked immediately: The owner started a game. The borrower gets a 5-minute warning to save and quit. This is by design.
• Shared library not showing up: Make sure the owner authorized both the computer and your account, and that you are logged into that same computer.
• DLC not available: DLC is shared only if the borrower also owns the base game. You cannot play DLC for a game you don’t own, even if the owner has it.

Steam Family Sharing vs. Steam Families

In 2024, Valve introduced Steam Families, which is a more comprehensive feature that replaces the older Family Sharing for most users. Steam Families combines library sharing with parental controls and child accounts. Key differences:

• Up to 6 members (previously 5 for sharing).
• All members can play at the same time from a combined family library, as long as the family owns enough copies. If only one person owns a game, only one can play it at a time, but if multiple members own it, multiple can play simultaneously.
• Child accounts can be managed with playtime limits, store restrictions, and communication controls.
• Adult members can play each other’s games even if the owner is online, but the same one-copy-at-a-time rule applies.
• Older Family Sharing is still available for accounts that haven’t migrated, but Steam has been encouraging users to switch to Steam Families.

If you see “Family Sharing” in your settings, you can likely upgrade to Steam Families for a better experience.

Costs and Limitations

Steam Family Sharing is completely free. There is no cost to share or borrow. However, there are limitations:

• You can share your library with up to 5 accounts (or 6 in Steam Families) and authorize up to 10 devices (though you can remove devices later).
• Only one person can play a shared game at a time per copy.
• Some games are not shareable due to publisher restrictions.
• You cannot share games that you’ve received as gifts if the gift had a region lock that prevents it.
• If you are banned from a VAC-secured game, that ban applies to your account, not to the shared library, but the owner could be penalized if you cheat in their game.

Safety and Privacy Considerations

Sharing your library means giving someone access to your games, but not to your account. They cannot see your personal information, change your settings, or make purchases on your account. However, there are a few things to keep in mind:

• If a borrower is VAC-banned in a game you own, your account may also receive a VAC ban for that game (Valve’s anti-cheat system flags the shared game). This is rare but possible.
• Borrowers can see your username and avatar, but not your email or payment details.
• You can revoke access at any time by going to Settings > Family and unchecking the authorized accounts or devices.
• If you have games with mature content, be aware that children using the shared library could access them unless you set up parental controls via Steam Families.

Alternatives to Steam Family Sharing

If Family Sharing doesn’t meet your needs, consider these alternatives:

• Steam Families: The upgraded version with more members and better controls.
• Remote Play Together: Lets a friend play a local co-op game with you over the internet, even if they don’t own the game. The host streams the game to the guest.
• Gifting games: Buying a game directly for a friend is simple but costs money.
• Third-party services: Some services allow game sharing, but they often violate Steam’s terms, so they are not recommended.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can two people play the same game at the same time with Family Sharing?

No, unless you own multiple copies of that game. Family Sharing allows one user at a time per copy. If you have two copies (e.g., one from a bundle), two people can play simultaneously, but that’s rare.

Does Family Sharing share DLC?

DLC is shared only if the borrower also owns the base game. For example, if you own a game and its season pass, your friend can play the base game but not the DLC unless they also own the base game.

Can I share my library with someone in another country?

Yes, but region restrictions may apply to certain games. If a game is region-locked, it may not be playable in the borrower’s country. Also, the borrower must log into Steam on the authorized computer at least once.

What happens if I get a VAC ban while sharing?

If you get a VAC ban on a shared game, the owner’s account may also receive a VAC ban for that game. Valve’s policy states that sharing a library doesn’t protect the owner from bans incurred by borrowers. It’s a risk you accept when sharing.

Can I play my own games while someone else is using my library?

Yes, you can always play your own games. The borrower will be interrupted if you start a game, but you are never blocked from your own library.

Is Steam Family Sharing the same as Steam Families?

No, Steam Families is the newer, expanded version. It includes library sharing plus parental controls and allows up to 6 members. Older Family Sharing is being phased out, but existing setups still work until you migrate.

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