Steam is an online gaming platform that allows players to purchase, download, and play games. It also offers a feature called Family Sharing, which allows users to share their games with up to four other family members. This can be a great way to save money and allow everyone in the family to enjoy the same games.
To activate Family Sharing, the first thing you need to do is create a Steam account for each family member. Once you have created accounts for everyone, you can follow the steps below to activate Family Sharing:
1. Open the Steam client and click on the “Settings” tab.
2. In the “Family” section, click on the “Manage Family Sharing” button.
3. On the next screen, check the box next to each family member’s account that you want to share your games with.
4. Click on the “Authorize” button.
5. Repeat steps 1-4 for each family member’s account.
Initializing Family Sharing
1. Authorize Your Computer and Family Members:
| Step |
Action |
| 1 |
Log in to your Steam account on the computer you want to share from. |
| 2 |
Click on “Steam” in the top-left corner, then select “Settings”. |
| 3 |
Select the “Family” tab and click “Manage Family Sharing”. |
| 4 |
In the “Members of my Family” section, click “Add Family Member”. |
| 5 |
Enter the username or email address of the family member you want to authorize. |
| 6 |
Repeat steps 4-5 for each family member you want to share your games with. |
| 7 |
Once all family members have been added, click “OK”. |
| 8 |
Log in to the Steam account of each family member on the computers they will be using to access the shared library. |
| 9 |
In the “Steam” menu, click “Settings”, select the “Family” tab, and check the box next to “Authorize Family Sharing on this computer”. |
Note: If you encounter any issues during the process, check the Steam Support website for troubleshooting tips.
Authorizing Shared User Accounts
Once you’ve set up Family Sharing, you’ll need to authorize each user account that will be sharing games. To do this:
- Log in to Steam on the secondary computer using the desired shared account.
- Navigate to the “Steam” menu and select “Settings.”
- Click on the “Family” tab and select the “Authorize Library Sharing” option.
- In the “Choose a Parent or Guardian Account” dropdown menu, select the primary account that you used to enable Family Sharing.
- Enter the password for the primary account and click “OK.”
- Repeat these steps for each additional shared account.
After you’ve authorized all of the shared accounts, the users on those accounts will be able to access the shared game library from their own computers.
Note:
Authorized users will have access to all of the games in the shared library, including games that were purchased before Family Sharing was enabled. However, only one user can play a specific game at a time. If two users try to play the same game simultaneously, the user who launched the game first will have priority.
Setting Up Shared Steam Library
Step 1: Enable Family Sharing
Begin by logging into your primary Steam account and accessing the “Family” tab from the top-right corner. Click “Manage Family Sharing” to activate the feature and follow the on-screen prompts.
Step 2: Select Authorized Computers
Next, authorize the computers that you want to share your library with. Under the “Family Sharing” section, click “Authorize This Computer” on each computer that you wish to connect. You can have up to 10 authorized computers at any given time.
Step 3: Configure Shared Content
Now, you need to specify which games and applications from your library you want to share. Navigate to the “Shared Library” tab within the “Family Sharing” section. Here, you can select the games that you wish to make accessible to your authorized computers. You can also create a custom list of titles to share.
| Sharing Option |
Description |
| Full Access |
Shared users have unrestricted access to all games and applications in your library. |
| Limited Access |
Shared users can only access specific games and applications that you select. |
Step 4: Set Parental Controls (Optional)
If necessary, you can also set parental controls for shared content. Click “Configure Parental Controls” under the “Family Sharing” section to restrict access to specific games or features based on age ratings or content descriptors.
Restrictions and Limitations
There are some restrictions and limitations to Family Sharing on Steam:
Shared Games
Not all games on Steam support Family Sharing. You can check whether a game supports Family Sharing by looking for the “Family Sharing” icon on its Store page. Games that do not support Family Sharing will not be available to share with other family members.
Game Ownership and DLC
In order to share a game with a family member, you must own the game and it must be in your Steam library. You can’t share games that you don’t own or that are borrowed from another account. Additionally, DLC for shared games is not shared unless the family member also owns the DLC.
Concurrent Play Restrictions
Only one person can play a shared game at a time. If the game owner starts playing a shared game, the family member who was playing it will be kicked out of the game.
Account Security
Sharing your Steam account with family members can give them access to your personal information and payment methods. It’s important to only share your account with people you trust and to make sure you have strong security measures in place, such as two-factor authentication.
Time Based Restrictions
Family members can only play shared games for a limited amount of time each day. The amount of time varies depending on the game, but it’s typically around 2 hours.
Content Restrictions
Some games may have content that is not appropriate for all ages. If a family member is under the age of 18, they may not be able to play certain shared games due to content restrictions.
Managing Family Sharing Permissions
Once Family Sharing is enabled, you can manage the permissions for each individual user. To do this, follow these steps:
- Open the Steam client and click on the “View” menu.
- Select “Settings” from the drop-down menu.
- Click on the “Family” tab.
- Find the user you want to manage permissions for and click on the “Edit” button.
- In the “Permissions” section, you can choose whether to allow the user to play all of your games, only certain games, or no games at all. You can also choose whether to allow the user to make purchases on your behalf.
Once you have made your changes, click on the “Save” button to apply them.
Note:
If you are sharing your account with a child, we recommend that you use the “Only Allow Specific Games” option to restrict their access to inappropriate content.
Permissions for Different Users
You can set different permissions for different users. For example, you could allow your child to play all of your games, but only allow your partner to play certain games. You can also choose whether to allow each user to make purchases on your behalf.
The following table summarizes the different permissions you can set for each user:
| Permission |
Description |
| Play All Games |
The user can play all of your games. |
| Play Only Specific Games |
The user can only play the games that you have specifically allowed them to play. |
| Play No Games |
The user cannot play any of your games. |
|
Make Purchases
|
The user can make purchases on your behalf. |
How To Activate Family Sharing On Steam
Family Sharing is a feature on Steam that allows you to share your game library with up to five other family members or friends. To activate Family Sharing, you will need to first create a Steam Family group and add the people you want to share your games with to the group. Once you have created the group, you can enable Family Sharing by following these steps:
- Open the Steam client and click on the “Steam” menu in the upper-left corner of the window.
- Select “Settings” from the menu.
- Click on the “Family” tab in the Settings window.
- Check the box next to “Enable Family Sharing” and click on the “Authorize” button.
- Enter the Steam username and password of the account you want to share your games with and click on the “Authorize” button.
- Repeat steps 4 and 5 for each account you want to share your games with.
- Once you have added all of the accounts you want to share your games with, click on the “OK” button to save your changes.
Deactivating Family Sharing
To deactivate Family Sharing, you can follow these steps:
- Open the Steam client and click on the “Steam” menu in the upper-left corner of the window.
- Select “Settings” from the menu.
- Click on the “Family” tab in the Settings window.
- Uncheck the box next to “Enable Family Sharing”.
- Click on the “OK” button to save your changes.
Once you have deactivated Family Sharing, your family members and friends will no longer be able to access your game library.
Benefits of Family Sharing
Steam Family Sharing allows you to share your games with up to five family members or friends. This can be a great way to save money on games, as you can share your library with people who have different gaming tastes. It can also be a fun way to bond with your loved ones over a shared hobby.
Steps to Activate Family Sharing on Steam
1. Sign in to your Steam account.
2. Click on the “Steam” menu in the top-left corner of the screen.
3. Select “Settings” from the drop-down menu.
4. Click on the “Family” tab.
5. Click on the “Authorize Library Sharing on this Computer” button.
6. Enter the username and password of the account you want to share your games with.
7. Check the box next to the account you want to share games with.
8. Click on the “Share” button.
Once you have followed these steps, the other person will be able to access your games from their own Steam account.
Things to Keep in Mind
There are a few things to keep in mind when using Family Sharing. First, only one person can be playing a shared game at a time. Second, you can only share games that you have purchased yourself. Finally, Family Sharing only works on computers that are authorized by you.
Parental Control Options
Steam offers a range of parental control options to help you manage your family’s gaming experience. These options allow you to control the games your family members can play, the amount of time they spend playing, and the amount of money they can spend on in-game purchases. To access these options, click on “Parental Settings” under your Account Settings.
Game Restrictions
You can set restrictions on the games that your family members can play. To do this, click on the “Game Restrictions” tab and select the games that you want to block. You can also choose to block all games that are not rated for a specific age group.
Time Limits
You can set time limits on how long your family members can play games each day or each week. To do this, click on the “Time Limits” tab and set the desired limits.
Purchase Approvals
You can require that all in-game purchases be approved by you before they are completed. To do this, click on the “Purchase Approvals” tab and select the option to require approval for all purchases.
Other Parental Control Options
In addition to the above options, Steam also offers a number of other parental control options, including:
- The ability to block specific websites and chat rooms
- The ability to view your family members’ activity logs
- The ability to set up a PIN to restrict access to parental control settings
Steam’s parental control options are a valuable tool for managing your family’s gaming experience. By using these options, you can help to ensure that your family members are playing games that are appropriate for their age and that they are not spending too much time or money on gaming.
| Parental Control Option |
Description |
| Game Restrictions |
Allows you to block specific games or games that are not rated for a specific age group. |
| Time Limits |
Allows you to set time limits on how long your family members can play games each day or each week. |
| Purchase Approvals |
Requires that all in-game purchases be approved by you before they are completed. |
| Website and Chat Blocking |
Allows you to block specific websites and chat rooms. |
| Activity Logs |
Allows you to view your family members’ activity logs. |
| PIN Protection |
Allows you to set up a PIN to restrict access to parental control settings. |
Best Practices for Family Sharing
Manage Permissions Carefully
Review permissions regularly and revoke access if necessary. Ensure only authorized family members have access to your library.
Limit Account Sharing
Avoid sharing your account details with anyone outside your family. This protects your privacy and prevents unauthorized access.
Monitor Usage
Check your Family Sharing activity to monitor which games are being played and by whom. This helps identify potential abuse.
Communicate Expectations
Establish clear rules with family members regarding acceptable use of your library, including limitations on playtime and game selection.
Respect Others’ Libraries
If you have access to another family member’s library, respect their preferences and avoid installing or playing games they don’t want you to use.
Use Parental Controls
Enable parental controls on your account to restrict access to games with mature content or limit playtime for younger family members.
Consider Separate Accounts for Children
Creating separate accounts for children can provide better parental control and prevent accidental purchases or exposure to inappropriate content.
Choose Shared Games Wisely
Select games that are suitable for all family members and consider their maturity ratings and content.
Monitor Purchase Activity
Regularly review purchase history to ensure that games are being purchased legitimately and within the family’s budget.
Resolve Disputes Amicably
If disputes arise over game usage or library access, address them calmly and respectfully. Seek compromise or consider adjusting permissions as necessary.
How to Activate Family Sharing on Steam
Family Sharing allows you to share your Steam library with up to 5 family members or friends. This means that they can play your games without having to purchase them themselves. To activate Family Sharing, follow these steps:
- Log into your Steam account.
- Click on the “Settings” menu in the top right corner of the window.
- Select the “Family” tab.
- Click on the “Manage Family Sharing” button.
- Select the accounts that you want to share your library with.
- Click on the “Authorize” button.
Once you have authorized an account, they will be able to access your library from their own Steam account. To do this, they will need to log into their account and click on the “Library” tab. They will then see a list of all of the games that you have shared with them.
People Also Ask
How do I share a game with someone on Steam?
To share a game with someone on Steam, you need to activate Family Sharing. Once you have done this, you can select the games that you want to share with them and authorize their account. They will then be able to access your library from their own Steam account.
Can I share all of my games with someone?
Yes, you can share all of your games with someone. However, they will only be able to play the games that are compatible with their computer.
How many people can I share my library with?
You can share your library with up to 5 people.
