How To Let Family Member Play Games On Steam (2025)

Steam’s Family Sharing feature allows others to play games from your Steam library without needing to pay for them. This feature allows family members to share games while keeping their accounts separate, allowing them to play one another’s games while earning their own Steam achievements. One user can authorize up to 10 devices at a time, and on any of these devices, up to five accounts can choose games from your game Library to play.

To use the feature, you need to create or join a Steam Family to share games on PC with your family. By creating a virtual family with friends or family, you can establish a shared library and control what games family members can access with parental controls or by marking games as private. Steam Family Sharing evolved from carte blanche sharing of a Steam library into a system that allows you to share your entire game library with eligible friends and family members using a computer.

To set up a Steam Family, go to Account Details on the Store page, click on the Family Management section, enter a name to create a new Steam Family, and select or search for family members to invite. Enable Library Sharing in your account setting, then log into your friend’s or family member’s computer with your account, log out, and login back.

Steam Family Library Sharing allows up to five other users to access your games. Sharing is done through the settings and can be revoked at any time. To add members to the family, click “Invite a Member” and select them from your Steam friends list. After inviting them, you must open your Steam launcher, go to settings, and look for family sharing.

Steam Family Sharing is currently a beta version, but it offers a new way for relatives to connect on the gaming portal. By enabling Library Sharing in your account settings, you can save money and let others try out games before purchasing.

Can You Share Games On Steam With Friends And Family?

Yes, you can share games on Steam with friends and family through the "Family Sharing" feature, which allows you to share your game library with up to five people. This enables multiple users to enjoy games without needing to buy separate copies, leading to significant cost savings. To set up sharing, you need to authorize Library Sharing in your Family settings and select eligible friends or family members. However, be aware that certain games may be unavailable for sharing due to technical limitations.

Importantly, players can only access shared games if the original account holder isn’t using the game simultaneously, unless the host sets their Steam to offline mode. The "Steam Families" feature consolidates various family-oriented functionalities, allowing users to manage game access more effectively.

Family sharing does not allow friends or family to access private or restricted content. To share games, simply right-click on the desired titles in your library, select "Manage," and then choose "Add to Family Games."

Ultimately, Steam's Family Sharing facilitates collaboration among family and friends, enabling them to earn achievements and save progress in games they don’t own, making the gaming experience more communal. Just remember that both parties need the same number of copies if playing concurrently.

How To Share A Steam Account With Family Members?

To share a Steam account with family, go to the "Family" tab and select "Manage other computers" to add trusted family or friends' accounts. With Steam Family Sharing, you can share games with up to 5 family members, managed via the Steam Client, mobile, or web. A new Family library will appear in the games section, but game ownership remains with the original owner. To enable Family Sharing, adjust settings in your account, allowing one user to authorize up to 10 devices for access.

Each device can have up to five accounts playing from your library, though they cannot play simultaneously. Steam Families combines Family Sharing and Family View into one platform for managing game access. This new feature enables you to create a virtual family group, allowing collective sharing of game libraries. Setting up a Steam Family requires joining the beta program, ensuring you have Steam Guard enabled. To create a Steam Family, access your account details and use the Family Management section to enter a family name and invite members.

Once library sharing is enabled, log into a family member's computer with your account to complete the process. Sharing can be revoked at any time through your settings, maintaining control over your game library.

Can You Buy A Game On Steam Families?

Steam Families does not permit the sharing of a single game copy across family members, meaning multiple users cannot play the same game simultaneously even if they individually own it. This system is distinct from Steam Family Options, which serve as parental controls. However, Steam Family Sharing allows users to share their game libraries, enabling family members and guests to earn accomplishments and save progress independently. In the new system, up to six family members can play shared games concurrently without additional configurations, provided they select their "preferred copy" if multiple copies exist.

The "Child Purchase Requests" feature also enables children to ask an adult to pay for games in their shopping cart, with adults having the authority to approve and complete transactions via mobile devices or emails. When setting up a Steam Family, members can collectively manage game sharing efficiently. Importantly, if one account already owns a game, it cannot be shared with another account with the same game, including any DLC. Thus, for multiplayer experiences, each player typically must buy their own copy.

Overall, the Steam Families feature simplifies managing family game libraries and controls, while maintaining individual gaming experiences across different accounts. The feature is now available to all users after its beta launch earlier in the year.

Can You Open A Steam Library To Friends And Family?

Steam offers a Family Library Sharing feature that allows users to share their entire game library with up to five friends or family members, though access is all-or-nothing for specific titles. If the guest lacks the base game, they can also access any owned DLC files. To utilize this feature, the library owner must first enable Family Sharing in their Steam settings. They can then authorize up to 10 devices and allow up to five accounts on those devices to choose and play games from their library.

Managing a Steam Family can be done easily through the Steam Client, mobile device, or web browser. Families can include up to six members, granting access to all games owned by each member. To set up Family Sharing, log into another user’s computer with your Steam account, enable Library Sharing, and log back in to their account.

Steam also has two offline modes, one of which does not permit game access while the library is borrowed. Ownership of games remains with the purchaser, and any new purchases will appear in the sharing collection. The process to invite friends involves going to Steam settings, finding Family options, and sending an invite. Overall, Steam Families simplify sharing and enhance game access among friends and family.

What Is Steam Family Sharing?

Steam Family Sharing позволяет вам делиться личной библиотекой игр с друзьями и семьей, но не покупая одну копию игры для всех. Новая функция Steam Families объединяет возможности Family Sharing и Family View, предоставляя одно место для управления доступом к играм для вашей семьи и временем их игры. Создайте семью Steam и пригласите до пяти членов. Family Library Sharing позволяет членам семьи делиться играми при сохранении отдельных аккаунтов. Функция Steam Families теперь доступна всем пользователям после бета-тестирования.

Родители могут делиться играми с родственниками и контролировать время игры детей. Лимит на количество членов семьи – шесть, и они могут играть из общей библиотеки. Steam Families позволяет разделить игры с пятью другими аккаунтами без ограничения по устройствам. Это отличная возможность сэкономить деньги и дать другим возможность попробовать игры. Steam Families включает новые способы родительского контроля и управления покупками игр. После присоединения все игры родных объединяются в одну библиотеку. Steam Families является удобным инструментом для мониторинга и управления игровым временем детей.

How Do I Set Up Family Sharing On Steam?

To set up Steam Family Sharing, navigate to Settings > Family > Manage to view authorized computers and accounts sharing your Steam library. You can see excluded games by clicking "Show excluded games." Start by enabling Library Sharing in your account settings. Log in to a friend or family member's computer, then log out and back into your account. In Steam, select Settings (Windows) or Preferences (Mac), find Family on the left, and enable "Authorize Library Sharing on this device." The new Steam Families feature combines various family-related functionalities, allowing you to manage shared games in one place. To create a Steam Family, go to Account Details on the Store page and click Family Management. Enter a family name (modifiable later) and invite members. You can authorize up to 10 devices for Family Library Sharing, allowing up to five accounts to access your library on each device. This feature enables friends or family members to play games from your library without additional costs. To designate which games to share, use the Manage Family View option after logging into your account, where you can customize access to your game library. Follow these steps to make the most of Steam Family Sharing and start enjoying shared gaming experiences with loved ones.