A Steam Family is a group of accounts that share game libraries and parental controls on one computer

A Steam Family is Steam's built-in system for letting multiple accounts on the same computer share purchased games and set up parental restrictions. When you create a Family, you designate one account as the manager, add other accounts as members, and those members can play games the manager owns — without buying them again. The manager can also restrict what games younger members can access based on content ratings.

The key limitation: sharing only works on the computer where the Family is set up. If you want the same games available on multiple computers, each one needs its own Family group. Members can't play shared games simultaneously on the same machine, and the manager's account must be the one that purchased the game.

Steam Family replaced the older "Family Sharing" feature in late 2023 with stricter rules about who can play what and when, so if you set up sharing before that date, you'll need to migrate to the new system.

Key Takeaways

  • The account that purchased a game must be in the Family for other members to play it, and the manager sets up the Family on a specific computer.
  • Only one person can play a shared game at a time, even if multiple accounts are in the Family.
  • The manager can restrict games by content rating (violence, language, sexual content) and set daily playtime limits for younger members.
  • You can have up to six accounts in one Family, and members can join from any device as long as they sign in on the shared computer at least once every 30 days.

How to create a Steam Family on your computer

Open Steam on the computer where you want to set up the Family. Sign in with the account you want to be the manager — this is the account whose games will be shared. Click your username in the top right corner, then select Settings. In the left sidebar, click Family.

Click the button to create a new Family. Steam will ask you to confirm your account and may send a verification code to your email. Once verified, you'll see a list of other accounts on that computer. Check the boxes next to the accounts you want to add as members, then confirm. Those accounts are now part of the Family and can play games the manager owns.

If an account doesn't appear in the list, it means that account hasn't been used on this computer yet. Have the person sign in to Steam on this computer once, then go back to Family settings and add them.

Managing who can play what games

The manager can restrict games by content rating. In Family settings, click on a member's name, then set restrictions for violence, language, sexual content, and other categories. Steam will hide games above those ratings from that member's library. The member can still see the restricted games exist, but can't launch them without the manager's permission.

You can also set daily playtime limits for each member. Click their name and set a maximum number of hours they can play per day. When the limit is reached, the account locks until the next day. The manager's account has no limits.

If a member tries to play a restricted game or has hit their playtime limit, they'll see a message saying the game is blocked and why. They can request permission from the manager, who will receive a notification and can approve or deny it.

What happens when members sign in from other devices

Family members can sign in to Steam on phones, tablets, or other computers using their own account. However, to play shared games, they must sign in on the shared computer (the one where the Family was created) at least once every 30 days. If they don't, Steam will lock them out of shared games on other devices.

The manager's account can play shared games on any device without this requirement. Members can use the Steam mobile app or Steam Link (a streaming app) to play games remotely, but the shared computer must be turned on and the manager must not be playing a game at that moment.

Removing accounts or leaving a Family

The manager can remove a member from the Family at any time by going to Family settings, clicking the member's name, and selecting the option to remove them. Once removed, that account loses access to shared games immediately, though any games they own personally remain in their library.

A member can also leave the Family themselves. They sign in to their own account, go to Settings > Family, and click the option to leave. They'll lose access to shared games but keep their own purchases.

If you want to disband the entire Family, the manager can delete it from Family settings. All members are removed at once, and everyone loses access to shared games.

Differences between the old Family Sharing and the new Steam Family system

Steam's old Family Sharing system let members play shared games at the same time as long as they weren't on the same computer. The new Steam Family system is stricter: only one person can play a shared game at a time, period. If the manager is playing a game, no member can play it, and vice versa.

The new system also requires members to sign in on the shared computer every 30 days to keep access, whereas the old system had no such requirement. Content restrictions are now built in and easier to manage, rather than being a separate feature.

If you were using the old system, Steam will prompt you to migrate to Steam Family. Your existing members will be added automatically, but you'll need to review and update your settings, especially playtime limits and content restrictions.

Troubleshooting common Family problems

If a member can't see shared games in their library, check that they're signed in on the shared computer and that the manager's account is in the Family. Games only appear if both conditions are true. If they signed in on the shared computer more than 30 days ago, have them sign in again to refresh their access.

If a game won't launch and shows a "not available" message, another Family member may be playing it. Only one person can play a shared game at a time. Wait for them to finish, or ask the manager to stop playing so you can start.

If the manager's account was removed from the Family by mistake, you'll need to create a new Family with a different manager account. The old Family can't be recovered, but members can be re-added to the new one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I share games with friends who don't live with me?

Steam Family is designed for people on the same computer, not remote friends. You can add any account to a Family regardless of location, but they must sign in on the shared computer at least every 30 days to keep access to shared games. If they can't do that, they won't be able to play.

What if I buy a game after creating the Family?

Any game the manager purchases after the Family is created automatically becomes available to all members. You don't need to do anything — it appears in their libraries the next time they sign in.

Can the manager play games while a member is playing?

No. Only one person can play a shared game at a time, whether it's the manager or a member. If you try to launch a game someone else is playing, Steam will tell you it's in use and ask you to wait.

What games can't be shared?

Most games can be shared, but some publishers restrict sharing on specific titles. If a game can't be shared, it won't appear in other members' libraries even though the manager owns it. There's no way to override this — it's set by the game's publisher.

Do I need to buy separate copies of a game for each person?

No, as long as they're in the same Family and take turns playing. If two people want to play the same game at the same time, you'll need to buy it twice — once for each account.