What Family Sharing does and how to set it up
Family Sharing in Steam lets you share your game library with people in your household. When you turn it on, other people can use your account to play your games on their own computers — they log into a shared computer with your credentials, and Steam remembers that machine as a family device. Anyone with a Steam account can then play your games on that computer without needing to own them.
The feature works in one direction: you share your library with others, but you do not automatically get access to their games. Each person sets up sharing independently. You need to be the account owner, have a Steam account, and have at least one other computer in your home where you want to share games.
Key Takeaways
- Family Sharing requires you to log into Steam on a second computer with your account credentials and mark it as a family device.
- Once a computer is marked as a family device, any Steam account on that computer can play your games without owning them.
- You can still play your own games on your main computer at the same time someone else plays them on a family device.
- You can turn off Family Sharing or remove specific computers from the feature at any time through your account settings.
Step-by-step: Turning on Family Sharing
Open Steam on the computer where you want to share your games. This is the second computer — the one other people will use. Log in with your own Steam account (the account that owns the games you want to share).
Once you are logged in, go to Steam menu (top left) and select Settings. In the Settings window, click Family on the left sidebar. You will see a section labeled Family Library Sharing.
Click the toggle or checkbox next to Enable Family Library Sharing on this computer. Steam will ask you to confirm. Click OK or Yes to proceed. The computer is now marked as a family device linked to your account.
After you turn on Family Sharing, other people can log into Steam on that computer with their own accounts. When they do, they will see your entire game library available to them. They can download and play any of your games without owning them or needing a separate purchase.
What happens after you turn it on
Once Family Sharing is active on a computer, Steam remembers that machine. The next time anyone logs into Steam on that computer — whether it is you or someone else — they can access your game library. You do not need to stay logged in or keep the computer running for others to play.
You can play your games on your main computer at the same time someone else is playing them on a family device. Steam allows simultaneous play across different computers. The only limit is that two people cannot play the same game at the exact same time on the same computer.
If you want to remove a computer from Family Sharing later, go back to Settings > Family and toggle off Family Library Sharing on this computer. You can also manage which computers are linked to your account by going to your account page on the Steam website and selecting Manage Family Library Sharing under the Family section.
Common mistakes that block Family Sharing
The most common problem is trying to turn on Family Sharing from your main computer instead of a second one. Family Sharing is designed for sharing with others in your household, so Steam expects you to set it up on a different machine. If you only have one computer, you cannot use this feature.
Another mistake is logging into the second computer with someone else's account first, then trying to turn on Family Sharing. You must log in with your own account (the one that owns the games) to enable the feature. After it is on, other people can log in with their own accounts.
Some people also forget that Family Sharing is not the same as a guest account. The other person needs their own Steam account to use the shared library. They cannot play games without logging into Steam, even on a family device.
Turning off Family Sharing or removing a computer
If you no longer want to share your games, you can turn off Family Sharing on any computer. Log into Steam on that computer with your account, go to Settings > Family, and toggle off Enable Family Library Sharing on this computer. That computer will no longer have access to your library.
You can also manage Family Sharing from the Steam website without logging in on the computer itself. Visit steampowered.com, log into your account, click your profile name in the top right, select Account, then scroll down to Family Library Sharing. From there you can see all computers linked to your account and remove any of them.
If you sell or give away a computer that has Family Sharing enabled, remove it from your account before handing it over. This prevents the new owner from accessing your games and account.
What you need before you start
You need a Steam account with games in your library. Free-to-play games can be shared, but you must own at least one game for Family Sharing to be useful. You also need a second computer with Steam installed and internet access.
The second computer does not need to be powerful or new. It can be an older laptop, a desktop, or any machine that runs Windows, macOS, or Linux and can download Steam. Both computers should be on the same home network, though they do not have to be — Family Sharing works over the internet.
The other people using the shared library need their own Steam accounts. They cannot play games without one, even if you have shared your library with them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can two people play the same game at the same time on different computers?
Yes. You can play a game on your main computer while someone else plays the same game on a family device. The only restriction is that two people cannot play the same game on the same computer simultaneously.
Do I need to stay logged in for others to play my games?
No. Once Family Sharing is turned on, other people can log in with their own accounts and play your games without you being logged in or present. Steam remembers the computer as a family device.
What if someone outside my household wants to use Family Sharing?
Family Sharing is designed for people in your home. Valve's terms of service state that the feature is for household members only. If you share your account credentials with someone outside your home, you are responsible for any activity on your account.
Can I share my games with someone on a different computer without turning on Family Sharing?
No. Family Sharing is the only official way to let others play your games. You cannot share your library by giving someone your password or account details for use on their own computer.
What happens to shared games if I change my Steam password?
Changing your password does not affect Family Sharing on computers already marked as family devices. Those computers will continue to have access to your library. However, if someone is currently logged into Steam on a family device, they may be logged out and asked to log back in.