Steam Family Sharing: Complete Setup and Management Guide
Table of Contents
Steam Family Sharing lets you share your game library with up to five family members or friends, allowing them to play your games on their own accounts. It's a valuable feature for households with multiple gamers or for sharing your library with close friends who can't afford their own games.
This guide covers everything about Steam Family Sharing: how it works, setup process, limitations, troubleshooting common issues, and best practices for managing shared libraries.
How Steam Family Sharing Works
Understanding the mechanics helps you use Family Sharing effectively:
Basic Concept:
One Steam account (the "lender") shares its game library with up to 5 other accounts (the "borrowers"). Borrowers can: - Play games from the shared library - Earn their own achievements - Save their own game progress - Use Steam Cloud saves for their progress
Key Limitations:
One User At A Time:
The biggest limitation: only ONE person can access a shared library at any given time.
What This Means:
If you (the lender) start playing ANY game in your library, all borrowers are kicked out
If a borrower is playing, other borrowers can't access the library
Even if you play different games, only one person total can use the library
Example:
You own 500 games. Your friend is playing Game A from your library. You want to play Game B. When you launch Game B, your friend gets kicked out of Game A—even though you're playing different games.
Exception:
You and borrowers can play at the same time if you go into Steam offline mode, but this prevents online features.
Not All Games Can Be Shared:
Some games are excluded:
Unshare-able Games:
Games requiring third-party accounts (EA games, Ubisoft games)
Games requiring additional subscriptions
Some F2P games
Region-locked games
Games with technical DRM preventing sharing
How to Check:
Game's store page shows "Excluded from Family Sharing" if it can't be shared.
Achievements and Progress:
What's Separate:
Achievements (borrowers earn their own)
Save files (usually separate via Cloud Save)
Playtime (tracked on borrower's account)
Trading cards (earned on borrower's account)
What's Shared:
The game itself
DLC purchased by lender
Workshop items (mods)
Library Access Control:
As the lender, you can: - Kick borrowers at any time (start playing your games) - Revoke sharing access - See who's accessing your library - Grant access to specific computers, not specific accounts
Setting Up Family Sharing
Setup is straightforward but has important steps:
Prerequisites:
Lender Requirements:
Steam Guard security enabled (mobile app or email)
15+ days since Steam Guard was enabled (anti-fraud measure)
Lender account not banned or limited
Lender account has games purchased (not from Family Sharing themselves)
Borrower Requirements:
Steam account in good standing
Steam Guard enabled
Acceptance of Family Sharing authorization
Setup Process (Lender):
**Step 1: Enable Family Sharing** 1. Go to Steam → Settings → Family 2. Check "Authorize Library Sharing on this computer" 3. The computer you're on is now authorized
**Step 2: Authorize Specific Users** 1. Have the borrower log into Steam on your computer 2. Go to Steam → Settings → Family (on borrower's account) 3. The computer is now authorized for that account 4. Borrower sees your library appear on their account 5. Borrower can now log out and use your library from their own device
Important: The authorization happens on a per-computer basis, but once authorized, borrowers can access the library from their own computers.
Alternative Authorization Method:
Using "Authorize Computer" Directly:
1. Steam → Settings → Family
2. Select accounts to authorize
3. Check boxes next to family members
4. Click "OK"
This only works if the borrower has logged into your computer previously.
Setup Process (Borrower):
**Step 1: Log Into Lender's Computer** As described above, log into the lender's computer at least once.
**Step 2: View Shared Libraries** 1. Open Steam library on your own computer 2. Look for "Family" section in library 3. Shared games appear under lender's name 4. Install and play as normal
**Step 3: Verify Access** - Try launching a shared game - Confirm cloud saves work - Check that achievements track to your account
Sharing with Multiple People:
Repeat the process for each person (max 5 borrowers): - Each person logs into your computer once - Each person gets authorized - All borrowers share the same game pool - Still only one person can use library at a time
Managing Family Sharing and Common Issues
Day-to-day management and problem solving:
Managing Access:
Viewing Who Has Access:
1. Steam → Settings → Family
2. See list of authorized users
3. View which computers are authorized
Revoking Access:
Remove Specific User:
1. Steam → Settings → Family
2. Uncheck user you want to remove
3. That user loses access immediately
Deauthorize Computer:
Deauthorize All Computers button
Nuclear option: removes all sharing
Requires re-setup
When to Revoke:
Friend no longer needs access
Security concern (lost device)
Want to free up a slot for new person
Account behaving suspiciously
Coordinating Play Time:
Since only one person can play at a time:
Communication Strategies:
Use Discord/Chat:
Coordinate who wants to play when
"I'm done, library is free"
Schedule gaming sessions
Offline Mode for Simultaneous Play:
One person goes offline:
1. Go to Steam → Go Offline
2. They can play single-player games
3. Other person can play online
4. Limitation: No online features for offline player
Buy Copies of Frequently-Played Games:
If you and borrower both love a specific game:
Buy it on sale for the borrower
Now you can play simultaneously
Only solution for true co-op from shared library
Common Issues and Solutions:
**Issue: "This game is currently unavailable"**
Causes:
Lender is playing any game
Another borrower is using the library
Connection issues
Solutions:
Wait for library to become available
Ask lender/other borrower to stop playing
Try refreshing Steam
**Issue: Borrower can't see shared library**
Causes:
Computer not authorized
Steam Guard not enabled
Sharing not enabled on lender's account
Solutions:
Verify lender enabled sharing
Borrower logs into lender's computer again
Check both accounts have Steam Guard
**Issue: Specific game won't share**
Causes:
Game requires third-party account
Game excluded from Family Sharing
Region locks
Solutions:
Check game store page for sharing status
Can't share some games (Ubisoft, EA titles typically)
No workaround for excluded games
**Issue: Saves not syncing**
Causes:
Cloud Saves not enabled
Different save file paths
Game doesn't support Cloud Saves
Solutions:
Enable Cloud Saves in Steam settings
Check game's settings for cloud sync
Manually back up saves if needed
**Issue: Getting kicked during crucial moments**
Causes:
Lender started a game
Another borrower took priority
Solutions:
Lender can quit to give library back
Coordinate better
Consider offline mode for single-player
Best Practices and Advanced Tips
Maximize Family Sharing effectiveness:
For Lenders:
Choose Borrowers Wisely:
Trust is essential (they're using your account)
Limit to actual family/close friends
Don't share with strangers
Remember you only get 5 slots
Maintain Library Quality:
Keep purchasing games borrowers want
Communicate about shared wishlist priorities
Don't remove games borrowers are playing
Set Ground Rules:
Who gets priority during conflicts
Communication expectations
Time limits if needed
Rules for online behavior (reflects on your account)
Security Considerations:
Don't share with untrustworthy people
Monitor library access
Change password if sharing ends badly
Remember: VAC bans on shared games affect both accounts
For Borrowers:
Respect the Lender:
Communicate when you want to play
Don't monopolize the library
Offer to chip in for games you both want
Thank the lender (it's a generous feature)
Plan Your Gaming:
Download games in advance
Play when lender is unlikely to need library
Keep a list of own games for when library is busy
Don't start long sessions without checking
Achievement Hunting:
Your achievements go to your account
Great way to hunt achievements in expensive games
Progress persists even if sharing ends
Understanding Limitations:
Accept you're secondary to the lender
Expect interruptions
Have backup games
Consider buying your own copy of favorites
Strategic Sharing Tips:
Multi-Household Sharing:
If households don't overlap gaming times: - Share with someone in different time zone - Work schedules that don't align - One person plays mornings, other plays evenings - Maximizes library usage without conflicts
Reciprocal Sharing:
Both players share with each other: - You share your library - Friend shares their library - Doubles available games - Still subject to one-at-a-time limitations
Benefits:
Access to both libraries
More game variety
Support indie purchases together
Limitations:
Can't both play at same time
Coordination becomes more complex
Family Sharing vs Game Gifting:
When to Use Family Sharing:
Temporary access needed
Testing games before buying
Borrower can't afford purchase
Large library to share
When to Gift Instead:
Want to play together
Borrower plays specific game heavily
During sales (gifting becomes affordable)
Game is frequently played
Hybrid Approach:
Share library generally
Gift individual games during sales
Best of both worlds
Conclusion
Steam Family Sharing is a generous feature that allows families and close friends to share game libraries, but it works best with communication, trust, and understanding of its limitations. The one-library-at-a-time restriction is significant, but with coordination and strategic use, Family Sharing provides valuable access to games that might otherwise go unplayed.
Key Takeaways:
One person can use a shared library at a time
Setup requires logging into lender's computer once
Not all games can be shared (third-party DRM restrictions)
Borrowers earn their own achievements and keep their own saves
Communication is essential for avoiding conflicts
Combine sharing with strategic game purchases for best results
Whether you're sharing with family members in the same household or distant friends, Family Sharing expands gaming possibilities while respecting the value of purchased games.
Want to see what games you have in common with family members? Use our [Library Comparison Tool](/compare_games) to find shared games and discover what's available in your shared libraries!