What Steam Family Sharing Actually Does
Steam Family Sharing lets you and up to five other people on your household computers play games from one Steam account's library without buying the game multiple times. When you turn it on, anyone using those computers can launch games you own — but only one person can play at a time, and the account owner always has priority.
This is different from sharing your password. Steam Family Sharing is built into the platform and designed for this exact purpose. It keeps a record of who is playing what, prevents conflicts, and lets the account owner keep control.
Key Takeaways
- Steam Family Sharing works only on computers in your home where you have physically logged in with your Steam account.
- Up to six people total can use the shared library, but only one person can play a game at a time across all shared computers.
- The account owner can stop sharing at any moment, and anyone currently playing will be given a warning to save their progress.
- You turn on Family Sharing in Steam Settings under Family, and you must authorize each computer where it will work.
Before You Start: What You Need
You need a Steam account with games in its library — the games you want to share. You also need at least one other computer in your home where you can log in with that same Steam account. That second computer is where other people will play the games.
Everyone who will use the shared library needs their own Steam account. They do not need to own any games themselves. They will log into their own account on the shared computer, and Steam will show them the games from the account owner's library.
How to Turn On Family Sharing
Open Steam on the computer where you own the games. Click your username in the top right corner and select Settings. On the left side, click Family. You will see a toggle for Steam Family Sharing — click it to turn it on.
Steam will ask you to confirm. Click Enable Steam Family Sharing. You will see a message that says the feature is now active on this computer. This is the first computer — the one where you are logged in right now.
Now go to the second computer where other people will play. Log in with the same Steam account (the one that owns the games). Go back to Settings, then Family, and turn on Family Sharing there too. Confirm again. Now both computers are authorized.
How Other People Play Your Games
On any authorized computer, the other person logs into their own Steam account. They open their Steam library, and they will see all the games from the account owner's library listed there. They click the game and select Play. Steam launches it under their own account.
While they are playing, no one else can play a game from that shared library on any other computer — not even the account owner. If the account owner tries to start a game, Steam will show a message saying someone else is playing and ask if they want to stop that person's game. The account owner can force them to stop, which gives the other person a 10-minute warning to save.
What Happens With Game Progress and Settings
Game progress and settings are tied to the account that is actually playing. If Person A plays a game under their own account, their save files and settings stay with Person A's account. If Person B plays the same game under their account on a different computer, they get their own separate save files and settings.
This means two people can be playing the same game at the same time — just not on the same computer, and not from the same shared library simultaneously. One person plays on Computer A under their account, the other plays on Computer B under their account, and both are using games from the shared library.
How to Stop Sharing or Remove Someone
To turn off Family Sharing completely, go back to Settings, then Family, and toggle Steam Family Sharing off. Anyone currently playing will get a warning. All shared access stops when ready.
You cannot remove one specific person without turning off the whole feature. If you want to stop sharing with one person but keep sharing with others, you have to turn off Family Sharing, wait 24 hours, and turn it back on. Steam requires this waiting period to prevent abuse.
You can also deauthorize a specific computer. In Settings under Family, you will see a list of authorized computers. Click the three dots next to any computer and select Deauthorize. That computer can no longer access the shared library, but other authorized computers still can.
Common Problems and What to Do
If someone tries to play a game and gets an error saying the library is in use, it means someone else is already playing a game from that library. They have to wait until the other person stops, or the account owner can force them to stop from Settings.
If you log into a computer with your Steam account but Family Sharing does not show up in Settings, the feature may not be available in your region. Steam Family Sharing works in most countries, but a few have restrictions. Check the Steam support page for your country to confirm.
If you move to a new house or want to authorize a computer at a friend's place, remember that Family Sharing only works on computers in your home. Steam can detect if you are trying to use it on a computer far away from your other authorized computers, and it may disable the feature. Use it only on computers where you physically live.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Family Sharing on my laptop if I travel?
Family Sharing is designed for computers in your home. If you travel with your laptop, Steam may disable the feature because it detects the computer is far from your other authorized devices. For traveling, it is better to log into your own account on the laptop instead.
What if someone changes the password on the shared account?
Changing the password does not affect computers that are already authorized. They stay authorized until you deauthorize them manually. However, if you log out and try to log back in, you will need the new password. The account owner should change the password only if they think someone has unauthorized access.
Can I share games with someone who does not live with me?
Technically you can authorize a computer anywhere, but Steam's terms say Family Sharing is for household members only. If Steam detects the authorized computers are in different locations, it may disable the feature. It is designed for people living in the same home.
Do I need to buy a separate copy of a game for each person?
No. One copy covers everyone on the shared library. However, only one person can play that game at a time across all authorized computers. If you want two people playing the same game simultaneously, you need two copies.
What happens to my games if I stop paying for my Steam account?
Steam accounts do not have a subscription fee. You own the games permanently once you buy them. Family Sharing will keep working as long as your account exists, even if you have not bought anything new in years.