What Family Sharing does and how it works
Family Sharing on Steam lets you share your game library with people in your household. When you set it up, anyone using an authorized computer in your home can play the games you own, without needing their own copy. Steam handles this by letting you designate one computer as your library computer and allowing other people to log in and play from there.
The trade-off is straightforward: only one person can play your games at a time. If you are playing a game you own, nobody else can play any of your games simultaneously — even a different one. This is how Valve prevents one purchase from being shared across multiple households. The person whose account owns the games (yours) can play anytime, but other household members have to wait their turn.
You do not need to share your password. Instead, you authorize a specific computer, and other people create their own Steam accounts on that machine. They log in with their own credentials, and Steam automatically lets them access your library on that device only.
Key Takeaways
- Family Sharing requires you to authorize one computer as your library computer, where household members can play your games using their own Steam accounts.
- Only one person can play your games at a time across all authorized devices, even if they are playing different games.
- You set this up in Steam Settings under Family, not by sharing passwords or account credentials.
- The person whose account owns the games can always play, but other household members need permission from you to start playing.
- Family Sharing works across Windows, macOS, and Linux, but only on computers you physically authorize.
Step-by-step setup on your own computer
Start on the computer where your games are installed. Open Steam and log in with your own account. Click your username in the top right corner and select Settings. In the left sidebar, find Family (it may be labeled Family Library Sharing depending on your Steam version).
Toggle on Enable Family Library Sharing and Parental Controls. Steam will ask you to confirm your password. After you do, you will see a list of user accounts on that computer. Check the box next to each person in your household who should have access to your games. You can also set parental controls here if you want to restrict certain games by age rating — that is optional.
Click Save. Steam may ask you to authorize the computer; if it does, confirm the authorization. That computer is now your library computer, and anyone with an account on it can launch your games.
Setting up on other household computers
If you want people to play your games on a different computer in your home, you need to authorize that device too. Log into Steam on the second computer with your own account. Go to Settings, then Family, and toggle on Family Library Sharing again. Confirm your password and select which household accounts should have access.
You can authorize up to 10 computers total across your household. However, remember the simultaneous play rule: if someone is playing one of your games on Computer A, nobody can play any of your games on Computer B, even if it is a different game.
Each person in your household should create their own Steam account on each authorized computer. They do not need to own games themselves — they just log in with their own username and password, and Steam shows them your library.
What happens when someone wants to play
When a household member logs into Steam on an authorized computer, they see your entire library in their Games list. They can click any game and select Play. If you are not currently playing anything, the game launches when ready.
If you are already playing one of your games, Steam shows them a message: "This game is currently in use by [your name]. Would you like to request to play?" They can send you a request, and you will see a notification. You can either stop playing (which closes your game) or decline. If you stop, they can start when ready. If you decline or do not respond within a few minutes, the request times out and they have to try again.
This is the main friction point of Family Sharing: there is no queue or scheduling. It is first-come, first-served, and it requires communication between household members about who wants to play when.
Games that do not work with Family Sharing
Some games opt out of Family Sharing for licensing reasons. These are usually games with strong online multiplayer components or games where the publisher has specific restrictions. When a household member tries to play an opted-out game, Steam tells them it is not available for sharing and suggests they purchase their own copy.
You can see which games in your library do not support sharing by going to your Library, clicking the gear icon, and selecting View Community Hub or checking the game's store page directly. The store page lists "Family Library Sharing" as supported or not supported. Games that do not support sharing are rare — most of your library will work.
Removing someone from Family Sharing
If a household member moves out or you want to revoke their access, go back to Settings, Family, and uncheck their name. They will lose access to your games on that computer when ready, though any games they are currently playing will finish the session.
If you want to remove access from a specific computer entirely, you can deauthorize it. Go to Settings, Family, and click Manage other computers. Find the computer you want to remove and click Deauthorize. After that, nobody can access your library on that device, even if they have a household account on it.
Privacy and security things to know
Family Sharing does not give anyone access to your account. Each person logs in with their own Steam credentials, and they only see your library — they cannot change your account settings, make purchases on your account, or access your personal information. Your password stays private.
However, anyone with an account on an authorized computer can see which games you own and how much time you have played in each one. If privacy matters to you in your household, keep that in mind. You can also set parental controls to hide certain games from specific people if needed.
If you are concerned about someone outside your household accessing your games, remember that Family Sharing only works on computers you have physically authorized. If someone gains access to your Steam account password, they could authorize their own computer and add themselves to your family — so keep your password strong and do not share it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Family Sharing if I live in a dorm or apartment with roommates?
Technically yes, but Steam's terms say Family Sharing is for household members, which usually means family or people with a permanent shared residence. Roommates in a dorm or temporary housing are a gray area. Steam does not actively police this, but if you authorize a computer for someone who moves out and then authorizes it for someone else, you risk account restrictions.
What if someone outside my household wants to play my games?
Family Sharing is not designed for that. If you want to let a friend play a game you own, they would need to purchase their own copy or you would need to gift them the game directly through Steam. Sharing with people outside your household violates Steam's terms of service.
Can I play my games on my laptop while someone else plays on the family computer?
No. The rule is that only one person can play your games at a time, period. It does not matter if they are on different computers or different games — if anyone is playing anything from your library, nobody else can start a game until they stop.
Do I need to buy a second copy of a game for my spouse?
Not if you set up Family Sharing. Your spouse can play any game in your library on an authorized computer using their own account. You only need one copy. The only limitation is that you cannot both play at the same time.
What happens if I deauthorize my computer by accident?
You can reauthorize it anytime by logging back into Steam on that computer and toggling Family Sharing back on. There is no penalty. However, if you deauthorize a computer and then authorize a different one, household members lose access to your library on the first computer when ready.