Steam Family Sharing lets people on the same computer or network play each other's games without buying them twice
Steam Family Sharing is a feature from Valve that lets up to six people on the same household network share a game library. When you turn it on, other people can read and play the games you own on their own accounts — but only one person can play at a time from the shared library. If you buy a game, your family members can play it without paying for it themselves, as long as they're not playing something you're currently using.
The feature works across computers on your home network. You set one computer as the "library computer" where sharing is turned on, and other people log into their own accounts on that machine or on different machines connected to the same network. They see your games in their library and can launch them like they own them.
Key Takeaways
- Steam Family Sharing lets up to six household members play games you own without buying separate copies, as long as only one person plays from the shared library at a time.
- You designate one computer as the library computer where sharing is enabled, and other people use their own accounts on that machine or on other computers on your network.
- The person who owns the game can always play it, even if someone else is using it from the shared library — but the other person's game will stop.
- Games with online multiplayer or games that require a specific account to play (like some competitive titles) may not work properly through Family Sharing.
- You can turn Family Sharing off at any time, and it only works on computers physically connected to your home network.
How to set up Family Sharing on your library computer
Start by opening Steam on the computer where your games are installed. Go to Settings, then Family, then Family Library Sharing. Check the box that says "Authorize Library Sharing on Other Devices." Steam will ask you to confirm your account password.
Once that's on, other people can sit down at that same computer, log into their own Steam account, and see your games in their library. They read and play them from there. You don't need to do anything else — the sharing happens automatically once it's turned on.
If you want people on different computers to access your library, those computers need to be on the same home network. The library computer (the one where you turned sharing on) needs to stay connected to that network, but it doesn't need to be running Steam all the time for others to play.
What happens when two people want to play at the same time
Only one person can play from your shared library at a time. If you own the game and someone else is playing it through Family Sharing, you can start playing a different game you own. But if you try to play the same game they're using, their game stops and they get a message saying the library owner is now playing.
The person using the shared game can save their progress and come back to it later. They don't lose anything — the game just closes when the owner starts playing. This is why Family Sharing works best for households where people play at different times rather than simultaneously.
Games that don't work with Family Sharing
Some games won't work properly through Family Sharing because of how they're built. Games that require you to log into a specific account (like some competitive online games or games with anti-cheat systems) may block access or not let you play through a shared library. Games that use third-party accounts or authentication also sometimes have problems.
You'll know a game doesn't support Family Sharing when you try to launch it and get an error message. The game's store page on Steam sometimes lists this restriction, but not always. The safest way to check is to try launching it — if it doesn't work, you'll find out right away.
Turning Family Sharing on and off
You can turn Family Sharing off anytime by going back to Settings, Family, Family Library Sharing, and unchecking the box. When you do, other people lose access to your games when ready. Any games they're currently playing will close.
If you want to stop sharing with one specific person but keep sharing with others, you can't do that through the settings. Instead, you change the password on the library computer so that person can't log in anymore. This is a workaround, not an official feature, so it's clunky — but it works if you need to cut off one person's access.
Why Family Sharing is different from game sharing on other platforms
PlayStation and Xbox have similar features, but they work differently. On those consoles, you set one console as your "home" console, and anyone who uses that console can play your games. Steam's system is more flexible because it works across multiple computers on a network, not just one device.
The tradeoff is that Steam's system is stricter about simultaneous play. You can only have one person playing from the shared library at a time, whereas some console sharing setups let multiple people play different games at once. Steam's approach is designed to prevent people from using the feature to share games with friends outside their household.
Common problems and how to fix them
If someone can't see your games in their library, the most common reason is that Family Sharing isn't actually turned on. Go back to Settings, Family, Family Library Sharing and make sure the box is checked. If it is, try logging that person out and back in on their account.
If a game won't launch, it might be one of the games that doesn't support Family Sharing. Try a different game first to see if the problem is with that specific game or with the whole sharing setup. If other games work fine, that game just isn't compatible.
If the library computer is off or disconnected from the network, other people can still play games they've already downloaded, but they can't read new ones. The library computer needs to be on the network for new downloads to work, though it doesn't need to be running Steam itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I share my Steam library with friends who don't live with me?
Technically, Family Sharing works on any network, so you could set it up at a friend's house. But Steam's terms say it's meant for household members only. If Valve detects you're using it to share with people outside your household, they can disable the feature on your account.
Do I need to buy a game for each person who wants to play it?
No. One purchase covers everyone in your household through Family Sharing, as long as only one person plays at a time. If two people want to play simultaneously, you'd need to buy it twice.
What happens to my saves and achievements if someone else plays my game?
Their progress saves to their own account, not yours. If they play a game you own and earn achievements, those achievements go on their profile. Your saves and achievements stay separate.
Does the library computer need to stay on all the time?
No. Other people can play games they've already downloaded even if the library computer is off. But the library computer needs to be on and connected to your network if someone wants to read a new game from your library.
Can I use Family Sharing on my laptop if I travel?
Family Sharing only works on computers connected to your home network. If you take your laptop somewhere else, you can't access the shared library from there. You can still play games you own on your own account anywhere.