Steam Family Share lets you share your game library with up to five other people on the same computer or their own computers, without giving them your password.
When you set up Family Share, anyone you authorize can launch and play the games you own on Steam. They play under their own account, earn their own achievements, and keep their own save files separate from yours. You stay in control: you can remove someone from the share at any time, and you can play your own games whenever you want, which automatically logs the other person out.
The catch is that only one person can play at a time — if you start a game, anyone else using your library is kicked out. This works fine for single-player games or if people play at different times. It does not work if two people want to play multiplayer games from your library simultaneously.
Key Takeaways
- Family Share works on the same computer or across different computers, and the person using your library plays under their own Steam account.
- Only one person can play games from your library at a time, so multiplayer gaming from a shared library requires taking turns.
- You authorize people through Steam settings on your computer, and you can remove them when ready if you change your mind.
- The person sharing the library does not need to stay logged in, but they cannot play their own games while someone else is using the shared library.
How to authorize someone on your computer
If the other person will play on the same computer you use, the setup is straightforward. Open Steam on your computer, go to Settings (the gear icon in the top right), then select Family on the left sidebar. Turn on Steam Guard if it is not already on — this is a security requirement. Then check the box for Authorize Library Sharing on Other Devices.
Now go to Manage Other Computers and select the computer where the other person will play. If they are playing on your computer right now, it will already be listed. Confirm the authorization. The other person can now log into their own Steam account on that computer and see your entire library in their game list. They can install and play any game you own.
How to authorize someone on a different computer
If the other person has their own computer, the process is slightly different. On your computer, go to Settings > Family and turn on Steam Guard if needed. Check Authorize Library Sharing on Other Devices. Then have the other person log into their own Steam account on their computer, go to Settings > Family, and select your computer from the list of available libraries. They confirm the authorization on their end.
Once authorized, they can see your games in their library and install them on their computer. You do not need to stay logged in on their computer — the authorization is permanent until you remove it. However, if you start playing one of your games, Steam will log them out of any game they are playing from your library.
What happens when two people try to play at the same time
If you start a game while someone else is playing a game from your library, Steam gives them a warning: they have a few minutes to save and exit, or they will be logged out. The same thing happens in reverse — if they start a game and you try to launch one of yours, you get the warning.
This is why Family Share works best when people play at different times or on different schedules. If you both want to play multiplayer games together, you would each need your own copy of the game, or one of you would need to own it separately.
How to remove someone from Family Share
Go to Settings > Family > Manage Other Computers. Find the computer you want to remove and click the trash icon next to it. That person is when ready logged out of any game they are playing and can no longer see your library on that computer.
You can also deauthorize all computers at once by clicking Deauthorize All Other Computers at the bottom of the Family page. This removes access from everyone except yourself.
Security and account safety
Family Share is designed so you never have to share your password. The other person logs in with their own account, and Steam handles the authorization behind the scenes. This means they cannot access your personal information, change your account settings, or make purchases on your account.
However, anyone with physical access to a computer where you have authorized Family Share can log into their own account and play your games. If you are sharing with someone you do not fully trust, or if you are using a public computer, deauthorize that computer as soon as you are done.
Games that may not work with Family Share
Most games work fine with Family Share, but some publishers restrict sharing on certain titles. Games with strict licensing agreements — often online-only games or games with built-in anti-cheat systems — may block the feature or require additional steps. If someone tries to play a restricted game from your library, Steam will tell them it is not available for sharing.
You can check whether a specific game supports Family Share by looking at its store page. Scroll down to the section labeled Legal or Restrictions and look for language about library sharing. If a game does not support it, the person can still play if they own their own copy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I share my Steam library with someone who lives far away?
Yes. They log into their own Steam account on their computer, authorize your library through their Family settings, and they can install and play your games. You do not need to be in the same house or on the same network.
What if someone I shared with buys their own copy of a game?
They can play their own copy anytime, even if you are playing a game from your library. Their own copy takes priority, so they will not be kicked out when you start playing.
Can I share my library with more than five people?
Steam limits Family Share to five authorized computers at a time. If you want to add a sixth person, you have to deauthorize one of the existing computers first.
Do I need to stay logged in for someone else to play my games?
No. Once you authorize their computer, they can play your games whether you are logged in or not. However, if you log in and start playing, they will be kicked out.
What if someone is playing my game and I need to use my computer?
Start launching one of your games. Steam will give them a warning message with a countdown timer. They have a few minutes to save their progress and exit before they are logged out automatically.