Steam Family Library Sharing lets you and up to five other people play each other's games on the same computer or different computers, without buying multiple copies
Steam's Family Library Sharing feature works like a shared library card for video games. You authorize your computer as a "library computer" where anyone with a Steam account can play your games. You can also authorize someone else's computer as your library computer, so you get access to their games. The person whose account owns the games stays the only one who can play them at the same time — if you're playing a game, the owner can't play it until you stop.
You can set this up with up to five other people. Each person needs their own Steam account, and everyone needs to be able to access the computer where the games are installed. You don't need to share passwords or give anyone access to your account itself.
Key Takeaways
- Family Library Sharing requires you to authorize someone else's computer as your library computer, and them to authorize yours, so you both get access to each other's games.
- Only one person can play a game from the same library at the same time — if the owner is playing, no one else can play that game until they stop.
- You set this up in Steam Settings under Family, not by sharing passwords or account information.
- The person whose account owns the game can play it anytime, but other people can only play it when the owner is not using their computer.
How to authorize someone else's computer as your library computer
Start on the computer where the other person plays Steam. Log into your own Steam account on that computer. Open Steam, go to Settings, then Family, then Family Library Sharing. Check the box that says "Authorize Library Sharing on this computer." Steam will ask you to confirm — click Authorize.
That's it. Now anyone with a Steam account on that computer can play your games. You don't need to stay logged in, and you don't need to leave your password there. The next time someone on that computer opens Steam with their own account, they'll see your games in their library.
You can authorize up to ten computers total, though only five people can use Family Library Sharing with you at once. If you want to remove access later, go back to Settings, Family, Family Library Sharing, and uncheck the box.
How to let someone else authorize your computer
Ask the person whose games you want to access to log into their Steam account on your computer. They follow the same steps: Settings, Family, Family Library Sharing, Authorize. They don't need to stay logged in afterward.
Once they authorize your computer, their games appear in your library the next time you open Steam with your own account. You can now play any of their games, as long as they're not playing something from their library at the same time.
What happens when two people want to play at the same time
If you try to start a game that the owner is currently playing, Steam will stop you. You'll get a message saying the game is in use and you can't play it right now. The owner can play their games anytime, but everyone else can only play when the owner's computer is not in use.
This is the main limitation of Family Library Sharing. If you and the owner both want to play the same game at the same time, one of you needs to buy a second copy. Some games have a "play offline" mode that lets you work around this, but it's not reliable and Steam doesn't support it as a solution.
Games that don't work with Family Library Sharing
Some games block Family Library Sharing because of licensing agreements with publishers. When you look at a game in your library, if it says "This game is not available for Family Library Sharing," you can't play it through a shared library — only the owner can play it.
Games with this restriction are usually online multiplayer games or games with strong anti-cheat systems. The publisher decides whether to allow sharing, not Steam. If a game blocks sharing, there's no way around it except for the owner to play it on their own account.
Removing someone from your Family Library Sharing
Go to Settings, Family, Family Library Sharing. You'll see a list of computers you've authorized. Click the X next to the computer you want to remove. That person loses access to your games when ready, but any games they're currently playing will finish without interruption.
If you want to remove a specific person but keep the computer authorized for someone else on that computer, you'll need to remove the whole computer and have the other person re-authorize it.
What you should know before you start
Family Library Sharing is designed for people who live together or trust each other completely. When you authorize someone's computer, they get access to your entire game library — you can't pick and choose which games to share. If you later want to keep a game private, your only option is to remove that person's computer entirely.
Steam tracks who's playing what and from where. If you authorize computers in different cities or countries, Steam may flag your account for unusual activity. You can explain what you're doing, but be prepared to verify your identity. Don't authorize computers for strangers or people you don't know in person.
Games you buy stay tied to your account. If you stop authorizing someone's computer, they lose access to your games when ready. If your account gets hacked or compromised, whoever has access to your authorized computers can play your games until you remove the authorization.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I play a game at the same time as the owner on different computers?
No. Only one person can play a game from the same library at the same time, no matter which computers they're on. If the owner is playing, no one else can play that game until they stop, even if you're on a different computer in a different house.
Do I need to give someone my Steam password?
No. They log into their own account on your computer, then authorize it in Settings. You never share your password. After they authorize, they can log out and you can log back in with your own account.
What if someone I authorized moves away or I want to stop sharing?
Go to Settings, Family, Family Library Sharing, and click the X next to their computer. They lose access when ready. You can re-authorize it later if you change your mind.
Will my saves and achievements transfer if I play someone else's game?
No. When you play a game from someone else's library, your progress saves to your own account, not theirs. If the owner plays the same game, they have their own separate saves and achievements.
Can I authorize a computer at an internet cafe or friend's house?
Technically yes, but Steam may flag your account for suspicious activity if you authorize computers in different locations. Only authorize computers you physically access regularly, and only for people you know and trust in person.