Steam Family Sharing lets multiple people on the same computer or account use the same game library, but with real limits on who can play at the same time
Steam Family Sharing is Valve's system for letting family members access games you own without buying separate copies. When you set it up, you authorize one other person's account to use your library on their own computer. That person can launch and play your games whenever you are not using them. You keep full access to your library at all times — if you start playing a game, anyone else using your library gets a 15-minute warning to save and quit.
The catch is that only one person can play at a time, and they must be playing on the computer where you set up the sharing. You cannot both play the same game simultaneously, and you cannot play on different computers at the same time. It is a way to share the cost of games within a household, not a way to give everyone their own copy.
Key Takeaways
- Steam Family Sharing works on one computer at a time — the authorized user can play your games on that computer whenever you are not playing.
- Only one person can play from your library at any moment, even if they are different games, and the library owner always has priority.
- You set up sharing by going to Steam Settings, Family, and authorizing another account on your computer — that person does not need to know your password.
- Games with third-party DRM (like some Ubisoft titles) may not share, and online multiplayer games count as "playing" even if you are just in a lobby.
- Either person can turn off sharing at any time, and Steam will lock the other person out of the library within hours.
How to set up Family Sharing on your computer
Open Steam on the computer where you want sharing to work. Go to Steam menu (top left) → Settings → Family → Family Library Sharing. Check the box that says "Authorize Library Sharing on this computer." Steam will show you a list of accounts on that computer — pick the one you want to give access to. That person does not need your password and does not need to be in the room.
The authorized person logs into their own Steam account on that same computer. They will see your entire game library in their library tab, marked as "Family Library." They can read and play any game from your collection whenever you are offline or not actively playing. If you start a game while they are playing, they get a 15-minute warning to save their progress and close the game.
You can authorize up to 10 accounts on one computer, but only one person can play at a time. If you want multiple people to play simultaneously, each person needs their own copy of the game, or you need a second computer with a second copy of your library authorized on it.
What games can and cannot be shared
Most games on Steam can be shared, but some publishers block it. Games with third-party DRM (digital rights management from companies like Ubisoft, EA, or Rockstar) sometimes require you to own the game on that platform too. For example, Assassin's Creed Valhalla requires a Ubisoft+ account or Ubisoft ownership even if you own it on Steam. The game will launch, but you will hit a login wall.
Free-to-play games usually cannot be shared because they are tied to individual accounts. Games with always-online requirements or persistent multiplayer (like Destiny 2 or Final Fantasy XIV) count as "playing" even if you are just sitting in a lobby, so the other person will be locked out. Single-player games and offline multiplayer games share without problems.
Before you authorize someone, check the game's store page or community forum to see if other players report sharing issues. Steam does not publish a full list of blocked games, so you may discover a problem only when the other person tries to launch it.
The 15-minute priority system and what happens when both people want to play
If you are offline or not playing anything, the authorized person can play your games freely. The moment you launch a game or go online, Steam checks what the other person is doing. If they are playing something from your library, they get a pop-up warning: "The library owner has started playing a game. You will be disconnected in 15 minutes."
That 15-minute window is real time, not game time. They can save their progress and close the game, or they can keep playing until the timer runs out and Steam forces them offline. When they are kicked out, they lose any unsaved progress. This is why communication matters — if you know someone is playing, wait or let them know you are about to start.
The library owner (you) always has priority. There is no way for the other person to "claim" the library or lock you out. If you both want to play at the same time, one of you needs to buy the game separately or wait for the other to finish.
Turning off sharing and what happens to the other person
You can disable Family Sharing at any time by going back to Steam Settings → Family and unchecking the authorization box. The other person will lose access to your library within a few hours. Any game they are currently playing will continue until they close it, but they will not be able to launch new games from your library.
The authorized person can also turn off sharing from their end by going to their own Steam Settings → Family and removing the shared library. This does not affect your access to your own games.
If you remove someone's authorization and then re-authorize them later, Steam treats it as a fresh setup. There is no penalty or cooldown, but the process takes a few hours to sync across Steam's servers.
Security and account safety with Family Sharing
You do not have to share your password to set up Family Sharing. The authorized person logs in with their own account on your computer, and Steam handles the rest. However, anyone with physical access to your computer can see your game library and potentially access your account if you stay logged in.
If you are sharing with someone you do not fully trust, log out of Steam after setting up sharing. The other person will still be able to use the shared library, but they will not have access to your account settings, payment methods, or personal information. You can also set a Steam Guard code (two-factor authentication) on your account to prevent someone from logging in as you even if they have your password.
Be aware that some games track who is playing them. If you share a game with someone and they play online multiplayer, the game's servers will see their account playing, not yours. This is fine for most games, but it can cause problems if the game has a ban system or if you are trying to hide your playtime from someone.
Alternatives if Family Sharing does not work for you
If you need multiple people to play at the same time, or if you want to share across different computers, Family Sharing will not work. Your options are to buy separate copies of the game (Steam often has sales), use a game subscription service like Xbox Game Pass for PC (which includes thousands of games), or look for free-to-play versions of games you want to play together.
Some games offer family plans or group licenses, but these are rare on Steam. Check the game's official website or community to see if the publisher offers any multi-user options. For older or indie games, the developer might allow sharing or offer a family bundle at a discount.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I share my Steam library with someone who does not live with me?
Technically yes, but Steam's terms of service say Family Sharing is for household members only. Steam does not verify where people live, so enforcement is rare. However, if you share with someone outside your household and they use it heavily, Steam may flag the account for suspicious activity.
What if the person I authorized is playing and I want to play right now?
You can force them offline by launching a game. They will get a 15-minute warning, and then Steam will disconnect them. You will lose their goodwill, so it is better to ask first or wait for them to finish.
Does the other person need to be on the same WiFi or network?
No. Family Sharing works over the internet. The authorized person can be anywhere as long as they are logged into their account on the computer where you set up sharing. They do not need to be on your network or in your home.
Can I share my library with multiple people at once?
You can authorize up to 10 accounts on one computer, but only one person can play at a time. If you want two people to play simultaneously, you need two computers with two separate copies of your library authorized on each one.
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 you buy, and they stay in your library as long as your account exists. If your account is banned or deleted, the shared library goes away too, but that only happens if you violate Steam's terms of service.