Buzz
Purchasing games on digital platforms like Steam offers numerous benefits compared to physical copies. You get instant access, regular sales, and effortless data management. However, one major drawback is the inability to lend games to friends as you would with a disc. Fortunately, Steam has introduced Steam Families, a feature that allows you to share your entire game collection with up to five friends or family members, overcoming this limitation.
Understanding the Steam Families Program
Steam Families is an enhanced system that combines the outdated and confusing Steam Family Sharing and Family View into a single, streamlined solution.
When utilizing Steam Families, all eligible games from your library are automatically shared with every member of the family. However, game developers have the option to opt into the Steam Families program, meaning not all titles may be available for sharing (here's a list of all eligible games, if you want to check for a specific title).
You can include up to five members in your Family, with additional support for Child profiles. These profiles are restricted, allow you to monitor and limit gameplay time, and require approval for any purchases made on their accounts.
Similar to the previous system, your entire game library is shared, and you cannot selectively choose which games to share. However, the new system allows multiple users to play different games from the shared library simultaneously—just not the same game. For instance, if you're playing Portal and another family member is playing Half-Life, both can enjoy their games without any issues.
How to Participate in the Steam Families Beta Program
Steam’s Family feature is currently in beta, and to access it, you must update your Steam client to the Steam Families Beta version. This update can be performed directly through the Steam application.
Navigate to Steam Settings, then select the Interface option from the sidebar. Locate the Client Beta Participation setting, and from the dropdown menu, choose the Steam Families Beta option.
A prompt will appear requesting you to restart the Steam client. Click Restart Now, and wait for Steam to download and install the beta update. Once completed, you’re all set to proceed.
How to Set Up a Steam Family and Send Invitations
With the updated Steam client, you can now proceed to create a new Family and invite your family members or friends to join.
Click your account name in the top-right corner of the Steam app, then select
Account Settings.From the sidebar, choose Family Management, and click the Create A Family button.
Assign a name to your family and click the Create button.
Once the Family is created, click the Invite a Member button.
Select Search Friend List to access your friend list.
Choose the friend profile you wish to add.
Decide whether to add the user as an Adult or a Child. A Child profile will be linked to yours, restricting their ability to purchase games independently and allowing you to manage their screen time.
Finally, click the Invite button in the popup to confirm.
Now, you simply wait. Your friend will receive a notification both in the Steam app and via email. Upon clicking the link to accept the invitation, they will join your Steam Families account, and both of your game libraries will be shared through Steam Family Sharing. This process is automatic, and you cannot select specific games to share.
How to Access and Play Games from the Shared Steam Families Library
Head to the Library section in Steam, where you’ll notice an expanded list of games. When you click on a game, the presence of the “From your Steam Shared Library” tag indicates that it belongs to someone else’s account.
If multiple people are sharing their libraries with you, you can filter games by individual accounts. Click the Filters icon near the search bar, then use the Friends option at the bottom. Enter a friend’s name to display only the games shared by that specific friend.
Steam Families: Frequently Asked Questions
Now that you’re familiar with setting up Steam Families, let’s explore how it functions in practice.
How can I share Steam games and play simultaneously?
Two users accessing the same shared Steam library cannot play the same game simultaneously. To achieve this, each person must own a separate copy of the game.
However, with this latest update, two users can now play different games from the same shared library—a feature that was previously unavailable.
Is it possible to play Steam games on two different computers at the same time?
Yes, Steam games can be played on two different devices simultaneously. With the Steam Families update, there is no longer a device limit, unlike the previous restriction of 10 devices.
However, certain restrictions still apply. You cannot play the same game as another user. If someone attempts to access the same game, you’ll have five minutes to save your progress and exit the game.
How do I participate in Steam Families sharing?
As previously mentioned, watch for an email from Steam notifying you of an invitation to join a friend’s Steam Family account. Simply follow the link and instructions provided in the email to become part of the Steam Families account.
Is it possible for two people to use the same Steam account?
Two individuals cannot use the same Steam account simultaneously. The platform restricts usage to one user per account. Attempting to log in and play games on multiple devices with the same account will not function.
Is it possible to play shared Steam games offline?
Yes, once you’re part of Steam Families and have downloaded the game, you can play titles you haven’t purchased without an internet connection. Games from another user’s Steam library will remain accessible offline on your device.
Why is Steam sharing not functioning?
If you’re experiencing issues with receiving a Steam Families invitation or setting it up, there are two primary reasons that might be causing the problem.
First, ensure you’ve updated to the Steam Families Beta. This can be done by navigating to Steam Settings > Interface > Client Beta Participation > Steam Families Beta.
Second, you may not have created a Family in Steam. To begin, go to Steam Account Settings > Family Management. Detailed instructions for this process are provided in an earlier section.
