Activate and set up Steam Family Library

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Do you want to share your games on Steam with other people? Then you can activate and set up a family library, also known as Steam Family Sharing. You can use it to release games for different accounts on the same computer, but also on other PCs – but there are restrictions.

What is the Family Library on Steam? Using the tool, several family members can share games with each other, but at the same time each have their own Steam accounts.

Several people can access a game, but the achievements and game progress are saved individually for each account in the Steam cloud.

How to set up the family library

If you want to set up the family library on your Steam account, it first depends on whether you want to share games or access someone else’s library. There are two possibilities:

  • You are the owner of the library and you want to share your games.
  • You are a family member and want access to a game.

    • However, there is one important requirement for both options: “Steam Guard” must be activated on the accounts involved.

    What is Steam Guard? This is an additional security measure to protect your Steam account.

    Normally you log in using your name and password and then have access to your account. If the Steam Guard is activated, you will also receive a code by email or via the Steam Mobile App when you register on an unknown device and have to enter it.

    Option 1: You activate the family library as the owner

    How do I set up my Steam Family Library via browser? If you want to set up the family library in your browser, proceed as follows:

  • Step 1: Check whether your Steam Guard is activated: go to your account name in the top right, then to “Account Details”, now you can see your security status
  • Step 2: Directly below you will see the item “Family Settings”, click on “Manage Family Library”
  • Step 3: Now that you see which devices and users you can share your Steam library with, select the appropriate person to share your games with

    • This is how you can set up the family library via the browser

    How do I set up my Steam Family Library via the client? You can also set who can access your games via the Steam client:

  • Step 1: Check whether your Steam Guard is activated: go to “Steam” in the top left, then “Settings” and then go to “Account”, here you can see your security status
  • Step 2: Go to “Family” in the bar on the left, then select “Authorize this computer”
  • Step 3: In the list you can now select accounts that have previously logged in on the same computer with whom you would like to share your Steam library

    • If you want to add another device, go to “Manage other computers”. You will be redirected to the browser administration window.

    This is how you can set up the family library via the client

    Option 2: You request access to a Family Library game

    You can also request access to a specific game as a family member via your Steam client:

  • Step 1: Check whether your Steam Guard is activated: go to “Steam” in the top left, then “Settings” and then go to “Account”, here you can see your security status
  • Step 2: In the Steam Library, see what games another person using the same PC owns, click Play
  • Step 3: Now you can request access and the owner will receive an email with a link and can unlock you on this PC

    • Can you share games with another PC?

    Can I share games with another PC using Family Library? In general, it is possible to share games with people outside of your own household, but Steam points out:

    “Although the Family Library can be used with users who do not access Steam from the same location, technical limitations may cause problems that Steam is unable to provide support for” (as of January 18, 2023)

    Can you play in the family library at the same time? No, the feature does not allow simultaneous play. First and foremost, the owner of the library always has priority and can play a game at any time.

    This means: If a family member is currently playing a game, but the owner logs into the game at the same time, the family member will receive a message. It says you can either buy the game yourself or log out and a 5 minute timer will start.

    Important here: When a Steam library is shared, the entire library can only be used by one person at a time. So even if the family member and the owner want to play different games from the same library at the same time, they can’t.

    How to disable family library

    If you want to disable access to your games in the Family Library again, deselect the accounts in the list of authorized users.

    To do this, go to the overview of the people who have access to your Steam library and uncheck their username.

    Here you will find a guide on what you need Steam Gems for and how you can sell them.

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