To share Steam games with family, create or join a Steam Family in the Steam Client, on a mobile device, or in a web browser. Eligible games owned by family members then appear in the family library, where each person can play with their own saves and achievements. Steam Families replaced the older Family Sharing and Family View features; Steam announced its general availability on September 11, 2024.
Set up a Steam Family
Steam Families is Steam’s current place to manage family game sharing and parental controls. Steam describes it as intended for up to six close family members in one household. The six-member limit includes the person who creates the family.
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- Open family management. Sign in to your Steam account in the Steam Client, on a mobile device, or in a web browser, then open the Steam Families management area.
- Create a family or accept an invitation. An adult account can create a family and invite other members. Steam’s announcement says it may recommend inviting accounts you previously shared games with using the old Family Sharing feature.
- Choose member roles and manage access. Adult members can manage invitations and account restrictions. Child members cannot manage the family.
Steam announced that Steam Families replaced Steam Family Sharing and Steam Family View. If you previously used the older sharing authorization process, set up a Steam Family instead of relying on that old flow. Steam’s September 11, 2024 announcement describes the change.
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Joining a family automatically makes members’ shareable games accessible to other members. Each player uses their own save files and earns achievements on their own account. A family member can play a game from another member’s library while that owner plays a different game.
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Not every game is eligible
The game’s developer decides whether it can be shared. Steam says a game may be ineligible if it requires an additional third-party key, account, or subscription, and developers can opt out of sharing. If a title does not appear in the family library, check its eligibility rather than assuming the family setup failed. Steam explains this in its Steam Families announcement.
Playing the same game at the same time
Family members need enough family-owned copies of a title for everyone who wants to play that title simultaneously. For example, Steam says two copies of Portal 2 let two family members play it at the same time. If only one person needs access at a time, another copy is not necessary.
Offline play and parental controls
Steam says a supported game from the Family library can be played offline, provided the game supports Family Sharing. Offline availability is not guaranteed for every title; game-specific requirements still apply. See Steam’s official FAQ.
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Leaving a family and account consequences
Steam’s membership rules include a one-year restriction: after leaving a family, an adult must wait one year from joining the previous family before creating or joining another. A family slot also has a one-year cooldown before another member can take it. A child cannot leave independently; an adult in the family or Steam Support must remove the child.
Steam also warns that if a family member is banned for cheating while playing a game owned by another family member, the owner of that game will also be banned in that game. Steam says other family members are not affected.
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- Valve partnered with AMD to create a specialized APU optimized for handheld gaming, and Valve says the chip will deliver performance to run AAA gaming titles.
- The Steam Deck is outfitted with a 7-inch touchscreen, and two trackpads under the control sticks that allow gamers to operate games never designed outside of mouse and keyboard capabilities.
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If a game or feature does not work
- A game is missing: Confirm that the developer allows Steam Families sharing and that the title does not require a third-party key, account, or subscription that prevents sharing.
- Two people cannot launch the same title: Check how many family-owned copies exist. Simultaneous play of one title requires a copy for each player.
- A shared game will not run offline: Confirm that the game supports Family Sharing and any offline mode it requires.
- You cannot move to another family: Check whether the one-year membership or family-slot cooldown applies.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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