How To Share Steam Games With Family

You are likely looking for the old 'authorize this computer' setting, but that feature has been retired. Steam now uses a centralized family system that allows everyone in your household to access shared libraries while keeping their own individual saves and achievements.

Important usage rules

Every member must reside in the same country and share the same Steam Store region. Be aware that joining or creating a family locks you into that group for one full year.

Steps

1. 01
   Open the Steam client, click the 'Steam' menu in the top left corner, and select 'Settings'.
2. 02
   Navigate to the 'Family' tab in the sidebar.
3. 03
   Click the button labeled 'Create or Join a Steam Family', then follow the prompts to name your new group.
4. 04
   Click 'Invite' within the Family interface and enter the Steam account name or friend code of the person you want to add.
5. 05
   Have the invited person open their Steam notifications on their own computer to accept the invitation.
6. 06
   Once accepted, the libraries will merge automatically, allowing family members to download and play each other's eligible games.

Still not working?

If you cannot see the 'Family' tab, ensure your Steam client is fully updated by going to 'Steam' and selecting 'Check for Steam Client Updates'. If you receive a region mismatch error, it means your account's store country does not match the rest of the family group, which cannot be bypassed.

Frequently asked questions

Can we play the same game at the same time?

Only if your Steam Family owns multiple copies of that specific game. You can always play different games from the shared library simultaneously without conflict.

Do I lose my save files when sharing games?

No, every member uses their own Steam account, meaning your individual save files and achievements remain completely separate and private.

How can I tell if a specific game supports sharing?

Check the game's store page on Steam; look for the 'Family Sharing' tag in the sidebar features list.

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