Steam Family Sharing function lets you keep your game library available for family, close friends, and loved ones who don’t live with you to be able to access download, and play any games you purchased. Without needing you to buy multiple copies you can have your fun times during your games with your loved ones. Follow this guide to activate Family Sharing on Steam.
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What Is Steam Family Sharing?
Steam Family Sharing will let you share your game library with other Steam accounts on the same device. So, note that it is possible to share games, but some features include in-game items, or DLC that may not be included.
Requirements for Steam Family Sharing:
So before we get into the steps, make sure of the following:
- You and the person you’re sharing with each have active Steam accounts.
- You have Steam Guard Turned ON for extra security.
- At least once both of the accounts are logged into the same device.
Step-by-Step Guide to Enable Family Sharing on Steam:
Step 1: Activate Steam Guard Security:
- Launch your Steam client, and log into your account.
- Go to the top-left corner and click on Steam, then choose Settings.
- Go to Account and check that Steam Guard is turned on. If not:
- Select Manage Steam Guard Account Security
- How do you choose to receive Steam Guard codes by email or through the Steam Mobile Authenticator app?
Step 2: Authorize the Device:
- Sign in to your Steam account on the device that you want to share your library with.
- Steam > Settings > Family
- Deselect the box Authorize Library Sharing on This Computer under Family Library Sharing
Step 3: Authorize the Rest of Your Accounts:
- Once you’ve validated that this device is authorized, you’ll see any other accounts that log in on this device show up in the Family Sharing settings.
- Select the accounts you would like to authorize.
- Click OK to save your settings.
Step 4: Access Shared Games:
- You can now log in on that authorized account and play the shared games.
- Shared games will show in their library, but they must be online to play.
Restrictions and Limitations:
Family Sharing is a powerful feature to use, but it does have some limitations:
- There is only one person who can access the shared library at a time.
- Not all games will be shareable because of licensing restrictions.
- (Please note that some DLC or in-game purchases may not be shared with the account).
- They are unable to access the lender’s library when playing a game from it.
Tips for Troubleshooting:
- Make sure Steam Guard is enabled on both accounts.
- Verify that the device and account have been rightfully authorized.
- If the shared games don’t show up, restart the Steam client.
- If the problem remains, check Steam’s support page for Family Sharing.
Conclusion:
Steam Family Sharing is a nice feature that encourages you to share and work together with friends and family. With the above steps, you can quickly enable and instantly use Family Sharing on your Steam account. So, be sure to follow Steam’s rules to have a smooth and safe experience. Have fun sharing your library and trying out new games together!