5 Simple Steps to Share Your Steam Library

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Are you tired of buying the same games over and over again with your friends and family? Do you wish you could share your extensive Steam library with them without breaking the bank? Look no further! In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into the ins and outs of sharing your Steam library, empowering you to seamlessly unite your gaming experiences with those who matter most. From understanding the basics to navigating potential pitfalls, we’ll equip you with the knowledge and tools you need to maximize your gaming enjoyment while preserving your precious resources.

Before embarking on this exciting journey, it’s crucial to lay the groundwork by ensuring that your Steam account is appropriately configured. Begin by verifying that you have enabled Family Sharing, a convenient feature that unlocks the potential for library sharing. Next, establish a network with those you wish to share your games with by inviting them to your Family Library. Once these essential steps are taken, you’re well on your way to experiencing the joys of shared gaming.

Now that your account is ready to rumble, let’s dive into the technicalities of accessing your shared library. Your authorized family members will be able to view your library and select games to install and play on their own devices. However, it’s important to note that only one person can play a shared game at a time. This limitation ensures fair play and prevents potential conflicts. Additionally, certain games may have restrictions on sharing due to licensing agreements, so it’s always advisable to check game-specific details before extending an invitation.

Accessing the Family Sharing Option

To activate Family Sharing, follow these steps meticulously:

Launch the Steam client: Ensure that you are signed into your primary Steam account on your computer.
Navigate to the “Settings” menu: Click on the “Steam” drop-down menu in the top-left corner and select “Settings.”
Authorize designated accounts for Family Sharing: Within the “Account” tab, locate the “Family” section. Select “Authorize Library Sharing on this computer.”
Configure authorized accounts: A pop-up window will appear, prompting you to select the user accounts you wish to authorize for Family Sharing. Choose the desired accounts and click “OK.”
Confirm authorization: The selected user accounts will now be authorized for Family Sharing. Repeat this authorization process on each device where you intend to share your library.

Step	Description
1	Launch Steam and sign in with your primary account.
2	Navigate to “Steam” > “Settings” > “Account.”
3	Authorize Family Sharing and select authorized accounts.

Setting Up Authorized Devices

To share your Steam library with authorized devices, you’ll need to set up a Device Authorization Code. This code will allow the device to access your library without requiring your password.

To set up a Device Authorization Code:

Log in to Steam on the device you want to authorize.
Click on your username in the top right corner and select “Account Settings.”
Go to the “Family” tab and click on “Manage Family Library Sharing.”
Click on “Add Device.”
Follow the on-screen instructions to generate a Device Authorization Code.
Enter the code you received on the device you want to authorize.
Click on “Authorize.”

Once you’ve authorized the device, you can share your library with it by clicking on the “My Library” tab in Steam and selecting the option to “Share Library.”

Device Authorization Code Details

Code Format	A 7-digit code
Code Expiration	1 hour
Maximum Shared Devices	10

Managing Authorized Accounts

Step 1: Navigate to the Family Settings

Open the Steam client and navigate to the top menu bar. Click on “Steam” and select “Settings” from the dropdown menu. In the Settings window, select the “Family” tab to access the family settings.

Step 2: Add Authorized Accounts

In the Family tab, locate the “Manage Family Sharing” section. Click on the “Authorize Library Sharing on this computer” button to open a pop-up window. In this window, enter the Steam username or email address of the account you want to authorize.

Step 3: Confirm Authorization

After entering the account details, click on the “Authorize” button. The account will be added to the list of authorized accounts. Repeat this process for each account you want to grant library sharing access to.

You can manage authorized accounts and revoke access at any time by clicking on the “Manage Family Sharing” button in the Family tab and making changes to the list of authorized accounts.

Authorized Account	Status	Revoke Access
username1	Authorized
username2	Authorized

Sharing Individual Games

This method allows you to share specific games from your Steam library with other accounts. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do it:

Step 1: Authorize Shared Library

Sign in to your Steam account on the target computer where you want to access the shared games. Click on “Settings” in the top menu bar, then navigate to the “Family” tab. Under the “Family Library Sharing” section, click the “Authorize Library Sharing…” button.

Step 2: Choose Games to Share

A list of your Steam accounts will appear. Select the accounts you want to share your library with. Once selected, click the “Next” button. On the next screen, you’ll see a list of your Steam games. Select the individual games you want to share and click the “Next” button.

Step 3: Confirm and Set Restrictions

Review the selected games and accounts. If everything is correct, click the “Share” button. You have the option to set restrictions on the shared games, such as limiting play time or prohibiting in-game purchases. Adjust these settings as desired before finalizing the sharing process.

Step 4: Access Shared Games

On the target computer, the shared games will now appear in the Steam library of the authorized accounts. These accounts can launch and play the shared games as if they owned them themselves. You can manage the shared library and revoke access at any time through the “Family” tab in your Steam settings.

Shared Item	Restrictions
Grand Theft Auto V	Limited to 4 hours of daily play
Red Dead Redemption 2	In-game purchases disabled
Half-Life 2	No restrictions

Troubleshooting Authorization Issues

If you encounter issues authorizing other accounts to access your Steam library, try the following steps:

1. Verify Your Email Address

Ensure that the email address associated with your Steam account is verified. Click on your username in the top-right corner, select “View Profile,” and verify the email address under “Contact Details.”

2. Check Family View Settings

Make sure that Family View is not enabled on your account. To check this, go to “Settings” > “Family” and disable Family View if active.

3. Grant Authorization Permission

Once you authorize an account, you’ll receive an email asking for permission. Follow the instructions in the email to grant access.

4. Shared Library Limits

Steam limits shared libraries to 5 authorized accounts and up to 10 simultaneous active sessions. Ensure that you have not exceeded these limits.

5. Game Restrictions and Conditions

Certain games may have restrictions on sharing, such as region locks, multiplayer limitations, or DLC requirements. Additionally, games from third-party publishers may not be eligible for library sharing.

Restriction	Explanation
Region Locks	Some games are only available in certain regions; sharing may not work across regions.
Multiplayer Limitations	Some multiplayer games may only allow shared accounts to play with the primary account holder.
DLC Requirements	If you share a game that requires DLC, the authorized account may need to purchase the DLC separately.
Third-Party Publisher Restrictions	Games from publishers outside of Valve may have limitations or exclusions for library sharing.

Understanding Content Restrictions

Steam’s Family Library Sharing feature imposes certain restrictions based on the game’s content. Games rated “Adult Only” or those containing “Sexual Content” cannot be shared. Additionally, games that require a third-party activation key or online account are also ineligible for sharing.

Table of Content Restrictions

Content Rating	Shareable
Adult Only	No
Sexual Content	No
Third-Party Activation Key Required	No
Online Account Required	No

Other factors that may affect shareability include regional availability restrictions, developer-imposed limitations, and subscription-based services.

Limiting Access for Specific Accounts

To limit access for specific accounts, follow these steps:

Go to your Steam account settings.
Select “Family” from the left-hand menu.
Click on the “Manage Family View” button.
Enter the desired Steam account name or email address in the “Other users” field.
Click on the “Add” button.
Select the “Yes” option next to the “Restrict this user from accessing specific content” checkbox.
Click on the “Save” button.

Once you have completed these steps, the specified account will be restricted from accessing the games in your shared library that have been marked as “Restricted.”

Setting	Description
Can view games	The user can see your shared games in their library, but they cannot play them.
Can play games	The user can play your shared games.
Can’t view or play games	The user cannot see or play your shared games.

Revoking Game Sharing Permissions

Via Steam Client

1) Launch the Steam client on the computer where game sharing is enabled.

2) Click on the “Friends & Chat” icon at the bottom-left corner.

3) Find the account that you wish to revoke game sharing permissions for and click on their name.

4) Select “Manage Game Sharing Permissions” from the drop-down menu.

5) Uncheck the box next to their account and click “OK” to confirm.

Via Steam Website

1) Go to the Steam website and log in to your account.

2) Click on your username in the top-right corner and select “Manage Game Sharing.”

3) Find the account that you wish to revoke game sharing permissions for and click on the “X” button next to their name.

4) Confirm your decision by clicking “Yes, revoke permissions” in the pop-up window.

Additional Notes

Once you have revoked game sharing permissions, the other player will no longer have access to your shared games. They may still have saved game data or achievements from the games they played while sharing, but they will not be able to launch the games again.

You can only have up to 10 active game sharing agreements at a time. If you try to add more, the oldest agreement will be automatically revoked.

Potential Drawbacks to Consider

9. Lack of Physical Access

Remote Play is limited to streaming the game to a remote device, which means that the physical discs or cartridges associated with the library will not be accessible to the shared user. This can be problematic for games that require activation codes or rely on physical peripherals like controllers or storage devices. To mitigate this drawback, ensure that the shared library primarily includes digital content and that any physical components are easily replaceable or accounted for.

Tips for a Smooth Sharing Experience

1. Verify Ownership of Games

Ensure that the games you intend to share are not owned by the recipient beforehand.

2. Manage Library Privacy

Set your Steam library to “Public” in the Privacy Settings to allow sharing.

3. Enable Home Streaming

In-Home Streaming must be enabled for both your and the recipient’s accounts.

4. Authorize Computers

Authorize the computers that will access your library by adding their account to your Steam Guard login.

5. Arrange Game Access

Grant the recipient access to specific games by sharing them through your Friends List.

6. Limit Simultaneous Access

Set restrictions on the number of simultaneous users to prevent conflicts.

7. Check Network Stability

Ensure a stable internet connection to minimize lag or interruptions during gameplay.

8. Adjust Display Settings

Optimize display settings on both computers for optimal performance during shared play.

9. Utilize Communication Tools

Use in-game voice chat or external platforms to coordinate with the recipient during gameplay.

10. Respect Sharing Limitations

Avoid using shared games for commercial purposes or violating Steam’s Terms of Service. Utilize these avenues for sharing your library in a responsible manner to enhance your gaming experience and foster a positive community.

How To Share My Steam Library

To share your Steam library with others, you’ll need to enable Family Sharing. This feature allows you to authorize up to 5 other Steam accounts to access your library. Once Family Sharing is enabled, you can choose which games you want to share with each authorized account.

To enable Family Sharing, open the Steam client and click on the “Settings” menu. Then, select the “Family” tab and click on the “Authorize Library Sharing…” button. You’ll be asked to enter the Steam usernames of the accounts you want to authorize. Once you’ve entered the usernames, click on the “Authorize” button.

Once Family Sharing is enabled, you can choose which games you want to share with each authorized account. To do this, open the Steam client and go to your library. Then, right-click on a game and select the “Manage” menu. From the menu, select the “Family Sharing” option and then check the box next to the accounts you want to share the game with. Click on the “OK” button to save your changes.