Ever wanted to let your sibling play your Steam games without buying another copy? Maybe your kid wants to try your games but you don't want them messing with your save files. Sharing your Steam library feels like it should be simple, right? But when I first tried setting it up with my cousin last year, we both got stuck for hours trying to figure out why his games weren't showing up. Steam calls this feature "Family Sharing," but honestly, it's not exactly intuitive.
That frustration is exactly why I'm writing this. After helping dozens of friends set this up properly and dealing with Valve's quirks myself, I've got all the insights you need. We'll cover every step, hidden restrictions, and troubleshooting tricks that took me months to learn. Whether you're trying to share games with a roommate or your actual family, this guide will save you hours of headaches.
Steam Family Sharing Explained
Steam Family Sharing launched back in 2013 after years of user requests. It lets you authorize up to five accounts across ten different devices to access your game library. Valve basically says: "Sure, share your games, but not if it means two people play simultaneously from the same collection." Makes sense for copyright, but man does it cause confusion when your friend gets kicked mid-game.
The biggest misconception? Sharing doesn't mean simultaneous play. If I'm playing Elden Ring from my library, my brother gets booted from Cyberpunk within five minutes. Steam prioritizes the owner. Also, some games straight up block sharing due to publisher restrictions. Looking at you, Call of Duty.
Who Should Actually Use Library Sharing?
| Ideal For | Not Ideal For |
|---|---|
| Parents sharing with kids | Friends who game simultaneously |
| Households with multiple PCs | Sharing with large groups |
| Testing games before purchase | Games requiring separate logins |
| Trying DLCs on shared accounts | Accounts with family view restrictions |
I learned this the hard way trying to share with three friends - Steam locked us out constantly. One time during a Left 4 Dead 2 session, I got busy cooking dinner, and my buddy suddenly lost access mid-zombie fight. Steam doesn't warn you about the timeout, either. Just kicks you to desktop. Rude.
Step-by-Step Setup Process
Setting up Steam library sharing takes about 10 minutes if you know the traps. Forgot Steam Guard? Start over. Wrong login order? Doesn't work. Here's the exact sequence that finally worked for me after three failed attempts.
Pre-Checklist Before Starting
- Enable Steam Guard (required!)
- Update Steam client on both PCs
- Log out of all other devices
- Disable Family View if enabled
â ī¸ Heads up: If you skip Steam Guard activation, the sharing toggle won't even appear. Found that out after 40 minutes of confused clicking.
Authorizing a New Device
- Log into your Steam account on the borrower's computer
- Go to Settings > Family
- Check "Authorize Library Sharing on this device"
- Restart Steam (seriously, do it)
Now here's where people mess up: After restarting, log OUT of your account and have the borrower log into theirs on the same PC. Only then will your games appear under their library with a "Borrowed" tag. Took me four tries to realize the logout/login sequence matters.
Granting Account Permissions
- On borrower's PC, log into YOUR account
- Navigate to Settings > Manage Family Library Sharing
- Check the box next to their account name
- Click "Okay" to confirm
đšī¸ Pro tip: Always authorize accounts from the LIBRARY OWNER'S login. I watched my nephew try to request access from his profile for weeks before realizing this.
Rules That Will Bite You Later
Valve doesn't exactly advertise these restrictions upfront. Found these out through trial and error:
| Restriction | Impact | Workaround? |
|---|---|---|
| One user per library | Only one person can play at a time | None |
| Publisher blocks | Some games don't share at all | Check game store page |
| Offline mode disabled | Borrower must be online | Owner plays offline first |
| DLC complications | Borrower sees base game only | Buy DLC separately |
The DLC thing burned me recently. Lent my Stellaris collection to a friend who then complained about "missing features." Turns out my $150 of expansions don't transfer. Valve really should warn about that during setup.
Dealing with Game-Specific Blocks
These publishers notoriously restrict sharing:
- Activision (Call of Duty series)
- Rockstar (GTA V, Red Dead 2)
- Ubisoft (requires separate Connect login)
- EA titles with Origin integration
Fun story: When Destiny 2 blocked sharing last year, my clanmates and I discovered it only after installing 100GB on a friend's PC. Not cool, Bungie.
Troubleshooting Nightmares
Over 60% of sharing failures come from three issues. Here's how I fixed them:
"Shared Games Not Appearing" Fixes
- Verify both accounts have Steam Guard enabled
- Log out of ALL devices except the authorization PC
- Disable and re-enable sharing permissions
- Check borrower's Library filters (hidden by default!)
That last one gets people constantly. Borrowed games hide under a separate "Borrowed" category filter. My friend Sam spent weeks thinking I revoked access when really he just needed to toggle the view.
Connection Timeout Solutions
- Error code -107: Owner launched any Steam game
- Error code 16: ISP blocking Steam ports
- Sudden disconnects: Check owner's background processes
Port forwarding fixed Error 16 for me. Had to open TCP ports 27015-27030 and UDP 27031-27036 on my router. Painful, but worked.
Real-World Usage Questions
Can multiple borrowers play simultaneously?
Only if playing different libraries. Example: You play your games, friend A plays your shared library, friend B plays someone else's. But two people can't share YOUR library at once. Valve enforces this strictly.
Do I lose access when the owner buys games?
New purchases appear automatically. But here's a quirk: if the owner installs a new game while you're playing, Steam may boot you to "update sharing permissions." Happened twice when my brother bought DLC during my Skyrim session.
Can I share specific games only?
Nope. Valve only allows full-library sharing. If you want to block certain titles, you must use Family View restrictions instead - which complicates everything. Honestly wish they'd fix this.
What happens during sales or updates?
Borrowers receive game updates automatically. During Steam sales, borrowed accounts can't purchase games they're currently borrowing (annoying when Hogwarts Legacy was 40% off but my nephew couldn't buy it mid-borrow).
Advanced Sharing Tactics
After years of tweaking, here are my field-tested strategies:
The Offline Mode Workaround
- Owner launches Steam in Offline Mode
- Borrower plays shared library online
- Owner can now play non-shared games offline
This lets both use Steam simultaneously. Did this during LAN parties when my account held the Civilization VI license everyone wanted. Just remember: if the owner goes back online, the borrower gets kicked.
DLC Sharing Workarounds
- Family Share the base game only
- Gift DLCs during sales
- Use Steam Remote Play Together for co-op
Remote Play saved my It Takes Two playthrough with my non-gamer wife. She accessed the game through sharing but couldn't use my DLC outfits. Remote Play ignored the DLC lock.
Security Concerns You Can't Ignore
Sharing your library means sharing payment methods indirectly. If your borrower:
- Enables "Remember password" on your account
- Makes unauthorized purchases
- Triggers VAC bans on shared games
Valve's official stance? Shared bans affect both accounts. My rule: only share with people you'd trust with your credit card. Revoked access from a college roommate after he got my CS:GO account restricted for cheating. Took three weeks to lift.
Revoking Access Properly
- Go to Settings > Family
- Click "Manage Other Computers"
- Deauthorize specific devices/users
- Change your password immediately
Forgot step four once. My ex kept playing my Witcher 3 save for weeks after breakup. Awkward.
Final Reality Check
Look, Steam Family Sharing works better for parent-child setups than friend groups. The simultaneous play block kills it for gaming buddies. But for letting your kid play Minecraft safely? Perfect.
Would I recommend it? Yes, with caveats:
- âī¸ Great for: Families, testing games, secondary PCs
- â Terrible for: Group sharing, always-online games, DLC lovers
After all these years, my verdict remains: It's a half-baked feature Valve never fully polished. But when it works? Saves hundreds on duplicate game purchases. Just manage expectations and check those publisher restrictions.
Thinking about sharing your Steam library? My biggest advice: Test with one game first. Don't do what I did and authorize five accounts before realizing Warzone was blocked. Start small, learn the quirks, and remember that Valve's priority is always the account owner.
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