What a Steam Family Library is and how it works
A Steam Family Library is Valve's system for sharing games between people who live in the same household. When you set one up, you authorize your computer and another person's computer to access the same game library. Both of you can play those games at the same time on different devices, though only one person can play a specific game at once on the same computer.
The system works by linking accounts through Steam's authorization settings. You don't share passwords or log into each other's accounts. Instead, you mark your computer as a "trusted device" for another account, and that account can do the same for you. This means each person keeps their own account, their own save files, and their own achievements — but you both get to play the games the account owner purchased.
Steam Family Library replaced the older "Family Sharing" feature in late 2023. The new version is simpler to set up and doesn't require you to designate one person as a "manager" who controls what everyone else can play.
Key Takeaways
- You authorize your computer for another Steam account by going to Settings > Family, then selecting "Authorize this computer" — both people must do this on their own devices.
- Both accounts must be in the same household, and Steam may ask you to confirm your location or phone number to verify this.
- Only one person can play a game from the shared library on the same computer at the same time, but different people can play different games on different computers simultaneously.
- Each person keeps their own save files and achievements; sharing the library doesn't merge your accounts or game progress.
- You can remove authorization at any time from the same Settings menu, and the other person will lose access to your games on that computer.
Step-by-step setup on your computer
Start on the computer where you want to share your games. Open Steam and log in with your own account. Click your username in the top right corner, then select Settings.
In the Settings window, find the Family tab on the left side. Under "Family Library Sharing and Parental Controls," you'll see a section labeled "Authorize computers for game library sharing." Click the button that says Authorize this computer. Steam will ask you to confirm — click it again when the confirmation appears.
That's the first half. Your computer is now authorized to share your library. But the other person also needs to authorize their computer on their end, using their own account and their own device. They follow the exact same steps: Settings > Family > Authorize this computer.
After both computers are authorized, give it a few minutes for Steam's servers to sync. Then log out of your account on your computer and log in with the other person's account. Their library should now show your shared games available to download and play.
What happens when you set it up on the other person's computer
The other person doesn't need to do anything special beyond authorizing their own computer. They log into their own Steam account on their device, go to Settings > Family, and click Authorize this computer just like you did. That's it — they don't need to enter your account information or password anywhere.
Once both computers are authorized, when they log into their account on their computer, they'll see your games in their library under a section labeled with your account name. They can download and play any of those games. At the same time, when you log into your account on your computer, you'll see their games the same way.
If either of you has parental controls set up on your account, those restrictions still apply. For example, if your account has a PIN that restricts access to certain games, the other person won't be able to play those games even though they're in the shared library.
Limits on simultaneous play and what you should know
Only one person can play a single game at the same time on the same computer. If you're playing a game on your computer, the other person cannot start that same game on their computer. However, they can play a different game from the shared library at the same time.
On different computers, there's no limit. You can both play the same game simultaneously if you're on separate devices. This is the main advantage of Steam Family Library over older sharing methods.
Steam may occasionally ask you to verify your location or confirm your phone number to make sure both accounts are actually in the same household. This is a security check, not a punishment. If you're traveling or using a VPN, Steam might flag the setup as suspicious and ask for verification before allowing access.
Removing authorization and what happens to the other person
You can stop sharing your library at any time. Go back to Settings > Family and find the computer you want to remove. Click the button next to it that says Deauthorize. The other person will immediately lose access to your games on that computer.
Their save files and achievements won't be deleted, but they won't be able to launch any of your games. If they're currently playing one of your games when you deauthorize, they'll be kicked out and won't be able to restart it.
You can also deauthorize all computers at once by clicking "Deauthorize all computers" at the bottom of the Family section. This removes the sharing setup entirely and requires both of you to re-authorize if you want to set it up again later.
Troubleshooting common problems
If the other person's games don't appear in your library after you've both authorized, wait 15 to 30 minutes and restart Steam. Sometimes the sync takes longer than expected. If they still don't appear, have both people log out completely, restart their computers, and log back in.
If Steam asks you to verify your location and you're in the same household, you'll need to confirm your phone number or answer a security question. This usually takes a few minutes. If you're using a VPN or proxy, turn it off temporarily during setup — Steam's location verification can't work through those tools.
If one person can't download games from the shared library, check that both accounts have authorized the correct computers. It's easy to authorize the wrong device by mistake. Go back to Settings > Family and make sure you're authorizing the computer you actually want to use, not a laptop or phone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I share my Steam library with someone who doesn't live with me?
Steam's terms of service require that everyone in a Family Library be in the same household. Steam may ask you to verify your location, and if it detects that accounts are in different locations, it can disable the sharing. The system is designed for families or roommates, not for sharing with friends in other cities.
What if someone else logs into my Steam account on their computer?
If you log into your own account on someone else's computer and authorize it, that's fine — that's how Family Library sharing works. But if someone else logs into your account using your password, that's a security problem. Never share your password. Use Family Library authorization instead, which doesn't require sharing passwords.
Do I lose my games if the other person deauthorizes?
No. Your games stay in your library forever. Deauthorizing just removes the other person's access to play them on that computer. Your own account can still play them on any authorized device.
Can I use Steam Family Library on my phone or tablet?
Steam Family Library only works on computers running Windows, macOS, or Linux. You cannot authorize phones or tablets. However, you can use the Steam app on mobile to see your library and manage downloads — you just can't play games through the sharing system on those devices.
What if I want to share games with multiple people?
You can authorize multiple computers for different people. Each person sets up their own computer with their own account, and you authorize each one separately. However, only one person can play a specific game on the same computer at the same time, so if three people want to play the same game together, they need to be on three different computers.