To let an eligible family member play a game you own, invite them to a Steam Family. The game stays on your account; they play it on their own account. Steam describes Families as intended for close family members in the same household, so this is not a way to lend a game to any friend or transfer ownership.
How to share a game through Steam Families
- On Steam, open the Store page and select Account Details.
- Open Family Management, then select Create a Family and give it a name.
- Select Invite a Member, find the other person’s Steam account, and choose Adult or Child. Choose Child when parental controls are needed.
- The invited person accepts the invitation. Eligible games then appear in their library. They can use Group By Library to display the family library separately.
Steam Support describes Steam Families as “a collection of family-related features.” It replaces the previous Steam Family Sharing and Family View systems. See Steam’s Steam Families FAQ for current details.
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What sharing changes—and what it does not
The purchaser keeps ownership; sharing grants access, not a transfer or a separate license. Each person uses their own Steam account and earns achievements on that account. Whether saved progress is shared or separate depends on the game. Eligible shared games can be played offline if the game supports Family Sharing.
Keep your Steam password private. Steam recommends using its family sharing features rather than giving another person access to your account. See Steam’s account-safety guidance.
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- Visa Virtual eGift Cards are designed for online use only. Gift Cards are subject to Terms and Conditions: a.co/5bw3qXJ
- When you access your Visa Virtual eGift Card for the first time, you’ll need to register your name, address, phone number, and email address via activationspot.com. These details should also be used as your billing address for online purchases, as many merchants require address verification for purchase authorization.
- This Visa Virtual eGift Card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Visa Virtual eGift Cards are emailed active.
- Funds do not expire but your Visa Virtual eGift Card has a ‘valid thru’ date (9 years from date of purchase). If funds remain after this date has passed, please call the Toll Free number found on your Visa Virtual eGift Card for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout.
- This item is not eligible for refund, resale, or return. Available for sale within the United States only. Not available to residents of Puerto Rico, Hawaii, New Mexico, South Dakota, West Virginia and the US Virgin Islands.
Who can join a Steam Family?
Steam says the feature is intended for close family members in the same household. A family can have up to six members. Steam controls eligibility and says participation requirements may change as it monitors use, so do not assume that a friend or relative living elsewhere can join.
Adults may leave a family, but generally must wait one year after joining before creating or joining another. A vacated member slot also has a one-year cooldown. A person may rejoin their most recent family without waiting if it has an open slot. Check Steam’s current Family FAQ for the applicable rules.
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- Visa Virtual eGift Cards are designed for online use only. Gift Cards are subject to Terms and Conditions: a.co/5bw3qXJ
- When you access your Visa Virtual eGift Card for the first time, you’ll need to register your name, address, phone number, and email address via activationspot.com. These details should also be used as your billing address for online purchases, as many merchants require address verification for purchase authorization.
- This Visa Virtual eGift Card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Visa Virtual eGift Cards are emailed active.
- Funds do not expire but your Visa Virtual eGift Card has a ‘valid thru’ date (9 years from date of purchase). If funds remain after this date has passed, please call the Toll Free number found on your Visa Virtual eGift Card for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout.
- This item is not eligible for refund, resale, or return. Available for sale within the United States only. Not available to residents of Puerto Rico, Hawaii, New Mexico, South Dakota, West Virginia and the US Virgin Islands.
Why a game may not appear or be playable
Not every game or downloadable content (DLC) item can be shared. Steam lists several reasons a title may be excluded:
- It requires a third-party key, account, or subscription.
- It is free-to-play, or it is paid DLC for a free-to-play game.
- It is restricted in either family member’s region.
- It does not support the other member’s operating system.
- The publisher has marked it unavailable for sharing.
- The owner has marked the game private.
Check the game’s eligibility in Steam and confirm that it is available in the other member’s region and for their operating system.
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- Visa Virtual eGift Cards are designed for online use only. Gift Cards are subject to Terms and Conditions: a.co/5bw3qXJ
- When you access your Visa Virtual eGift Card for the first time, you’ll need to register your name, address, phone number, and email address via activationspot.com. These details should also be used as your billing address for online purchases, as many merchants require address verification for purchase authorization.
- This Visa Virtual eGift Card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Visa Virtual eGift Cards are emailed active.
- Funds do not expire but your Visa Virtual eGift Card has a ‘valid thru’ date (9 years from date of purchase). If funds remain after this date has passed, please call the Toll Free number found on your Visa Virtual eGift Card for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout.
- This item is not eligible for refund, resale, or return. Available for sale within the United States only. Not available to residents of Puerto Rico, Hawaii, New Mexico, South Dakota, West Virginia and the US Virgin Islands.
Can two family members play the same game at once?
One member can play one of your games while you play a different one. To play the same title simultaneously, the family needs two available copies of that title. If another family member is using a copy, Steam may let you use another family-owned copy. If no copy is free, wait until one is available or obtain another copy.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.If a game in the family library is locked
Steam’s FAQ uses the wording “A game I want to play is locked in the Steam Family library.” The client should indicate who is using the game. Check that the title is shareable and that an available copy exists. For persistent problems, contact Steam Support.
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- Visa Virtual eGift Cards are designed for online use only. Gift Cards are subject to Terms and Conditions: a.co/5bw3qXJ
- When you access your Visa Virtual eGift Card for the first time, you’ll need to register your name, address, phone number, and email address via activationspot.com. These details should also be used as your billing address for online purchases, as many merchants require address verification for purchase authorization.
- This Visa Virtual eGift Card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Visa Virtual eGift Cards are emailed active.
- Funds do not expire but your Visa Virtual eGift Card has a ‘valid thru’ date (9 years from date of purchase). If funds remain after this date has passed, please call the Toll Free number found on your Visa Virtual eGift Card for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout.
- This item is not eligible for refund, resale, or return. Available for sale within the United States only. Not available to residents of Puerto Rico, Hawaii, New Mexico, South Dakota, West Virginia and the US Virgin Islands.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
