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Steam account sharing with family now runs through Steam Families, Valve’s system for sharing eligible games and managing child accounts. It is intended for a household of up to six close family members. Members use their own Steam accounts, saves, and achievements; simultaneous play of the same game requires more than one copy in the family library.
What Steam Families does
Valve launched Steam Families for all Steam users on September 11, 2024, bringing family game sharing and parental controls together. It replaces the old computer-authorization process as the current way to share eligible games with family members. Valve describes the feature as intended for a household of up to six close family members; that is the published rule and intent, not a guarantee that every proposed group will qualify. Valve’s Steam Families announcement and FAQ
Each person joins using their own Steam account. Eligible games from members’ libraries are shared automatically, and each player retains their own saves and Steam achievements. This is library access, not permission to use another person’s account or credentials.
How shared games and simultaneous play work
When a family member has an eligible game, other members can access it through their own accounts. The number of people who can play a particular game at the same time depends on how many copies the family owns:
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- One copy: only one family member can play that title at a time.
- Multiple copies: multiple family members can play at once, up to the number of copies available.
For example, if two members own the same eligible game, two family members can play it simultaneously. Different games in the family library can be played by different members at the same time, subject to each title’s eligibility and any applicable copy limits.
Which games can be shared
Not every Steam game is eligible. Developers control whether their games support Family Sharing, and technical limitations may rule out games that rely on third-party product keys, accounts, or subscriptions. Eligibility can change, so check the game’s current Steam listing or family library rather than assuming a title will remain shareable.
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Supported shared games can be played offline when the game itself supports Family Sharing. This does not mean every shared title will work offline; the game’s own requirements still apply. Valve’s Steam Families FAQ
Set up a Steam Family
Steam’s client interface can change, so the exact menu wording may vary by version. Use the Steam Families controls in the current Steam client to create or join a family and invite eligible members.
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- Sign in to the Steam account that will create or join the family.
- Open Steam Families in the Steam client’s account or family settings.
- Create a family or accept an invitation, then invite or join with each person’s own Steam account.
- Assign adult or child status as appropriate. Adults can manage family membership and parental controls; children cannot manage the family.
- After joining, browse eligible games from the family library and launch them from the player’s own account.
Membership is subject to Valve’s current family rules and game eligibility. Valve says it may change the requirements or member count over time; consult the official FAQ if a member cannot join or a game does not appear as shareable.
Membership changes and account risks
Valve’s published FAQ sets specific limits on leaving and replacing members. These rules can be adjusted by Valve, so they should be treated as the current published policy, not permanent guarantees.
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- Adults can leave a Steam Family. After joining a family, an adult must wait one year before creating or joining another family.
- A family slot that becomes vacant has a one-year cooldown before a new member can occupy it.
- Children cannot leave on their own. An adult in the family or Steam Support must remove a child.
- Adults can remove members from the family.
There is also a game-ban consequence in a specific case: if a family member is banned for cheating while playing another member’s copy of a game, Valve says the owner of that copy is also banned in that game. Other family members are not affected by that ban scenario. Valve’s Steam Families FAQ
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Parental controls for child accounts
Steam Families lets adults manage a child’s access without sharing the adult’s account. Controls include:
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- Allowing or restricting access to specific games.
- Restricting access to the Steam Store, Community, or Friends Chat.
- Setting hourly or daily playtime limits and reviewing activity reports.
- Approving or denying requests for extra playtime or access to Steam features.
- Recovering a child’s account.
Children are subject to these controls and cannot manage the family. Valve’s Steam Families FAQ
Steam Families versus Steam Link and Remote Play
These features solve different problems. Steam Families grants members access to eligible games in one another’s libraries. Steam Link and Remote Play stream a game from a computer running Steam to a compatible device; they do not grant shared ownership or replace family library access. Valve Remote Play
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