To invite a Steam friend into a multiplayer game, open the game’s Steam Overlay with Shift+Tab (the default shortcut), open your Friends list, and use the invite option the game provides. The exact button and acceptance flow vary by game. For supported local co-op games, you may also be able to invite a friend with Remote Play Together.
Send a regular multiplayer invite
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Sign in to Steam and make sure the person is on your Friends list. Being online makes it easier to see whether they are available. You can open Friends & Chat in the Steam client or in a browser; see Steam Friends & Chat.
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Launch the game and open the Steam Overlay by pressing Shift+Tab. That is the default shortcut when the overlay is enabled and supported; it can be changed in Steam settings. Steam’s Community Overlay guide explains how it works.
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Open the Friends list in the overlay, select the intended person, and use the invite control or friend action offered by that game. There is no single invite label or flow that applies to every title: each game determines how it uses the overlay.
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Have your friend accept the invitation. What happens next—including whether they need to join through an in-game menu—depends on the game.
When Remote Play Together is the better option
Remote Play Together is for supported local co-op games. It lets the host invite a friend to join the host’s session remotely; it is not a universal substitute for a game’s normal online multiplayer invite.
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Check the game’s Steam Store page for the Remote Play Together feature label. Steam says supported status is shown there.
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Launch the game and confirm your friend is logged in on a supported device.
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Open the Steam Overlay, right-click your friend in the Friends list, and choose Remote Play Together.
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Your friend must accept the invitation to join. They do not need to own or launch a separate copy of the game for this feature.
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Steam also supports streaming games between your own computers. That is distinct from inviting a friend into a Remote Play Together session; details are in Steam’s Remote Play guide.
Regular invites and Remote Play Together compared
| Question | Regular game invite | Remote Play Together |
|---|---|---|
| What is it for? | Joining a game’s multiplayer session. | Joining a supported local co-op session hosted by a friend. |
| Does the game need to support it? | The game must provide a relevant invite or join flow through the overlay or its own interface. | The game must list Remote Play Together support on its Steam Store page. |
| Does the invited friend need a copy? | Depends on the game and its multiplayer rules. | No separate copy is needed for the invited friend to join through this feature. |
| Where do you send the invite? | Use the game’s invite control in the overlay or its own interface. | In the overlay, right-click the friend and choose “Remote Play Together.” |
If you cannot send or accept an invite
The overlay will not open
In Steam, go to Steam > Settings > In-Game to confirm the overlay is enabled and check its shortcut. You can also enable or disable it for an individual title at Library > right-click the game > Properties > General. If it remains unavailable, the game may not support the overlay in the way you need.
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The game does not show an invite option
Check that the game supports the invite method you are trying to use and that you have started or joined a multiplayer session that can accept players. Steam does not standardize the controls; consult the game’s own menus or support information for its specific flow.
You cannot add the person as a Steam friend
Steam says limited accounts cannot send friend invites, though they can receive them. This restriction applies to adding someone to your Steam Friends list; it does not, by itself, explain every failure to invite someone into a game. Steam’s Friends List support page also recommends checking that you selected the intended recipient.
You only want the person to watch
Watching a broadcast is different from joining a game. Steam Broadcasting has a separate Invite to Watch option in the Friends list; see Steam Broadcasting support.
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