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If you’ve ever wished you could share your massive Steam library with your family or play your favorite games together without buying multiple copies, the new “steam account share with family” feature is a game-changer. Steam, the world’s leading PC gaming platform, has evolved its sharing system into the all-new Steam Families, making it easier than ever to pool your games, manage parental controls, and enjoy gaming as a group. With Steam account share with family, every member brings their own collection, achievements, and save games into a shared pool, unlocking a world of possibilities for households and close friends alike. Whether you’re a parent wanting to supervise your kids’ gaming or a group of siblings eager to explore each other’s libraries, Steam Families puts seamless, secure, and flexible sharing at your fingertips.
What Is Steam Families?
Steam Families is Valve’s latest evolution of game sharing, designed to let up to six close family members combine their game libraries into a single, accessible pool. Unlike the old Family Sharing system, Steam Families allows multiple people to play different games from the shared library at the same time-even offline-while keeping individual achievements and save data separate. Adults in the family can manage parental controls, approve purchase requests, and oversee gaming activity, making it ideal for families with children or mixed-age gamers.
- Create a Steam Family: In your Steam client settings, you can create a Steam Family and invite up to five other members, typically from your household or close relatives.
- Combine Libraries: Every member’s eligible games become available to the family, massively expanding everyone’s choices without extra cost.
- Simultaneous Play: Family members can play different games from the shared pool at the same time. If multiple people own the same game, even more can play that title simultaneously.
- Parental Controls: Adults can set playtime limits, restrict access to certain games, and approve or deny purchase requests for child accounts.
- Separate Profiles: Each person keeps their own save files, achievements, and workshop subscriptions-no more fighting over progress or leaderboards.
- Easy Management: Inviting, removing, or switching family members is simple, and adults can leave the family group at any time (with a one-year cooldown before joining or creating another).
- Open Steam and Go to Settings: Launch the Steam client and navigate to Settings > Family.
- Create or Join a Family: Use the “Create Steam Family” button to start a new family, then invite others via friend list or code.
- Authorize Accounts and Devices: Members accept the invite, and their libraries are instantly pooled. Each person can install and play games on their own devices.
- Set Parental Controls (Optional): Adults can configure restrictions and monitor playtime for children in the family.
- Massive Game Library: Instantly access hundreds of games owned by your family members, all in one place.
- Save Money: No need to buy multiple copies for each person-share what you own and discover new favorites together.
- Personalized Experience: Everyone gets their own achievements, save files, and recommendations.
- Flexible and Secure: No sharing passwords or logging into each other’s accounts. Steam Guard keeps everything safe.
- Modern Parental Controls: Easily supervise and guide young gamers, approve purchases, and set boundaries as needed.
Important Limitations and Tips
- Game Restrictions: Not all games are eligible for sharing, especially those requiring third-party accounts or subscriptions.
- Simultaneous Play: You can play different games at the same time, but only one person can play a specific copy of a game unless multiple family members own it.
- Family Management: Adults can leave a family at any time, but must wait a year before joining or creating another. Children can only be removed by an adult or Steam support.
- Regional Rules: Some games may have regional restrictions, so check before sharing with family abroad.
