How Game Sharing Works on Battle.net
Game sharing on Battle.net lets you install and play Call of Duty games on your PC using someone else's account, as long as you both follow Blizzard's rules. The person who owns the game (the account holder) stays logged in on one PC, and you log in on a different PC. Both of you can play at the same time, but only one person can play on the owner's account itself.
This works because Battle.net ties your games to your account, not to your hardware. When you log into a shared PC with the owner's credentials, the system recognizes that account and lets you read and launch the games attached to it. The catch is that the owner's account must remain logged in somewhere on the network for this to work smoothly, and Blizzard monitors for abuse — sharing outside your household or with strangers can result in account suspension.
Key Takeaways
- The account owner must stay logged in on one PC while you log in on a different PC to play the shared game.
- You need the owner's Battle.net username and password to read and launch their games on your PC.
- Both players can run the game at the same time, but only on separate computers.
- Blizzard allows sharing within a household but prohibits sharing with people outside your home or selling access to your account.
- If the owner's PC goes offline or they log out, you will lose access to the shared game until they log back in.
Setting Up Game Sharing Step by Step
Start by having the game owner log into Battle.net on their own PC and make sure all Call of Duty games are fully installed and up to date. Then, on your PC, open the Battle.net launcher and select "Log In" at the top right. Enter the owner's Battle.net username and password — this is the account that owns the Call of Duty license.
Once logged in as the owner on your PC, go to the Battle.net settings (the gear icon in the top right) and select "General." Look for the option labeled "Allow this computer to play my games" or similar wording — this setting tells Battle.net that your PC is authorized to run games from this account. Check that box and confirm.
Now go back to the main Battle.net window and find Call of Duty in your Games list. Click the Install button and choose where on your hard drive you want the game to go. The read will begin. Once installation finishes, you can close the Battle.net launcher or log out of the owner's account on your PC.
To play the game, log into your own Battle.net account on your PC. You should see the Call of Duty game in your library — it will show as installed even though you do not own it. Click Play, and the game will launch. Meanwhile, the owner can log into their own account on their PC and play the same game at the same time.
What Happens When the Owner Logs Out
If the owner's PC goes offline, loses internet connection, or the owner logs out of their account, your access to the shared game stops when ready. The game will not launch, and you will see a message saying the game is not available. This is Blizzard's way of verifying that the person who owns the license still has an active session somewhere.
The owner does not need to be actively playing — they just need to stay logged into Battle.net. They can be in the menu, in another game, or even away from their PC as long as the launcher stays open and connected. If they need to restart their PC or their internet drops, you will need to wait for them to log back in before you can play again.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
The most frequent error is both players trying to log into the owner's account at the same time. Battle.net will kick one of you off if two sessions from the same account are active simultaneously. The owner must log into their own account to play, and you must log into your own account — the sharing happens in the background through the "Allow this computer to play my games" setting, not by both of you using the same login.
Another mistake is assuming the game will stay playable if the owner's account lapses or gets suspended. If the owner stops paying for their Battle.net subscription (if required) or violates Blizzard's terms, the license disappears and you lose access when ready. Make sure the owner keeps their account in good standing.
Do not share your login credentials with people outside your household. Blizzard's terms of service prohibit account sharing with strangers or selling access to your games. Accounts caught doing this face suspension or permanent ban. Sharing is meant for family members or close friends in your home, not for running a game-sharing service.
Checking If Your PC Is Authorized
To verify that your PC is set up correctly for game sharing, log into Battle.net with the owner's account and go to Settings > General. You should see a list of computers authorized to play games from this account. Your PC should appear on that list with a checkmark next to "Allow this computer to play my games."
If your PC does not appear, or the setting is unchecked, the sharing will not work. Go back and enable it, then restart the Battle.net launcher. If you still have trouble, try logging out of the owner's account completely, waiting 30 seconds, and logging back in. Sometimes Battle.net needs a moment to sync the authorization across its servers.
What to Do If Game Sharing Stops Working
If you could play before but the game suddenly will not launch, the first step is to check whether the owner's PC is still logged in. Have them open Battle.net and confirm they are connected. If they are, restart the Battle.net launcher on your PC — sometimes the connection between your PC and the owner's account needs to refresh.
If restarting does not work, go to Settings > General on your PC (while logged in as yourself) and look for an option to "Forget this computer" or "Remove authorization." Click it, then log in as the owner again and re-enable the "Allow this computer to play my games" setting. This resets the authorization and usually fixes connection problems.
If the owner's internet is unstable, they can try moving their router closer to their PC, using a wired ethernet connection instead of Wi-Fi, or restarting their modem. A weak connection can cause Battle.net to drop the session, which cuts off your access. Once their connection stabilizes, your game should work again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can we play the same Call of Duty game at the exact same time?
Yes. You play on your account and PC, the owner plays on their account and their PC. Both of you can be in the same multiplayer match or separate games simultaneously. The only rule is that you cannot both be logged into the owner's account at the same time — each account can only have one active session.
What if the owner wants to play on a different PC?
The owner can log into their Battle.net account on any PC they want. However, if they log out of the PC where you are playing, you lose access to the shared game. They would need to log back in on their original PC (or authorize a new one) for you to play again. Game sharing works best when the owner uses the same PC consistently.
Do I need to own a copy of Call of Duty to use game sharing?
No. You only need a Battle.net account. The owner's account must own the game license, and you must be able to log into your own account on your PC. You do not need to purchase the game yourself — the owner's license covers both of you as long as you follow the sharing rules.
Will my progress and settings transfer if I play on a shared account?
Your progress is tied to your own Battle.net account, not the owner's. When you log in as yourself and play the shared game, your stats, unlocks, and settings save to your account. The owner's progress stays separate on their account. Both of you build your own game history independently.
What happens if Blizzard detects we are sharing outside our household?
Blizzard can suspend or permanently ban the owner's account if they find evidence of account sharing with strangers or commercial sharing. The consequences are serious — the owner loses access to all their games and cannot recover the account. Keep sharing limited to people in your home to stay within the terms of service.