Steam Game Sharing Lets Two People Play Your Library From One PC

Game sharing on Steam means you can let another person on your computer play games from your library without buying them again. Steam calls this feature "Offline Mode" and "Library Sharing," and it works by letting a second account log into your PC and access your games. Both of you can play at the same time, but only if you own enough copies of each game—Steam counts one purchase as one person playing at a time.

The setup takes about five minutes and requires you to log into your account on the other person's profile, then flip two settings. After that, they can launch your games from their own Steam account without needing your password every time.

Key Takeaways

  • Game sharing requires you to log into your Steam account on the other person's user profile, then enable two specific settings in Steam's Family Library Sharing menu.
  • Both people can play games at the same time only if each person owns a copy, or if you own the game and the other person is the account holder on that PC.
  • The other person must be logged into their own Steam account to see and launch your shared games—they do not need your password after the initial setup.
  • If you change your Steam password or log out of their profile, they lose access to your games when ready, so only share with people you trust.
  • Games that require a second license or subscription (like some multiplayer titles) may not share, and Steam will tell you which games cannot be shared.

Step-by-Step Setup for Game Sharing

Start by opening Steam on the PC where the other person will play. Log out of your own account if you are currently signed in. Have the other person log into their own Steam account—this is the account that will see and play your games.

Once they are logged in, click Steam in the top menu, then select Settings. Go to the Family tab on the left side. You will see a section called Family Library Sharing. Click the toggle to turn it on. Steam will ask you to confirm—click Enable.

Now you need to log into your own account on this same PC so Steam knows which games belong to you. Click Steam again, then Settings, and go to the Account tab. Click Change User at the bottom. Log in with your Steam username and password. You only need to do this once—Steam remembers your account on that PC after this.

Go back to Settings and the Family tab. Under Family Library Sharing, you will now see a list of accounts on this PC. Find the other person's account and click the checkbox next to it. This tells Steam to let that account play your games. Click Save.

What Happens After You Enable Sharing

The other person can now log into their own Steam account on that PC and see your games in their library. They click on any game you own and hit Play—Steam downloads it if they do not have it yet, then launches it. They do not need your password or your account open to do this.

You can still play your games on your own account at the same time, as long as you are logged in on a different PC. If you both try to play the same game on the same PC at the same time, Steam will stop one of you and ask who should keep playing.

If you want to stop sharing, go back to Settings > Family > Family Library Sharing and uncheck their account. They lose access to your games when ready. You can also log out of their profile entirely by clicking Steam > Settings > Account > Change User and selecting your account again.

Games That Cannot Be Shared

Some games have restrictions that prevent sharing. These are usually games that require a separate license, subscription, or online service beyond Steam. When you look at a game in your library, Steam shows a small note if it cannot be shared—look for text that says "Cannot be shared" or "Requires a separate license."

Games that often cannot be shared include some free-to-play titles, games tied to a specific service (like games that require a separate account with the publisher), and games with strict licensing agreements. If you try to share a restricted game, the other person will see it in their library but cannot launch it.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

The most common mistake is forgetting to enable Family Library Sharing before trying to share. If the other person logs in and does not see your games, go back to Settings > Family and make sure the toggle is on and their account is checked.

Another mistake is logging out of your account on their profile too early. Steam needs to see your account on that PC at least once to know which games are yours. If you log out when ready after setup, the sharing may not work. Wait a few minutes after enabling sharing before you log out.

Do not share your password with the other person. You only need to log in once during setup—after that, they use their own account. If you give them your password, they can change it, lock you out, or buy games on your account without permission.

Sharing Games Across Multiple PCs

You can set up sharing on more than one PC. Log into each PC with the other person's account, enable Family Library Sharing, then log in with your account once. Repeat this on every PC where you want them to play your games.

Keep in mind that you can only play your games on one PC at a time if the other person is also playing. If you are both on different PCs and try to play the same game, Steam will ask one of you to stop. This is Steam's way of making sure you are not sharing one copy of a game with too many people.

What to Do If Sharing Stops Working

If the other person suddenly cannot see your games, check that Family Library Sharing is still enabled. Go to Settings > Family and confirm the toggle is on and their account is still checked. Sometimes Steam resets these settings after an update.

If they can see your games but cannot launch them, restart Steam. Close it completely, wait a few seconds, and open it again. If a game shows "Cannot be shared," that game has a restriction and sharing is not available for it.

If you changed your Steam password, the sharing stops working. You will need to log back into their profile with your new password to restore access. This is a security feature—if someone steals your password, they cannot keep playing your games on someone else's PC.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can we both play the same game at the same time?

Only if you are on different PCs. If you are both on the same computer, Steam stops one of you and asks who should keep playing. If you are on different computers, you can both play as long as you each own a copy or the account holder on that PC owns it.

Do I have to stay logged in for them to play my games?

No. After you set up sharing, you can log out of their profile completely. They can play your games from their own account without you being logged in anywhere. You only need to log in once during the initial setup.

What if I want to stop sharing with someone?

Go to Settings > Family > Family Library Sharing and uncheck their account. They lose access when ready. You can also change your Steam password, which also stops sharing on that PC until you log back in with your new password.

Can I share with someone who does not live with me?

Technically yes, but Steam's terms say sharing is meant for household members. If you share with someone far away, Steam may flag the account as suspicious, especially if you are both playing at the same time from different locations. Use sharing only with people in your home.

Will my saves transfer to their account?

Game saves stay with the account that earned them. If you play a game and save progress, they will see your save file in that game, but they can also create their own separate save. Some games store saves in the cloud, so both accounts can access the same save—check the game's settings to see how it handles saves.