Steam's official game-sharing method lets one person's library appear on another person's computer, but it comes with real limits on who can play at the same time

Steam's built-in sharing feature works through Steam Family Library Sharing, which lets you authorize another computer to access your game library. The person whose account owns the games stays the library owner, and a second person can read and play those games on a different machine — but not simultaneously. If the owner starts playing, the shared user gets logged out. This is the only method Steam officially supports, and it requires both people to have Steam accounts and access to the same computer at some point to set it up.

The alternative is Remote Play Together, which streams a game from one computer to another over the internet. This works across different networks and different Steam accounts, but the game must be installed on the host computer, and both players need to be online at the same time. It is useful for playing together, not for giving someone permanent access to your library.

Key Takeaways

  • Steam Family Library Sharing requires you to authorize a second computer from your account, then have the other person log into their own account on that machine to read your games.
  • Only one person can play from a shared library at a time — if the library owner starts a game, the shared user is logged out when ready.
  • The shared user can play offline on their own account after downloading the game, but they cannot play while the owner is playing anything.
  • Remote Play Together streams a game to a friend's computer without them owning it, but both players must be online and the game must be installed on your machine.
  • Steam does not allow account sharing across multiple people or permanent library access to anyone except the account owner.

How to set up Steam Family Library Sharing

Start on the computer where you want the shared games to appear. Sign out of Steam completely. Then sign in using the account of the person who owns the games — the library owner. Go to Steam menu > Settings > Family (or on newer versions, Settings > Family Library Sharing). Toggle on Enable Steam Family Library Sharing. Steam will show you a list of other computers on your network; select the one you want to authorize.

Now sign out and sign back in using the account of the person who will play the games — the shared user. That person's account will now see all the library owner's games in their library tab. They can read and install any of them. The first time they play, they need an internet connection so Steam can verify the library sharing permission. After that, they can play offline on their own account.

Both accounts must be created and active on Steam. The library owner does not need to stay logged in on the shared computer; the sharing permission persists once it is set. However, if the library owner logs into that computer and starts playing anything, the shared user will be logged out and cannot continue playing.

What happens when both people try to play at the same time

Steam's sharing system prioritizes the library owner. If the owner logs in and launches a game, the shared user's game closes when ready and they are logged out. This is Steam's way of preventing one person from playing a game they do not own while the owner plays something else.

The shared user can still play offline after they have downloaded the game and logged in once. If the library owner never logs into the shared computer, the shared user can play indefinitely on their own account. The conflict only happens when the owner's account is actively playing on that same machine.

Using Remote Play Together instead of library sharing

If you want to play together rather than take turns, use Remote Play Together. This feature streams the game from your computer to a friend's computer over the internet. The friend does not need to own the game or have it installed. You both need to be online, and you both need Steam accounts, but you can be on different networks and in different locations.

To start, launch a game on your computer and look for the Remote Play Together button in the Steam overlay (press Shift+Tab while in-game). Click it and send your friend an invite link. They click the link, and the game streams to their screen. They can use a controller or keyboard and mouse. The stream quality depends on your internet speed; a wired connection and 10 Mbps upload speed work well for most games.

Remote Play Together works for playing together in real time, but it does not give your friend a permanent copy of the game. Once you close the stream, they cannot play unless you stream again. For permanent access, use Family Library Sharing instead.

Restrictions and what you cannot do

Steam does not allow you to share your library with more than one other person on the same computer, and you cannot share with multiple computers at once. If you authorize a second computer, you must deauthorize the first one before authorizing a third. You can have only one authorized computer at a time.

You cannot share your account login credentials with someone else to let them access your games on their own computer — that violates Steam's terms of service. The only supported method is Family Library Sharing, which requires you to authorize their computer and have them use their own account.

Games with DRM (Digital Rights Management) restrictions may not work with sharing. Some publishers disable sharing for their titles. You will see a message in the game's store page if sharing is not supported. A small number of games cannot be shared at all.

How to remove or change library sharing

Go back to Settings > Family > Family Library Sharing on the library owner's account. You will see the authorized computer listed. Click Deauthorize to remove sharing from that machine. The shared user will no longer see the library owner's games in their library, and any installed games will become unplayable.

If you want to authorize a different computer instead, deauthorize the current one first, then repeat the setup process on the new machine. You can also remotely deauthorize a computer from any machine where you log into your Steam account — you do not have to be at the shared computer to remove it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I share games with someone who lives far away?

Family Library Sharing requires both computers to be on the same network or for you to physically set it up on their computer once. After that, it works remotely. Remote Play Together works across any distance as long as both people have internet, but it streams the game rather than giving them a copy to install.

What if my friend buys a game — will they lose access to my shared copy?

No. Once they own a game, they can play it on any account and any computer. Buying a game does not affect library sharing — they will straightforward have their own copy in addition to access to yours.

Can I share games with multiple friends on different computers?

No. You can authorize only one computer at a time for sharing. If you want to share with a second friend, you must deauthorize the first computer and authorize theirs instead. You cannot have two authorized computers simultaneously.

Will my friend be able to play if I am playing a different game?

No. If your account is logged in and playing anything on the shared computer, the shared user will be logged out. They can only play when your account is not actively using that machine.

Do I need to stay logged in for my friend to play?

No. Once you authorize the computer and your friend downloads the game, they can play offline on their own account without you being logged in. The sharing permission stays active even when you are not online.