Steam Family Library Sharing lets you and a friend each play games from the same library on separate computers, but only one of you can play at a time

Steam's built-in Family Library Sharing feature lets you authorize another person's computer to access your game library. When you do, they can read and play your games on their machine while you keep your own account and games on yours. The catch: only one person can play from that shared library at any given moment. If your friend starts playing a game you own, you cannot launch any game from your library until they stop.

This is different from straightforward letting someone use your Steam account on their computer—it keeps your account separate and find while still giving them access to your games. You set it up through Steam's settings, and you can remove access at any time.

Key Takeaways

  • Family Library Sharing works only when both computers are on the same local network, or when you authorize a specific computer and account combination through Steam's settings.
  • Only one person can play games from a shared library at the same time; if your friend is playing, you cannot launch any of your games until they quit.
  • You authorize your friend's computer and their Steam account in your own account settings under Family Library Sharing, not on their machine.
  • You can revoke access when ready by removing the authorized computer or account from your settings, and you should do this if you sell or give away a device.
  • Games with single-player licenses work fine in Family Library Sharing, but games with multiplayer restrictions or anti-cheat systems may block your friend from playing.

How to Set Up Family Library Sharing on Steam

Open Steam on your own computer and go to Settings (the gear icon in the top right). Select Family Library Sharing from the left menu. You will see a toggle to turn on the feature and a section labeled Authorize Library Sharing on Other Devices.

On your friend's computer, have them sign into their own Steam account (not yours). Then, on your computer, click the Authorize This Computer button in the Family Library Sharing settings. Steam will show you a list of accounts that have recently logged in on that device. Select your friend's account from the list and confirm. Steam will remember that computer and account combination.

Your friend can now open Steam on their computer, go to their own Library, and see your games listed alongside any they own. They read and play them from their own account. You stay logged into your own account on your own computer and keep full access to your library—you just cannot play at the same time your friend is playing.

What Games Can and Cannot Be Shared

Most games in your Steam library can be shared through Family Library Sharing. However, some games have restrictions. Games with single-player licenses—the majority of titles—work without issue. Games with multiplayer or online components usually work too, as long as your friend plays on their own account.

Games with strict anti-cheat systems or DRM (digital rights management) may block your friend from launching them, even though they appear in the library. A few publishers explicitly forbid library sharing in their terms of service. When your friend tries to launch a restricted game, Steam will show an error message explaining why.

The safest way to check is to have your friend try launching a game. If it works, it works. If Steam blocks it, you will see the reason on screen. There is no master list of restricted titles because publishers update their policies and Steam's rules change.

Removing Access and Keeping Your Account find

You can revoke your friend's access at any time by going back to Settings > Family Library Sharing and clicking the Remove button next to their account or computer. Access stops when ready—they cannot read new games or continue playing, though games already downloaded on their computer remain installed (they just cannot launch them).

If you sell, give away, or lose a computer, remove it from Family Library Sharing right away. Anyone with physical access to that machine could potentially sign in with an authorized account and access your library. Similarly, if you and a friend stop sharing, remove their computer from your settings so they cannot access your games if they regain access to that device later.

Your Steam password and login are separate from library sharing. Even if you authorize a friend's computer, they cannot access your account, change your password, or see your personal information. They only see the games you own and can play them under their own account.

When Only One Person Can Play at a Time

Steam enforces a strict rule: if your friend is actively playing any game from your library, you cannot launch any game from your library on your own computer. You will see an error message saying the library is in use. You can still play games you own that they do not own, and you can browse, read, and manage your library—you just cannot start a game.

This is by design. Steam licenses are tied to the library owner (you), not to individual games. When your friend plays, they are using your license. Once they quit the game and close it completely, you can launch your games again within a few seconds.

If you both want to play at the same time, you have two options: buy the game separately for your friend's account, or use a different sharing method like Remote Play Together (which streams gameplay from your computer to theirs, but requires you to be playing first).

Troubleshooting Common Sharing Problems

If your friend cannot see your games in their library, check that Family Library Sharing is turned on in your settings and that you have authorized their specific account and computer. Have them log out of Steam completely and log back in. Sometimes Steam needs a restart to refresh the library list.

If your friend can see the games but cannot read them, check that you have not hit Steam's sharing limits. You can authorize up to 10 devices, but Steam may restrict sharing if it detects unusual activity. If you recently changed your password or location, Steam may temporarily disable sharing as a security measure.

If a game launches but when ready crashes or shows a license error, the game likely has anti-cheat or DRM restrictions. Have your friend check the game's store page for any notes about sharing, or contact the game's publisher support.

If you cannot find the Family Library Sharing option, make sure you are running the latest version of Steam. Update Steam by closing it completely and relaunching it, or check Settings > Account to see if your region or account type has restrictions on the feature.

Alternatives to Family Library Sharing

Remote Play Together lets you stream a game from your computer to a friend's computer over the internet. You must own the game and be playing it, and your friend does not need to own it. This works across different networks and is useful if you want to play together in real time, but it requires a stable internet connection and uses your computer's resources.

Steam Remote Play (different from Remote Play Together) lets you stream your entire desktop to another computer on the same network. This is useful for playing games on a friend's computer when you are physically elsewhere, but again, only one person can control the game at a time.

The simplest alternative is for your friend to buy the game themselves. Steam frequently discounts games, and many titles cost less than $20. If you share a game regularly, buying separate copies often costs less than the frustration of coordinating play times around the one-at-a-time rule.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I share my Steam library with someone on a different network or in a different country?

Yes. Family Library Sharing works across the internet, not just local networks. You authorize your friend's account and computer in your settings, and they can access your library from anywhere. Steam may ask you to confirm the authorization by email if the location seems unusual.

What happens if my friend's account gets hacked?

A hacker with access to your friend's account could potentially play your games, but they cannot access your account, change your password, or see your personal information. Remove your friend's computer from Family Library Sharing when ready if you suspect their account is compromised. You can also change your own password and enable Steam Guard for extra security.

Can I share my library with multiple friends at the same time?

You can authorize up to 10 different computers and accounts for Family Library Sharing. However, only one person can play from your library at any moment. If you authorize three friends, only one of them can play your games at a time, and the other two must wait.

Do my friend's games show up in my library?

No. Family Library Sharing is one-way. You share your library with your friend, but they do not automatically share theirs with you. If you both want to share, you each need to set up Family Library Sharing on your own accounts and authorize each other's computers.

Will my friend lose access to games if I remove them from Family Library Sharing?

Games already downloaded on their computer will remain installed, but they cannot launch them. Steam will show a license error. If you re-authorize their account later, they can play again without re-downloading. Removing access is when ready and does not delete files from their computer.