Quick Answer: A Steam Family allows you to share your game library with up to five other members, totaling six people. Once joined, you gain access to all shareable games owned by family members, and if multiple copies of a title exist, multiple people can play that game simultaneously.
Prerequisites & Requirements
- Steam Account: All participants must have their own individual Steam account.
- Family Size: A Steam Family is limited to a maximum of 6 members (the creator plus 5 invitees).
- Household Intent: Steam Families are intended for close family members living in the same household.
- Developer Eligibility: Not all games are shareable; developers may opt their titles out of the program at any time.
- Third-Party Requirements: Games requiring external accounts, keys, or subscriptions cannot be shared.
How to Create a Steam Family (Step-by-Step)
- Step 1: Access Family Management Open your Steam client, navigate to your Account Details page, and select the "Family Management" section.
- Step 2: Create the Family Follow the on-screen prompts to create your new Steam Family.
- Step 3: Invite Members Use the interface to send invitations to your family members. Once they accept, they will be added to your family group.
- Step 4: Access Shared Libraries After joining, a new "family library" will appear in the left-hand column of your Steam games list, containing all shareable titles from your family members.
Choose the next step for your situation
| Your situation | Evidence-backed next step |
|---|---|
| Creating a Steam Family | You can create a Steam Family and invite up to 5 additional family members for a total of 6 members. |
| Accessing shared games | Upon joining a Steam Family, you automatically gain access to shareable games owned by other family members. |
| Playing games simultaneously | If the family library contains multiple copies of a game, multiple members can play that game at the same time. |
| Game eligibility for sharing | Developers may opt their games out of Family Sharing for technical or other reasons at any time. |
| Games requiring third-party accounts | Titles requiring an additional third-party key, account, or subscription cannot be shared between accounts. |
| Leaving a Steam Family as an adult | Adults can leave a family at any time, but must wait 1 year from joining the previous family to create or join a new one. |
| Family slot cooldown | Each Steam Family slot has a cooldown of one year before a new member can occupy that slot. |
Pro Tips & Mistakes to Avoid
- The One-Year Cooldown: Be careful when joining or leaving a family. Adults who leave a family must wait one year from the date they joined the previous family before they can create or join a new one.
- Slot Cooldowns: Each slot in a Steam Family has a one-year cooldown. If a member leaves or is removed, that specific slot cannot be filled by a new person for 365 days.
- Individual Progress: You do not need to worry about overwriting saves. When playing a game from the family library, you create your own unique save files, earn your own achievements, and access your own workshop files.
- Simultaneous Play: If your family owns only one copy of a game, only one person can play it at a time. If you own multiple copies, multiple family members can play that same title simultaneously.
Troubleshooting & Edge Cases
If you find that a game is missing from the shared library, it is likely because the developer has opted that specific title out of the Family Sharing program. Additionally, games that require a third-party account or subscription (such as an external launcher or MMO subscription) are ineligible for sharing. If you encounter technical errors while managing your family, ensure all members are using the latest version of the Steam client. For persistent account or billing issues, reach out to official Steam Support directly through the help portal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can children leave a Steam Family on their own?
No, children in a Steam Family cannot leave the family themselves. They must be removed by an adult member of the family or by Steam Support.
Can an adult kick someone out of the family?
Yes, any adult family member has the authority to remove any other member from the Steam Family.
What happens if I buy a new game?
You maintain ownership of your titles. When you purchase a new game, it is automatically added to the family library and becomes available for other members to play, provided the game is eligible for sharing.
Guide Verification & Support
All steps, policies, and compatibility rules in this guide are verified against official developer documentation and platform policies. If you encounter an unresolved account or billing issue, contact official support directly.