One of the best features that the Valve platform has is the one that allows us to share the games when we are not playing them. Something that cannot be done on a console and that allows other users to try and enjoy games before purchasing them and having them in their own library. That is why we are going to teach you how to share the Steam library with friends and family.
When we refer to sharing the Steam library with others, we are not talking about our system running the game and streaming the game to a third party via Steam Link or over the internet, but rather sharing access permissions to the games with an acquaintance This will not allow us to play a game at the same time, but it will allow you to try out games in the library and see if you like them. Which is ideal for not wasting our economy on titles that end up not being to our liking.
How to share the Steam library?
The first thing we are going to need is that both users have the latest version of Steam installed, which will not be difficult for you from the moment the client is updated to the latest version if we have an internet connection. In any case, it must be taken into account that we have a series of limitations when using the games, in addition to not being able to use two people at the same time the same game if one of them is sharing it with the other. Not all games are supported either, due to the fact that their developers can select that this option cannot be used with their games. In that case, it will not touch anything other than buying them.
Now, to share your Steam library with your family and friends, you just have to perform the following steps:
- Open the Steam app on your computer.
- Click on the Steam menu and select parameters.
- From there you have to go to the Family tab.
- Click “Authorize family loan on this computer”
- Select the accounts you want to give access to your Steam library.
- The remote system you want to access the games to will need to authorize you to access the Steam Library.
- If this does not work for you, you may have to have Steam Guard active , you can do it from the parameters section of the same Steam menu.
Once this has happened, the games from the other library will appear in your library so that you can enjoy them, obviously you will have to download them to your computer to be able to enjoy them on your computer. By the way, we have to clarify that the service needs to check the permissions on each computer in real time, so your friend or family member will not be able to close the Steam application or close your computer.
How many accounts can we share our Steam library to? Well, up to 5 and with 2 computers for each of the accounts. This is a total of 10 sets in all.