Can You Give Away Your Steam Account? A Comprehensive Guide
The short, direct, and legally accurate answer is a resounding no. You cannot give away your Steam account. Steam’s Terms of Service are very clear on this point: ownership of a Steam account is non-transferable. The account is for the personal use of its creator only. Attempting to sell, gift, or otherwise transfer your account to another person violates these terms and carries significant risks, including the permanent loss of your account and all associated games.
Why Can’t You Give Away Your Steam Account?
Personal Use Only
The fundamental reason why you cannot transfer your Steam account lies in the principle of personal licensing. When you create a Steam account, you’re essentially agreeing to a license agreement that grants you, the creator, the right to use the service and the games associated with that account. This license is specific to you, the individual, and does not extend to other parties.
Prevention of Fraud and Account Theft
Restricting account transfers serves as a crucial measure to prevent fraud and protect users. Allowing the free transfer of accounts would create a significant market for stolen accounts, making it harder for Steam to track and mitigate malicious activities. It would also complicate the recovery process for genuine users who have had their accounts compromised.
Violation of Steam’s Terms of Service
The Terms of Service you agree to when you sign up for Steam explicitly state that you may not sell, charge others for the right to use, or transfer your account or any subscriptions associated with it. Violating this agreement can lead to severe consequences, including the permanent locking of your account by Steam Support.
The Risks of Trying to Give Away Your Steam Account
Permanent Account Ban
Perhaps the most significant risk of trying to transfer your Steam account is the permanent ban that it can result in. If Steam’s support team detects an account sale or transfer, the account can be locked, regardless of whether the sale has been finalized. This means you will lose access to your entire game library and any associated progress, purchases, and achievements.
Financial Loss
If you were attempting to sell your Steam account, the financial loss could be significant. The buyer could potentially lose any money they paid to acquire the account, as the account may be banned by Steam. This scenario benefits no one and highlights the severe risks associated with violating the terms of service.
Security Vulnerabilities
Transferring an account also puts both the original user and the new user at risk. It can lead to security vulnerabilities as the account details are being shared or changed. It also encourages a black market where stolen accounts can be easily traded and resold.
What You CAN Do Instead
Family Library Sharing
Steam does offer a legitimate feature called Family Library Sharing, which allows you to share your game library with other Steam accounts on computers you’ve authorized. This feature is specifically designed for sharing with family members and is a safe and legitimate way to provide access to your games. Here’s how it works:
- Go to Steam Settings and select the Family tab.
- Enable “Authorize Library Sharing on this device.”
- Select the users who have logged into the computer you are on to share your library.
- Click the box next to the account you wish to share with.
This method, however, does not transfer ownership of the games or the account. It simply grants permission for others to play your games on their own accounts.
Creating a Separate Account for Your Child
Instead of giving your child your Steam account, Valve encourages you to create a separate Steam account for them, which allows you to apply parental controls using Family View to restrict the content they access. This is the safest approach to provide children with access to Steam while ensuring age-appropriate usage.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Are you allowed to sell your Steam account?
No, Steam accounts cannot be bought or sold. An account is meant for the personal use of its creator only.
2. What are the consequences of selling a Steam account?
When Steam’s support team detects an account has been sold, the account will be permanently locked. This applies whether the account is in the possession of the buyer or the seller.
3. What can someone do with your stolen Steam account?
Having your Steam account hacked means unauthorized access to your game library and even potential access to your linked payment methods. Criminals quickly replace email addresses and passwords to deny access to the real owners.
4. Can I give my Steam account to my child?
It’s best to create a separate Steam account for your child. You can then restrict access using Family View to manage what they can access. You can also share your game library using Family Library Sharing.
5. Can a 13 year old have a Steam account?
Yes, Steam’s user agreement states that users need to be 13 or older to create an account.
6. Can someone else delete my Steam account?
Yes, with sufficient proof of ownership, Steam Support can delete your account. The account will be restricted for 30 days and then scheduled for deletion. Note that deleted accounts cannot be recovered.
7. Can someone see my Steam ID?
Your Account name is only visible to you as long as you don’t disclose it. Friends and others you interact with cannot see it. Your Steam ID is a numerical identifier which can be seen through your profile URL.
8. Can I sell my Steam game to someone else?
No, you cannot sell games from your Steam library, as digital distribution is effectively a “rental for life” linked to your account.
9. Can you get banned for scamming Steam accounts?
Yes, if there is evidence of a user scamming other users, Steam Support may ban the account from using the Steam Community, including trading and using the Steam Market. The ban can be temporary or permanent, depending on the severity of the actions.
10. Is it legal to sell gaming accounts?
Account trading is considered illegal by the platform providers, as it violates the Terms of Use. The account is eventually suspended, and everyone involved loses out.
11. Can I lend my Steam account to a friend?
Instead of lending your account, use the Family Library Sharing feature to share your games with friends or family who have their own Steam accounts. This is the safest and the intended way to share your games.
12. Can more than one person use the same Steam account at the same time?
No, Steam does not support multiple users playing games on the same account simultaneously. Games are licensed for the sole use of the account holder.
13. Can I delete my Steam account but keep games?
No, if you delete your Steam account, you lose access to all your purchased games. There is no way to transfer your games to another account.
14. How are people stealing Steam accounts?
Hackers commonly use viruses, key loggers, spyware, and other malicious software to steal account names and passwords.
15. Does Steam check age?
The current age verification system on Steam relies on users self-reporting their age when creating an account. This isn’t always a reliable system to ensure age appropriateness of the content.
Conclusion
While it may be tempting to give away or sell your Steam account, it’s crucial to understand that it is a clear violation of Steam’s Terms of Service and carries significant risks. Opt for the legitimate sharing features provided by Steam, like Family Library Sharing, and create a separate account for children to safeguard your account and enjoy the platform responsibly. Remember that the security of your account is your responsibility and maintaining it should be the utmost priority.