How do I let my son play my Steam games?

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To let your son play your Steam games, you can enable Family Library Sharing, which allows family members and their guests to play one another’s games while earning their own Steam achievements and saving their own game progress to the Steam Cloud. This feature can be accessed through the Steam Settings panel, where you can select users who have also logged into your computer to share your library with and authorize specific computers and users to share.

Enabling Family Library Sharing

To enable Family Library Sharing, first be sure you have Steam Guard security enabled via Steam > Settings > Account in the Steam Client. Then, enable the sharing feature via Settings > Family, where you’ll also authorize specific computers and users to share.

Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

1. Can I play Steam games on 2 different computers at the same time?: Yes, you can sign into the same Steam account on multiple computers, however only one session may be active at a time.
2. How does family sharing work on Steam?: If someone else from your circle of friends or family has a game you’d like to play, they can activate Steam Family Sharing for you by opening their library and sending a request.
3. Can people under 13 use Steam?: Steam is not intended for children under 13 and Valve will not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13.

Setting Up Family Sharing

4. How to Enable Family Sharing on Steam & Share Games: Enable Family Library Sharing by authorizing shared computers and users through the Steam Settings panel.
5. Can my kids play on my Steam account?: We encourage you to create a Steam account with your child, and you can restrict access using Family View if needed.
6. Can my kids use my Steam games?: Yes, Steam Family Library Sharing allows family members and their guests to play one another’s games.

Limitations and Restrictions

7. What are the downsides of Steam family sharing?: Only five accounts can access your gaming library from up to 10 different computers, and you need an internet connection to access the shared libraries.
8. Are there any downsides to family sharing on Steam?: Your Family Library Sharing privileges may be revoked and your account may also be VAC banned if your library is used by others to conduct cheating or fraud.
9. Do all Steam games have family sharing?: No, due to technical limitations, some Steam games may be unavailable for sharing.

Account Sharing and Management

10. Can 2 people use the same Steam account?: Steam does not support multiple players using one Steam account simultaneously – games associated with a Steam account are licensed for the sole use of the account holder.
11. How to run 2 Steam accounts on one computer?: Use multiple user accounts on your computer, and log in to your primary Steam account on your original user account and your second Steam account on your new user account.
12. Can my son and I share a Steam account?: Yes, a Steam account may authorize Family Library Sharing on up to 5 accounts and on up to 10 devices in a 90-day period.

Game Progress and Ownership

13. Will I keep my game progress if I buy a game currently shared through family sharing?: Yes, Steam keeps ‘how’ you own a game separate from the achievements, playtime, and any other community stuff.
14. Can you share Steam games and play at the same time?: A Steam library can only be used by one user at a time to play one game at a time, even if that library is being accessed by another user via Family Sharing.

Parental Guidance and Safety

15. Is Steam ok for 11 year olds?: Steam’s user agreement states that users need to be 13 or older in order to make an account, but it’s not impossible for younger children to use the Steam account of older siblings or friends.