How To Create And Use A Steam Family Account (2024)

Steam has recently introduced a new feature on their beta client named Steam Families. This feature allows you to create a virtual family with your real-life family members or friends, combining your collective game libraries together.

While you are a member of a Steam Family, everyone's purchased games will be shared among the entire family, so you can play other people's games while they are not playing them. If you are curious about how to enable and form Steam Families, check out the tips below.

How To Enable The Steam Family Beta

Before you can make or join a Steam Family, you are currently required to opt into the beta, because this feature is actively being worked on and tested. To do this, click the Steam tab in the top left corner of your client, and select Steam settings.

From the settings, click on the Interface tab and open the drop-down menu under the 'Client Beta Participation', where you can select an option for the Steam Families Beta. After selecting the Steam Families Beta option, your client will update, and you can now join or make a Steam Family.

If you do not see the Steam Families Beta in this option, then make sure that your account is protected by Steam Guard. This option is located in your account details, which can be accessed by clicking on your profile in the top right, and then head over to the Account Security tab.

How To Form A Steam Family

Now that you have the Steam Family beta enabled, it's time to either create or join a Steam Family. To access the Steam Family management, click on your profile in the upper right-hand corner of the Steam client, then click on the Account Details option.

From the Account Details section, you can click on the Family Management tab and either accept an invitation to join a family or form your own.

If you choose to form your own family, then you will be given the option to name the Family and invite up to five other Steam accounts to join, for a total of six.

How To Download And Play Games Using Steam Family

Whenever someone joins your Steam Family, their games will be instantly added to the Family Library, located in the Family Management settings, where you can peruse and download any you want to play.

Furthermore, these games will also be added to the regular library section of your Steam client, where you typically look at the games you own and update any downloaded games.

Downloading any game from your Steam Family is just like downloading a game you have purchased, but make sure you have adequate space on your computer to play all these new titles.

Importantly, you can also use the Family Library to view how many copies of each game the Family owns, since two members cannot be playing the same game at once unless you own two copies.

Full terms and conditions can be found on the Steam Website