Steam Family Share is a fantastic feature that allows you to share your game library with family and friends. But how does it work when you both want to play games at the same time? Let’s dive into the details of concurrent usage and how Steam handles shared libraries.
When you browse a shared library, Steam clearly indicates if the owner’s account is currently in-game. This is your first clue about potential playtime conflicts. The crucial thing to remember is that the primary account holder always has priority access to their game library. They can launch and play any game at any time, even if someone else is currently using their shared library.
If you are borrowing a game through Family Share and the library owner decides to start playing, you will receive a notification. This isn’t an immediate shut down, thankfully. Steam gives you a timed warning, typically a few minutes, to wrap up your game session. You’ll have a choice: either purchase the game for your own account, quit the game you’re currently playing, or, in some cases, the game will automatically close after the timer runs out. This system ensures the library owner is never locked out of their own games.
One important limitation to keep in mind with Steam Family Share is that shared games cannot be played in offline mode. This is a preventative measure to ensure that only one person uses the library at a time. However, there’s a clever workaround if you and the library owner coordinate. If the primary account holder starts a game and then switches Steam to offline mode, the shared user might be able to continue playing. This is particularly useful if you’re sharing with just one other person and can communicate effectively.
Setting up Steam Family Share can be a little intricate, especially if you have Steam Guard Mobile Authenticator enabled, which for security reasons, you absolutely should. The process involves authorizing specific computers to access your shared library. Typically, the primary account holder needs to log into their Steam account on the computer of the person they wish to share with.
Based on user experiences, a common approach to streamline the initial setup is to temporarily simplify passwords. Users might change to a temporary, easy-to-type password, share it privately, log into each other’s accounts on the designated computers to authorize sharing, confirm the sharing settings (specifying individual sharing and authorized computers), and then log back into their own accounts to verify everything is set up correctly. Finally, and importantly, both users should then revert to strong, secure passwords. While this method can simplify the process, always exercise caution when sharing account credentials, even temporarily.
In summary, Steam Family Share is a great way to share your game library, but understanding the concurrent usage rules is key. The library owner always has priority, shared users get a warning, and offline mode isn’t an option for shared games. With a little coordination, you can navigate these limitations and enjoy gaming with family and friends.
