Steamhas 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.

An image from the Steam Settings showcasing how to enable the Steam Families Beta Client

Some games will not be available for family sharing.These include games that require an additional subscription or account, as well as any a user has a ban in. Publishers can also opt out of the scheme.

How To Enable The Steam Family Beta

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

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

An image from Steam Family of a Member List, which showcases each member of your family, their status, and if they are an adult or child.

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

How To Form A Steam Family

Now that you have theSteam 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 theAccount Detailsoption.

From the Account Details section, you may click on theFamily Management taband eitheraccept an invitation to join a family or form your own.

An image from Steam Family of the Game Library List, which showcases all the games everyone in your family owns

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

You shouldonly invite trusted friends or family members into your Steam Family,since you will be sharing your entire game library and playtime information with these members.

You can only join or form one Steam Family per year,so, for example, if you leave or are kicked from a Steam family after 6 months, you can’t join or create another for a further 6 months.

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.

Game owners take priority,so if the game owner wants to play something currently in use by another, the other user will havefiveminutes to purchase or quit the game.

Downloading any game from your Steam Family isjust like downloading a game you have purchased, but make sure you haveadequate space on your computerto play all these new titles.

Importantly, you can also use the Family Library toview 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 theSteam Website