Fix Steam Family Sharing Not Working: 10 Solutions

Steam Family Sharing (now Steam Families) is one of the most popular features on Steam, allowing users to share their game libraries with family members or close friends. If you meet the “Steam Family Sharing not working” error, you can check the 10 solutions below to fix this issue.

What Is Steam Family Sharing and Why Does It Stop Working?

Steam Family Sharing allows one Steam account to share its library with up to 6 family members on 10 authorized devices. However, Steam enforces strict rules, and even a small configuration change can cause Steam Family Sharing to stop working.

This problem can be caused by authorization issues, account conflicts, device restrictions, or even hidden Steam limitations.

Before diving into fixes, remember:

• Only one person can play a shared library at a time
• Not all games support Family Sharing
• Authorization is device-specific

Now let’s get into the solutions.

Solution 1. Re-Authorize Family Sharing on Both Accounts

One of the most common reasons for Steam family sharing not working is that authorization was removed or expired.

Steps to Fix:

1. Log into the owner’s Steam account on the shared computer.
2. Go to Steam > Settings > Family.
3. Check “Authorize Library Sharing on this computer”.
4. Select the account you want to share your Steam games with.
5. Log out and restart Steam.
6. Log into the borrower’s account and check the library.

Re-authorizing often resolves Steam Family Sharing not working issues caused by system updates or login changes.

Solution 2. Make Sure the Game Supports Family Sharing

Not every Steam game can be shared. If only specific games are unavailable, Steam Family Sharing may not actually be broken.

How to Check:

1. Open the Steam store page of the game.
2. Scroll to the Features section.
3. Look for Family Sharing enabled.

Games with third-party launchers, subscriptions, or DRM restrictions often disable sharing, which can look like Steam family sharing not working, even though it’s working as intended.

Solution 3. Check If the Library Owner Is Currently Playing

Steam does not allow simultaneous access to a shared library. If the owner launches any game, the borrower loses access.

What to Do:

• Ask the owner to fully exit Steam.
• Wait a few minutes and restart Steam on the borrower’s account.
• Refresh the library.

Many users misinterpret this limitation as Steam Family Sharing not working, when it’s actually a usage conflict.

Solution 4. Log Out of All Steam Accounts and Restart Steam

Cached sessions can interfere with account permissions and cause Steam Family Sharing to stop working.

Steps:

1. Log out of all Steam accounts on the computer.
2. Close Steam completely.
3. End Steam processes via Task Manager (press Ctrl + Shift + ESC).
4. Restart your computer.
5. Log into the owner’s account first, then the borrower’s account.

This resets Steam’s session data and often fixes Steam family sharing not working errors.

Solution 5. Disable and Re-Enable Steam Guard

Steam Guard adds security, but it can occasionally block Family Sharing permissions.

Steps:

1. Log into the owner’s account.
2. Go to Steam > Settings > Security.
3. Disable Steam Guard temporarily.
4. Restart Steam.
5. Re-enable Steam Guard.
6. Re-authorize Family Sharing.

This method is surprisingly effective when Steam Family Sharing is not working due to account verification conflicts.

Solution 6. Ensure You’re Not Exceeding Device Limits

Steam limits Family Sharing to 10 devices total. If the limit is exceeded, sharing silently stops.

How to Fix:

1. Log into the owner’s account.
2. Go to Steam > Settings > Family.
3. Review authorized devices.
4. Remove unused or old devices.
5. Re-authorize the current device.

Device limits are a hidden but common cause of Steam family sharing not working.

Solution 7. Check Region and Account Restrictions

Steam may restrict sharing between accounts in different regions under certain conditions.

What to Verify:

• Both accounts are in supported regions.
• No active account restrictions or bans.
• No recent region changes.

If Steam Family Sharing is not working across regions, waiting a few days after a region change may help.

Solution 8. Repair Steam Library Folder

A corrupted library folder can cause shared games to appear locked or missing.

Steps:

1. Open Steam > Settings > Storage.
2. Click the three dots next to your library folder.
3. Select Repair Folder.
4. Restart Steam.

After repairing, check whether the Steam family sharing not working issue is resolved.

Solution 9. Reinstall the Steam Client (Without Losing Games)

When all else fails, reinstalling Steam can reset broken configurations.

Safe Reinstall Steps:

1. Close Steam.
2. Back up the steamapps folder.
3. Uninstall Steam.
4. Download the latest Steam client.
5. Restore the steamapps folder.
6. Re-authorize Family Sharing.

This method fixes deep-level issues where Steam Family Sharing is not working due to corrupted files.

Also Read: How to Move Steam Games to Another Drive: Step-by-Step Guide

Solution 10. Check for VAC or Account Bans

If either account has a VAC ban, Family Sharing is disabled.

How to Check:

• Open Steam profile.
• Look for ban notifications.
• Confirm account standing in Steam Support.

Even unrelated bans can cause Steam family sharing not working permanently for shared libraries.

Conclusion

When Steam family sharing is not working, the cause is usually a configuration issue, not a permanent problem. By following the 10 solutions above, starting with re-authorization and ending with client reinstallation, you can resolve nearly all Steam Family Sharing problems.