Why do I have to keep logging in to Steam over and over and over again?

[servo75]

1. Every time I switch computers, it makes me log in again - on my OWN computer? And can't even remember the password for me? Why do I keep going through this over and over again?
2. And why is it that if I'm playing Game A on one computer, then go to the other one to launch Game B, I have to log in AGAIN? What is the point of this? I could understand if they're the same game and you want to make sure people (God forbid) aren't sharing an account to avoid paying for a game. BUT THESE ARE DIFFERENT GAMES, both of which I have purchased. If I want to play 10 different Steam games (all of which I've duly purchased) on 10 of my own different PCs, then why is this an issue?

Someone from Steam please explain this. I continue with Steam because it's a convenient platform but this constant re-logging in irks me a lot.

[HikariLight]

Because only 1 computer can be logged into an account at a time.
When you log into comp B you are logged out of comp A.

[Ogami]

Because if you could be logged into multiple PC at the same time and could play at the same time it would pretty much be a invitation to account sharing on a massive scale.

[The Nameless]

What the last two said. It's a security thing, one of the things to protect your account. And, I'm sorry, putting your password anywhere other than in your head (such as saving it on websites or letting your computer remember it for you) is beyond a Bad Idea--it is a Horrible Idea.

If you're like me and can only keep a few passwords in your head, that's too bad--the ability of people like us to protect ourselves is limited but we just have to accept it. If we leave it in our computer or save it anywhere on line, we may as well post it publicly. So, stick to a few passwords if that's what you have to do, and just do your best.

[lsdninja]

You absolutely can be logged in to the same Steam account across multiple computers at the same time, otherwise features like Remote Play or local network transfers wouldn’t work.

Why it’s not saving for OP, I can’t say. With how buggy the Steam client is getting lately, it could be anything.

[Satoru]

Originally posted by HikariLight:

Because only 1 computer can be logged into an account at a time.
When you log into comp B you are logged out of comp A.

Note you can only play on one computer at a time. You can be logged into any number of Steam devices simultaneously and you won’t get logged out of the client. You will at worst be prompted to exit a game session

[Haruspex]

You can't run multiple games on multiple computers on the same account, but you should be able to be logged in to multiple computers on the same account.

Do you have some kind of "security" software running in the background that keeps clearing all your cookies and login credentials?

[Satoru]

If you are being prompted to log in

1) you have a program that is killing your cookies which is what Steam uses to save your local login token

2) you are using a VPN to bounce IPs which causes Steam to trigger a reauthentication

3) you’re using private/inconito mode which kills your login cookies once the tab is closed

[servo75]

Originally posted by The Nameless:

What the last two said. It's a security thing, one of the things to protect your account. And, I'm sorry, putting your password anywhere other than in your head (such as saving it on websites or letting your computer remember it for you) is beyond a Bad Idea--it is a Horrible Idea.

If you're like me and can only keep a few passwords in your head, that's too bad--the ability of people like us to protect ourselves is limited but we just have to accept it. If we leave it in our computer or save it anywhere on line, we may as well post it publicly. So, stick to a few passwords if that's what you have to do, and just do your best.

I thank you SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much for your security lecture. It doesn't even come close to answering my question. If you can't be helpful then please don't reply and clutter up the thread. Go on substack and lecture people there. Try to (if you want and can) answer the question you were ASKED and don't go off onto high-horse tangents.

[servo75]

Originally posted by Ogami:

Because if you could be logged into multiple PC at the same time and could play at the same time it would pretty much be a invitation to account sharing on a massive scale.

I understand that but two things:

1. TWO computers is not a "massive scale." Most people have more than one machine they play games on.

2. Like I said, I'd understand if it was the same GAME on multiple computers. But they're different games. The Steam account itself is free, why the concern about sharing a free account?

[misfit motors]

i had a whole paragraph written for this but its easily summed up by saying that, steam is a ♥♥♥♥ platform. they care about money. thats it.

[Piston Smashed™]

Years ago you could copy and sell games from the original game disc and use the original game code to activate the game. This could then allow multiple users to share and play the games abusing the systems.

One of the reasons that Steam was created was as a DRM to stop the spread of multiple users all using the same game code. This meant that a single game code could no longer be shared with multiple users because it was now locked down to a Steam account instead of just the game as it was before.

This means that Steam is and has always been a Single User Account not a Family and Friends Account. While you can sign into multiple PC's at once you can only play from one of those PC's at any one time. while connected online.

This to stop accounts from being shared by others, whether this is family, friends or anyone else on the internet. If it wasn't like this then people would abuse the system on a massive scale just like you could do before Steam was created.

You can by-pass this by having one PC in offline mode, however if both games require internet connection then it is impossible to have it work and well you know the outcome.