Family share not working; Cant request access

[メロディー]

Me and a couple friends share games alot. I have about 2 or 3 other accounts family shared from him on here, without any problems. However this account isn't showing up under the list to select for family sharing, and when I click on any of the games, the "Request Access" window doesn't even come up. Why is this happening and how do I fix it?

[Tev]

He has signed in on his Steam -account on the very same device you're on, and has authorized your computer (to be one of the 10 authorized devices) - but doesn't see you on the tickbox list below? (to be one of the 5 authorized users)

[メロディー]

Correct. The library is being shared with 2 or 3 other accounts on this PC and work fine, but this current account is not showing up under the list.

[Tev]

Odd, just a thought to bring up:

He doesn't have to authorize your Steam user on the device you're to play his library on. (The 5 authorized users can access his library from ANY of the 10 authorized devices above anyway.)

So you could try seeing if it's any different if you log in on your Steam -account on some other computer and then see if he can tick your Steam user from the tickbox list on that PC. (He doesn't have to authorize that other computer though.)

[メロディー]

There is only one device in the list, which is this current computer. And there are only a max of 3 accounts he has authorized. It can't be a limit.

[Tev]

I'm not saying it's a limit.

I'm suggesting to see if your name shows up on the list if tried on another device.

[メロディー]

Do you mind if we talk in PM? Might be easier.
EDIT: Also, no the account does not show up on another device either.

[Tev]

I'll sum it up like this,

1. If you have another computer in the household, make sure it's free at the time you're to use it.
   
2. Log in on that computer once with your Steam -account
   
3. (Optional) Ask the other people in your household to log in on the computer with their Steam accounts and see if they can see your username in the tickbox list at [Steam > Settings > Family]
   
4. Ask your friend to come over.
   
5. Have him log in on said computer, and tick your Steam user from the list below.

You should then be able to access his Steam -library while on any of the authorized devices (of which your primary computer should be one of.)

                                                        EDIT

Originally posted by Elexess:

EDIT: Also, no the account does not show up on another device either.

Ah, have you tried authorizing the computer you're on with the account that doesn't show up on the list?

[メロディー]

I just said it doesn't show up on other devices.

[Tev]

Originally posted by Elexess:

I just said it doesn't show up on other devices.

Yeah, because you edited that in while I was posting it.

Have you tried authorizing the computer with the account that doesn't show up?

[メロディー]

Yeah their account doesn't show up when I try to authorize this account, either. But I had a thought. It seems like when you first authorize the new device, only accounts that were previously logged on to will show up, and any accounts you login to after the first authorization, will never show up. Cause I'm pretty sure this has happened the same way before. I really don't know how to fix this.

[Tev]

If you feel that's the way (and I kinda share my level of sceptism towards that, but I suppose it's best to try whatever springs to mind), the next time he comes around, you could have him remove the current device authorization here:
http://store.steampowered.com/account/managedevices

Then have him re-apply it.

[メロディー]

We already tried disabling and re-enabling it.

[メロディー]

I've fixed it. It seems like I was completely right. So I uninstalled Steam, deleted ANY folder related to it, and reinstalled Steam. Then I logged in to all the accounts first, THEN authorized it, and now all accounts show. I don't know why Steam does that, where accounts logged into after the authorization don't show up ever, but I hope they fix that. Anyway thank you for taking your time to help me Teutep.

[hiroland]

I know this is old, but I was having similar problem here and FOUND A SOLUTION so I'd share to other who might struggle.

I was trying to share with my brother but it wasn't working. Login here, login there, login back, but nothing. I found that the DEVICE WAS NOT BEEN RECORDED as AUTHORIZED DEVICE.

(You can check that it is not on the list from your account)

Instead of uninstalling everything, there's a easy way out.

Make sure that your friend's user name is checked on Family Share as a usual, and after that try this:


1) In your device, log off from your account and login with your friend's account. At your friend account, start download any game that is not yours. You DON'T need to completely, only need to start downloading.

2) Log off and Log back to your account.

3) Your friend's game will be on your library, only that game. Select that, try to download and you'll have to borrow it from your friend. Insert a familiar name to your device and confirm.

4) Your friend will receive an e-mail asking to authorize. Confirm it.

5) After that, EVERY OTHER GAMES will be available on your library.

In the end, this is only a way to add the DEVICE to AUTHORIZED LIST. But finally it worked for us.

Do the same for your friend and he will have the access to your games.

[v_recca]

Originally posted by hiroland:

I know this is old, but I was having similar problem here and FOUND A SOLUTION so I'd share to other who might struggle.

It's old but it still works! My son is home sick from school and sharing just stopped working for no apparent reason. Your fix go it working again, so thank you so much!