Play installed steam game without access to steam account?

[I Am Filip]

Hi. I'm trying to play some games on a friends computer. The games are already payed for and installed on his computer using his steam account. The problem is that I don't have access to his password and he obviously won't give it to me. Since he will be away for a couple of days it's also not possible for him to login.

When I login to my own Steam account on his computer I can see a list of all the games that are installed on the computer, including his games. If I click on one of his games a button to launch the game shows up, but when I click it nothing happens. So my question is: Is it possible for me to play these games? Like I said, they're already installed on the computer I'm using so it's kind of weird that I'm not able to just play them by clicking the play button.

Is there any way to play an installed Steam game without access to the steam account that was used to install it?

Thanks for the help!

[feytharn]

Originally posted by I Am Filip:

Hi. I'm trying to play some games on a friends computer. The games are already payed for and installed on his computer using his steam account. The problem is that I don't have access to his password and he obviously won't give it to me. Since he will be away for a couple of days it's also not possible for him to login.

When I login to my own Steam account on his computer I can see a list of all the games that are installed on the computer, including his games. If I click on one of his games a button to launch the game shows up, but when I click it nothing happens. So my question is: Is it possible for me to play these games? Like I said, they're already installed on the computer I'm using so it's kind of weird that I'm not able to just play them by clicking the play button.

Is there any way to play an installed Steam game without access to the steam account that was used to install it?

Thanks for the help!

There is Family Sharing, however your friend needs to log into his account and authorize yours.

[The Giving One]

Originally posted by I Am Filip:

Hi. I'm trying to play some games on a friends computer. The games are already payed for and installed on his computer using his steam account. The problem is that I don't have access to his password and he obviously won't give it to me. Since he will be away for a couple of days it's also not possible for him to login.

You are not supposed to be doing this, as that is account sharing. Do not use Steam accounts that you did not create.

You can set up family sharing, but not all games can be family shared. Also, it's called "family sharing" for a reason.

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

No.

You see them because they are installed on a PC that both of the accounts logged in to. The only way to play them is to enable Family Share but that requires him to log in and allow sharing.

So, you can not without him logging into his account, no.



Edit: Ninja'd!

[The Giving One]

Also, keep in mind that if the friend's computer has any identifiable cheats installed on it, and you don't know about it, that can result in bans on your account also, if you log in using your own account or set up family sharing with him, so keep that in mind.

If this happens, then your account may be banned from such games, and it will be permanent.

Originally posted by cSg|mc-Hotsauce:

Edit: Ninja'd!

[I Am Filip]

Originally posted by The Giving One:

Originally posted by I Am Filip:

Hi. I'm trying to play some games on a friends computer. The games are already payed for and installed on his computer using his steam account. The problem is that I don't have access to his password and he obviously won't give it to me. Since he will be away for a couple of days it's also not possible for him to login.

You are not supposed to be doing this, as that is account sharing. Do not use Steam accounts that you did not create.

You can set up family sharing, but not all games can be family shared. Also, it's called "family sharing" for a reason.

Just to clarify, I'm not trying to share his account.

I'm sure that we all have been over to a friends house and played a game on their computer that they've bought. That's what I'm trying to do. I'm trying to use his games on his computer in the same way that I can use any other non-steam software that's installed on his computer. I'm not trying to gain access to his account, share his account or use his games on my own computer. What I'm doing is literally the equivalent of being over at your friends house and playing games on your friends Xbox. That is not the same thing as "sharing an account".

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

You can't. You do NOT own a license for the game. It does not equal console game sharing at all.

[The Giving One]

Originally posted by I Am Filip:

I'm sure that we all have been over to a friends house and played a game on their computer that they've bought. That's what I'm trying to do.

Sorry, but no, we all have not. I would never use my Steam account on anyone else's computer, as I understand what might happen if I do.

And I never have used anyone else's Steam account, for any reason, for any length of time. Again, that is an SSA violation and can result in permanent account suspension. You are tying to play a game someone else bought on their account, without family sharing set up apparently.

That's called account sharing.

[Cathulhu]

And if you try to play a game without a Steam account, without owning the game, then it's effectively software piracy, punishable by law in pretty much every country.

[I Am Filip]

Guys, you're misinterpreting what I was saying.
All of you have most likely used a friends computer at some point, and when you used that computer you inevitably also used none-steam software that your friend (not you) had bought, that was installed on that computer. That is not called piracy, that's just called hanging out at your friends house and borrowing his computer for an hour. No need to be so hyperbolic.

Thanks to everyone who tried to help me. I get that the answer is No. The discussion can end now.