Multiple Accounts Question.

[Pkms]

So I know steam allows users to have multiple accounts, well they don't say it, but they are cool with it, but they don't allow multiple accounts on at once in multiple Steam Browsers. Is it fine having an account on your Steam browser while playing a game, while the other is on an internet browser like Google Chrome?

[Kargor]

Yes, there is no conflict between the Steam client and the browser.

You can also use multiple browsers to use multiple accounts -- whatever Steam uses to manage sessions, like cookies, will be different between different browsers so things don't get confused.

[spoof]

they do say it many times in the support FAQ's to create an other account as a solution.

[Pkms]

Thanks mate for that useful information, I got one final question, by multiple browsers, you mean I can have one open for each browser like Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Safari, or by that you mean I can have multiple accounts in different windows for every browser?

[Kargor]

Originally posted by Pkms:

Thanks mate for that useful information, I got one final question, by multiple browsers, you mean I can have one open for each browser like Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Safari

That will definitely work. Look at it this way: these browsers don't share bookmarks, Steamguard will make you authorize each browser independently, they don't share history, and if you check "[ ] remember me on this computer" for some website they still won't remember you on the other browsers. They are completely separate.

or by that you mean I can have multiple accounts in different windows for every browser?

That may or may not work, depending on how the browsers manage things internally. However, if I had to guess, I'd say that with very high probability it's not going to work -- "windows" are probably just a UI thing, as far as browser internals are concerned there is probably no difference between tabs being in the same or in different windows.

[Pkms]

Thank you very much, I can't seem respond to other comments through a phone, but thank you very much.

[Wyderak]

Thank.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Originally posted by spoof:

they do say it many times in the support FAQ's to create an other account as a solution.

A solution to what? You can't move games from one account to another, so what good is it. The only up-side I see to having another account is you already having one setup you could share in-home with family, and if perhaps wanted to share a game via your main account with majority of your collection on it, enable the family sharing for it.



As for multiple Steam accounts; should be no issue there in having them. But I am pretty sure you will need to have/use separate email account for each Steam account.

Only one can be logged in at any given time via Steam Client.

Multiple Steam Client logins via multiple Windows User Accounts on the same machine, this one is tricky, but doable. For this to work u would need to do something like this. Make multiple Steam folders (so each user has their own) and then make sure each Windows User Account has a Steam shortcut that corresponds to their user.

For example, lets say u install Steam on your Admin user. U could install to:
C:\Jack_Admin\Steam

Once installed, make folders for your other users:
C:\John\Steam
C:\Mary\Steam

These will be blank folders atm. While on the Admin account still, copy the Steam.exe over to these extra folders u just made for your other users. While on the Admin user still, go to the properties for ALL those Steam.exe files in all those folders and click Properties on it, and enabled them to Run As Admin for All Users. Now login under the other users (lets say John) and while on John's account u go to C:\John\Steam and then right click Steam.exe and click on Send to > Desktop Shortcut. Do this for each user so they each have their own Steam shortcut pointing to the Steam Client for their own username folder.

Now the reason you wouldn't want to have a single Steam folder; well that should be clear if u want to use multiple users. I'm not going to explain that, as it should be simple to understand really. The way I've done it above, having multiple users on the same system won't be an issue. It will however hogg up alot of RAM if u intend to do it this way and actually run them from multiple logged in windows user accounts at the same time.



As far as going through a browser, that is of no issue. On a single Windows user account you could have as many users logged in via web browser as there are web browsers installed. Do not get that confused with Browser Windows/Tabs. Also for those who do not know, each browser is actually two. So if all u have installed are IE, FF, Chrome; well u have 6 separate browsers there. Because each has an available "Private" one that u can load up. In IE, u can open "Private" browser with CTRL+SHIFT+P. Now u have two IE, the Private one just can not remember your cookie/history data is all, plus wont support plugins. For Chrome you open the main browser, then press CTRL+SHIFT+N for "Private" browser.

[Kargor]

Originally posted by Bad-Motha:

If you open IE, u open a the 2nd "Private" browser with CTRL+SHIFT+P. Now u have two IE (the Private open just can not remember your cookie/history data is all, plus wont support plugins).

Not remembering cookies is going to get annoying for Steamguard, though -- you'll have to authorize that "private browser" on each session. If you are doing this to quickly move items between accounts, that's pretty much a no-go.

But for just moving items, you only need 2 logins. Using browser and client work just fine for that :-)

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Merely a suggestion; but something better suited for a "guest". U wouldn't want to use Private Browser for logging in/out of alot. However as long as the Private Browser remains open, it shouldn't have an issue like that. It's only once u close it.

But seriously if u need more than 3 browsers per user, I'd say you must be up to something phishy. But there are others, like Opera, Safari, etc...

[spoof]

sandboxie , works for clients I don't think it does a good job seperating the browsers.

[Pkms]

I got 3 accounts, that is it, I got my answer already, and i'm using this for TF2 purposes. Also @Bad-Motha I just find it cool you can have 1 account for every browser, nothing else, I been using Steam for the past 2 years and have spented over $100 on my three accounts.

[Cryder]

sdf

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Each browser has it's own installation and place on the system; thus its own cache. Browsers do not share folder structures for cach/history/cookies. So for browsers it really shouldn't be a problem. And nor does Steam Client share a folder structure with any installed web browser. Steam stores its browser info within the folder for Steam itself.


EDIT:

Be careful using the same payment method across multiple accounts, not sure how well that would work out for you, or if Steam frowns upon that. As it would suck to have a payment issue due to Steam seeing that as an issue, then having it limit or halt multiple accounts because of it.

[spoof]

yes the major browsers do fine with separate accounts.
as always plenty solutions for a problem on the internet.

[Pkms]

I guess next time I have a question about Steam, I will come here first before asking my friends, so many useful people! Thanks guys, and like I said before, my answer has been answered.