Family Sharing and Family View Restrictions

[vadersson]

Hello,

I just made a Steam account for my son. I want to share some of my games with him, but not all. I turned on Family View on my profile and choose which games to view. Then I went into Family Sharing and authorized his account and the computer so he could access my games. However, in his account he has access to ALL my games. Is there a way for Family Sharing to be restricted by my Family View settings?

Thanks,
Duncan

[Rowan]

Yes, you can change the parental controls on the Family View to your liking. Simply restrict games that are inapropriate for someone of his age. I believe that should work.

[HLCinSC]

I'm pretty sure family sharing is an all or nothing affair. In other words family view only works within a single account and is independent of family sharing.

[vadersson]

Originally posted by #Let Girls Learn #Sunshine Week:

I'm pretty sure family sharing is an all or nothing affair. In other words family view only works within a single account and is independent of family sharing.

Yeah, that is what it seems like sadly. Hmm. Guess I will have to look for alternative solutions.
Thanks,
Duncan

[HLCinSC]

Originally posted by vadersson:

Originally posted by #Let Girls Learn #Sunshine Week:

I'm pretty sure family sharing is an all or nothing affair. In other words family view only works within a single account and is independent of family sharing.

Yeah, that is what it seems like sadly. Hmm. Guess I will have to look for alternative solutions.
Thanks,
Duncan

The only workaround I can think of off the top of my head is to make him a second separate windows account. On that second windows account, make it so you cannot install a program without an admin account's password. Then you can install Steam and family share with his account, but he will have to get you to enter your password every time he wants to install one of your games thereby forcing your approval of what he plays/has access to.

If I come up with another/better method I'll post it.

You also may have better luck searching/posting this in the family view forum: http://steamcommunity.com/groups/familyview/discussions/

or the family sharing forum: http://steamcommunity.com/groups/familysharing/discussions/

Good luck.

[snowsurfer84]

I know this is an old thread, but figured I would respond in case someone is searching topics for a way to share selected games with their child (as I was doing). There is a solution! These steps will allow you to share titles from the parent's library to a child's computer, under their own account, with the protection of family view:
1. Establish Steam accounts for both parent and child.
2. Install games on Parent Account.
3. Enable Family Sharing of Parent Lbrary to Child Account on Child PC, using standard process.
The child will now have access to the parent's full library under their own account on their own PC.
4. Enable Family View on the Child Account. Be sure to link the PIN recovery to Parent Email.
At this point, the child will not be able to access the shared library titles while in Family View.
5. Use your PIN to disable Family View on the Cild Account. Navigate to the shared library titles. For each title you would like to share, right click the title in the library and select 'Add to Family Games'
6. Enable family view on the Child Account. Your child should now be able to see the shared titles that you selected on their own PC, within their own account, under the limitations you set within Family View.

[TF_Baxter]

thank you snowsurfer for your post, it totally did the trick!

[MidnightTwo]

Originally posted by snowsurfer84:

I know this is an old thread, but figured I would respond in case someone is searching topics for a way to share selected games with their child (as I was doing). There is a solution! These steps will allow you to share titles from the parent's library to a child's computer, under their own account, with the protection of family view:
1. Establish Steam accounts for both parent and child.
2. Install games on Parent Account.
3. Enable Family Sharing of Parent Lbrary to Child Account on Child PC, using standard process.
The child will now have access to the parent's full library under their own account on their own PC.
4. Enable Family View on the Child Account. Be sure to link the PIN recovery to Parent Email.
At this point, the child will not be able to access the shared library titles while in Family View.
5. Use your PIN to disable Family View on the Cild Account. Navigate to the shared library titles. For each title you would like to share, right click the title in the library and select 'Add to Family Games'
6. Enable family view on the Child Account. Your child should now be able to see the shared titles that you selected on their own PC, within their own account, under the limitations you set within Family View.

This worked perfectly.

[AwesomeSauce]

Originally posted by snowsurfer84:

I know this is an old thread, but figured I would respond in case someone is searching topics for a way to share selected games with their child (as I was doing). There is a solution! These steps will allow you to share titles from the parent's library to a child's computer, under their own account, with the protection of family view:
1. Establish Steam accounts for both parent and child.
2. Install games on Parent Account.
3. Enable Family Sharing of Parent Lbrary to Child Account on Child PC, using standard process.
The child will now have access to the parent's full library under their own account on their own PC.
4. Enable Family View on the Child Account. Be sure to link the PIN recovery to Parent Email.
At this point, the child will not be able to access the shared library titles while in Family View.
5. Use your PIN to disable Family View on the Cild Account. Navigate to the shared library titles. For each title you would like to share, right click the title in the library and select 'Add to Family Games'
6. Enable family view on the Child Account. Your child should now be able to see the shared titles that you selected on their own PC, within their own account, under the limitations you set within Family View.

Thank you @snowsurfer84 - worked perfectly! Only note is when adding to family games in step 5 its under "manage" rather than "add to" - but accept most would have got that first time!

[смeрть259[death259]]

Originally posted by snowsurfer84:

I know this is an old thread, but figured I would respond in case someone is searching topics for a way to share selected games with their child (as I was doing). There is a solution! These steps will allow you to share titles from the parent's library to a child's computer, under their own account, with the protection of family view:
1. Establish Steam accounts for both parent and child.
2. Install games on Parent Account.
3. Enable Family Sharing of Parent Lbrary to Child Account on Child PC, using standard process.
The child will now have access to the parent's full library under their own account on their own PC.
4. Enable Family View on the Child Account. Be sure to link the PIN recovery to Parent Email.
At this point, the child will not be able to access the shared library titles while in Family View.
5. Use your PIN to disable Family View on the Cild Account. Navigate to the shared library titles. For each title you would like to share, right click the title in the library and select 'Add to Family Games'
6. Enable family view on the Child Account. Your child should now be able to see the shared titles that you selected on their own PC, within their own account, under the limitations you set within Family View.

I can't thank you enough for this! Years later and this still works! I gave you the extra helpful award because this was exactly what I needed to allow my kid to dip his toes into PC gaming. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

[Ben Johns]

Originally posted by snowsurfer84:

I know this is an old thread, but figured I would respond in case someone is searching topics for a way to share selected games with their child (as I was doing). There is a solution! These steps will allow you to share titles from the parent's library to a child's computer, under their own account, with the protection of family view:
1. Establish Steam accounts for both parent and child.
2. Install games on Parent Account.
3. Enable Family Sharing of Parent Lbrary to Child Account on Child PC, using standard process.
The child will now have access to the parent's full library under their own account on their own PC.
4. Enable Family View on the Child Account. Be sure to link the PIN recovery to Parent Email.
At this point, the child will not be able to access the shared library titles while in Family View.
5. Use your PIN to disable Family View on the Cild Account. Navigate to the shared library titles. For each title you would like to share, right click the title in the library and select 'Add to Family Games'
6. Enable family view on the Child Account. Your child should now be able to see the shared titles that you selected on their own PC, within their own account, under the limitations you set within Family View.

It's May of 2023 and I'm coming across this. For me, I had the account set up so all library content was visible, and the option was "Remove from family library", which didn't work. Changing it back to "Only games I choose" changed the option back to "Add to family library", which is working.

[dez]

for anyone looking here and has a solution, i am on a child account and i bought a game but cannot play or even install it

[rawWwRrr]

Originally posted by dez:

for anyone looking here and has a solution, i am on a child account and i bought a game but cannot play or even install it

Talk to the Parent account.

[Stephanie]

This thread was quite old before the recent post, so we're locking it to prevent confusion.