Two accounts (for kids), one email address - how does this work?

[Fysis]

From my inexperience, Steam has an atrociously complicated 'family' setup.

My children are both under 13, and so aren't 'supposed' to have their own Steam account. So I've setup both of their accounts under my partner's email - so they're basically borrowing the use of my partner's accounts. When first entering the 2nd account created (child 2), it says the account is my partner's, not the child's. I go into the profile and change a few settings so it shows as him not her - but IS IT?

The kids can't seem to friend each other - they have different accounts - is this a bug, a limitation? If they can't friend each other, i've just wasted money on the game i bought them both.

What happens when we change the account email addresses to their own emails? Is it still somehow 'linked' to my partner's account - why did it even reference my partner's account information when i logged in as child 2?

How the hell do i ask Steam themselves these questions instead of the community? I HATE it when things are more complicated than they should be. I guess most people just setup a 2nd and 3rd email address to get around this? Should i close the account, and start over? So frustrating, i can't find any information where Steam explains how to do it: "how to setup and manage your family's Steam accounts when the children are under the required 13 years old". Here's a good example: https://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/1/1471966894875539124/

:(

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

1 email for multiple accounts is fine. But you can set up ones for each child as that would help them later in life.

The 1st email can be used as a proof of ownership. Just k owing the email address is necessary.

Make sure you are using the correct account name when logging into each account.

I have multiple alt accounts on 1 email and never have issues.

[Fysis]

Originally posted by cSg|mc-Hotsauce:

1 email for multiple accounts is fine. But you can set up ones for each child as that would help them later in life.

The 1st email can be used as a proof of ownership. Just k owing the email address is necessary.

Make sure you are using the correct account name when logging into each account.

I have multiple alt accounts on 1 email and never have issues.

:qr:

Thanks Hotsauce,

Are you able to send friend requests between 2 or more of your accounts on the same email address? It's just not working between theirs :(

[Tuthenutter]

Have you friended them both?
Because they can see who's on your friends list and they can then add each other from there.

[Fysis]

Originally posted by Agent Anchovy:

Have you friended them both?
Because they can see who's on your friends list and they can then add each other from there.

I friended them both, they friended me. But they can't friend each other. I'll ask them to try again tomorrow using the method you describe. We previously tried it using the code system.

[Tuthenutter]

Originally posted by Fysis:

Originally posted by Agent Anchovy:

Have you friended them both?
Because they can see who's on your friends list and they can then add each other from there.

I friended them both, they friended me. But they can't friend each other. I'll ask them to try again tomorrow using the method you describe. We previously tried it using the code system.

They can also add each other by searching their names. I never use the code method as it doesn't work well for me either.
To do this you must open steam as usual so that it's on the main store page, at the top of the screen you will see your name, click it, then go to activity then you must click on activity as well. When the activity page as loaded, on the hand side of the page it will say 'search for someone' they must type their friends name in and their profile should show up so that you can then add them.

There are many ways of adding people, I've only mentioned two ways though.

So there is two methods for you to try, please be aware that you must change your profile from private to public to do the first method I mentioned, for the second one you wouldn't need to do all that so I would recommend the second one I told you about that is the method I mentioned above, the first method is the one I said about an hour ago.

I am sure that you can friend people who have the same email as you do.

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

Have you unlimited both accounts?

[Retro gamer]

Originally posted by Fysis:

From my inexperience, Steam has an atrociously complicated 'family' setup.

My children are both under 13, and so aren't 'supposed' to have their own Steam account. So I've setup both of their accounts under my partner's email - so they're basically borrowing the use of my partner's accounts. When first entering the 2nd account created (child 2), it says the account is my partner's, not the child's. I go into the profile and change a few settings so it shows as him not her - but IS IT?

The kids can't seem to friend each other - they have different accounts - is this a bug, a limitation? If they can't friend each other, i've just wasted money on the game i bought them both.

What happens when we change the account email addresses to their own emails? Is it still somehow 'linked' to my partner's account - why did it even reference my partner's account information when i logged in as child 2?

How the hell do i ask Steam themselves these questions instead of the community? I HATE it when things are more complicated than they should be. I guess most people just setup a 2nd and 3rd email address to get around this? Should i close the account, and start over? So frustrating, i can't find any information where Steam explains how to do it: "how to setup and manage your family's Steam accounts when the children are under the required 13 years old". Here's a good example: https://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/1/1471966894875539124/

:(

you need to spend money on both accounts so they can friend each other had the same problem with my grandkids are under the required age for steam so they can game with me so i told a white lie lol

[Fysis]

Originally posted by cSg|mc-Hotsauce:

Have you unlimited both accounts?

:qr:

I'm not sure. I hadn't heard of that, i'll search about it. Thanks.

EDIT: Looks like it could be a factor:

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=3330-IAGK-7663&l=english

"Purchasing a Steam gift that is equal to $5 USD or more from the Steam store (Receiving a Steam gift or digital gift card from a friend doesn't count)"

[Fysis]

Originally posted by SuperGamerfly666:

you need to spend money on both accounts so they can friend each other had the same problem with my grandkids are under the required age for steam so they can game with me so i told a white lie lol

One child has spent money directly from their account. The other - i gifted him a game so he hasn't spent any money himself on it.

EDIT: See my previous post - i think this is why they can't friend yet. Damn, i should have given him the money to spend instead of gifting :( Now he'll have to buy something - i'm sure this experience will traumatise him :P Thanks SuperGamefly :)

[Fysis]

Confirmed - once we put $5 in their wallets, they were able to friend each other. This solution was not offered when i tried to use the code to find the friend, it offered no explanation of value. Finding each other manually was difficult as their username is common. I don't remember if i eventually found one and tried, and got the same unhelpful 'error'.

When i tried to do it using the method provided by Anchovy it provided the help text which made it clear and was as SuperGameFly advised and i linked to above.

Thanks everyone :)