Steam Family View Guide: How to Set Up, Turn On, and Disable This Feature

There's nothing wrong with playing games, but not all games are appropriate for some gamers. This is why parents or guardians should limit their children's access to a Steam account.

Through Family View mode, your account will be secure, but it's not guaranteed every time. It's also a "good way to protect the account" from phishing sites.

If you want to enable this feature, here's how you can do that. You can also learn how to disable it in case you want to remove it.

Family View on Steam is a valuable tool for parents aiming to establish a secure gaming environment for their children. This feature allows you to set up personalized rules and control access to various components of Steam to ensure a safe and age-appropriate gaming experience.

Understanding Family View

Family View acts as a gatekeeper, regulating an account's entry to specific content and features on Steam. By using a secret PIN, parents can control access to the Steam Store, Library, Community, Friends content, and more. It's a powerful tool to ensure your child's gaming experience aligns with your guidelines.

Setting Up Family View: A Step-by-Step Guide

For an optimal experience, create a dedicated Steam account for your child. If certain features need exclusion, Family View lets you restrict access seamlessly. Alternatively, enable Family View on your Steam account if you prefer them to share yours.

Enabling Family View in the Steam Client:

1. Log into the Steam account your child will use.
2. Click the Steam menu and open Settings.
3. Navigate to the "Family" tab.
4. In the "Family View" section, click "Manage" to start the Family View wizard.
5. Step through the wizard to select accessible content and features.
6. Set a recovery email address and a new PIN.
7. Confirm the setup through the confirmation code sent to the associated email.

Enabling Family View on the Steam Website

1. Log into the Steam account your child will use.
2. Click on the user account name in the top right corner.
3. Access Account Details and scroll to "Family Settings."
4. Click "Manage Family View" to start the wizard.
5. Choose accessible content, set a recovery email, and a new PIN.
6. Confirm the setup through the sent confirmation code.

Family Games Library

In Family View, your account's Library introduces a dedicated section called Family Games. These are the games you've approved for access in this mode. To manage this list:

1. Exit Family View by entering your PIN.
2. Choose games by right-clicking in your Library or using the Family tab within Settings.

Changing Family View Options: Adapting to Your Needs

Modify your Family View options by:

1. Log into the account and enter your PIN to exit Family View.
2. Opening Steam Settings and go to the "Family" tab.
3. Clicking "Manage" in the "Family View" section to revisit the wizard.
4. Stepping through the options to select new content and features. Change or retain your PIN as needed.

Disabling Family View: Flexibility at Your Fingertips

To remove Family View:

1. Exit Family View and open Steam Settings.
2. Go to the "Family" tab and click "Manage" in the "Family View" section.
3. Select "Disable Family View" and confirm your choice.
4. Revisit the "Family" tab in Settings to re-enable Family View in the future, maintaining your chosen options.