Family View
What is Steam Family View?
How do I set up Family View?
How do I change my Family View options?
How do I disable Family View?
How do I reset my PIN?
What is Family View:
We understand every family has its own approach to establishing rules and setting limits when it comes to media, entertainment and games. We hope most families talk through these issues together and find ways to agree on what's realistic and fair. With Family View, Steam is introducing a new way for parents and families to establish their own rules together.
Whether a Steam account is your own or your child’s, you can use Family View to limit an account’s access to a subset of its content and features. With Family View, access to the Steam Store, Library, Community, and Friends content and features may be gated by the entry of an additional PIN.
Setting up Family View options:
We encourage you to create a Steam account with your child. If you and your kids find Steam to be a bit too overwhelming when parents aren’t around to help, you can now manage access to content and features using Family View. You may also choose to enable Family View on your own Steam account if you would rather they share your own Steam Account for the time being.
To enable Family View:
Log into the Steam account your child will use.
Click the Steam menu in the top menu bar.
Open the Settings option.
Go to the "Family" tab on the left side of the window that opens.
Click “Family View” to start the Family View wizard.
Step through the wizard to select the content and features you’d like to be accessible while in PIN-protected Family View.
Select and confirm your new PIN.
Family View:
An account with Family View enabled will be set to Family View by default. In this mode, content and features that you have restricted will be unavailable. To access additional Steam features, within the Steam Client, click on the Family View button within the Steam client and enter your Family View PIN. This will switch your account out of Family View, remaining this way until you return to Family View (via that same button) or log out.
Family Games Library:
If you’ve opted to only allow access to a subset of the account’s library, your account’s library will include a new group called Family Games. Family Games are the games you’ve chosen to remain accessible while in Family View.
In order to add and remove games from this list:
Log into the account.
Select the Family View icon.
Enter your Family View PIN to exit Family View.
Then, either:
Find the game in your Library and right-click on the game and click “Add to / Remove from Family Games”.
Or
Visit the Family tab within Settings and click “Family View” to run through the Family View wizard again. This will provide the option to add or remove games from your Family Games group. Once finished, to return to Family View select the Family View icon and confirm your choice.
Changing Family View options:
To modify your Family View options:
First, log into the account.
Select the Family View icon.
Enter your Family View PIN to exit Family View.
Open the Steam Settings menu.
Go to the "Family" tab on the left side of the window that opens.
Click “Family View” to start the Family View wizard again.
Step through the Family View options wizard to select new content and features for Family Mode. You’ll also be asked to select a PIN, which you’re welcome to change or leave the same.
Disabling Family View:
To remove Family View from your or your child’s account:
Exit Family View.
Open the Steam Settings menu.
Go to the "Family" tab on the left side of the window that opens.
Select “Disable Family View” from the right side of the Family View window. Confirm your selection on the next window. Note: If using Big Picture, uncheck the box in the first page of the Family View wizard.
This will remove all restrictions from the account. If you wish to enable Family View in the future, simply revisit the "Family" tab in Settings and step through the Family View wizard once more. Your selected options will remain the same if you disable and re-enable the feature again in the future.
Resetting your PIN:
To reset your Steam Family View PIN, please contact Steam Support