What does Family mode do on Steam?
Steam Family View is a feature designed for parents and families to establish their own rules for what components of Steam are accessible. With Family View, you can limit an account’s access to a subset of its content and features, providing a safer and more controlled environment for younger family members to use the platform.
What can you restrict in Family View?
• Games: Restrict access to specific games or game categories, ensuring that children only play age-appropriate content.
• Store: Limit access to the Steam Store, preventing children from purchasing games or making unwanted transactions.
• Friends: Control who your children can add as friends on Steam, ensuring they only interact with approved contacts.
• Chat: Restrict access to chat features, preventing children from engaging in unsupervised conversations with strangers.
• Account information: Control what information is displayed in a child’s Steam profile, such as their birthdate and email address.
How to set up Family View
- Log in to your Steam account and click on your profile picture in the top-right corner of the Steam client.
- Select Settings from the dropdown menu.
- Click on Family in the left-hand menu.
- Click on Set up Family View.
- Follow the prompts to create a Family View profile for each child.
- Configure the settings for each child, such as restricting access to games, store, friends, and chat.
What happens when a child tries to access restricted content?
When a child tries to access restricted content, they will receive an error message indicating that the content is not available to them. The error message will explain that the content is restricted by a parent or guardian, and will provide an option to contact the parent or guardian for more information.
Can you share a Steam account with Family View?
Yes, you can share a Steam account with Family View, allowing multiple family members to access the same account. When setting up Family View, you can create separate profiles for each child, and restrict access to certain features and content as needed.
Can you get banned for non-Steam games?
If you connect to Steam to add a non-Steam game to your library, you will not be detected or banned. Non-Steam apps are simply shortcuts that start the game, with the Steam overlay available if the game is compatible.
Additional tips for parents and caregivers
• Supervise: Always supervise children when they are using Steam, especially in the early stages of their account creation.
• Monitor: Regularly monitor your child’s Steam activity to ensure they are only accessing age-appropriate content.
• Communicate: Communicate with your child about online safety and responsible gaming practices.
• Review: Regularly review your child’s Steam profile and settings to ensure they are up-to-date and consistent with your family’s rules.
By using Steam Family View, you can provide a safe and controlled environment for your family members to enjoy the platform, while also teaching them important lessons about online responsibility and safety.