How to Enable Family View Parental Controls in Steam

Authored by: Support.com Tech Pro Team

1. Introduction

In This Guide

You'll Learn How To:

• Set up a Steam Family View account.
• Setup your parental controls using the Family View.

Before We Begin:

• Have a Steam account.
• Steam will need to be installed.

2. Set Up Family View

Family View is a feature for parents and families to establish their own rules for what components of Steam are accessible.

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, Friends content and other features may be gated by the entry of a secret PIN.

We encourage you to create a Steam account with your child. If there are features of Steam that you would like to exclude from the experience, you can restrict access using Family View. You may also choose to enable Family View on your existing Steam account if you would rather your child share access with you on your Steam Account.

1. Log into the Steam account your child will use.
   

1. Click the Steam menu, then click Settings.
   

1. Click the Family tab on the left side of the window that opens.
   

1. Click Manage Family View.
   

1. The Family View wizard will open.
   

1. Select the content and features you'd like to be accessible while in PIN-protected Family View. Select Next when finished.
   

1. Enter an email address for recovery purposes in case you forget your pin. Click Next.
   

1. Select and confirm your new PIN, then click Next.
   

3. 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 you first need to disable Family View:

1. Log into your Steam account.
   

1. Click the Family View icon in the top right.
   

1. Enter your Family View PIN, then click Submit to exit Family View.
   

1. Find the game in your Library that you would like to add or remove from family view, then right-click on it and click Add to / Remove from Family Games.
   

4. Adjust Family View

To Change Existing Family View Settings

1. Open Steam and log into your account.
   

1. Click the Family View icon in the top right.
   

1. Enter your Family View PIN, then click Submit to exit Family View.
   

1. Click the Steam menu, then click Settings.
   

1. Click the Family tab on the left side of the window that opens.
   

1. Click Manage Family View to start the Wizard again.
   

1. The Family View wizard will open.
   

1. Select the content and features you'd like to be accessible while in PIN-protected Family View. Select Next when finished.
   

1. Enter an email address for recovery purposes in case you forget your pin. Click Next.
   

1. Select and confirm your PIN, then click Next. You do not have to change your pin if you do not want to. You can use your previous PIN.