how to not see a steam libary that is shared

Daniel Parker

2 min read

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16-01-2025

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Sharing your Steam library with a friend is a great way to let them enjoy your games. But what if you want to keep your personal game list private, or simply want to prevent a shared library from cluttering your Steam interface? This guide shows you how to effectively manage and hide shared Steam libraries.

Understanding Steam Library Sharing

Before diving into hiding a shared library, let's clarify how Steam's library sharing works. When you share your library, the other person gains access to your games, not the other way around. They don't see your personal game list or any purchases you've made independently. What they do see are the games you've authorized them to play.

Methods to Manage Your View of a Shared Steam Library

There isn't a single button to magically hide a shared library. Instead, we'll explore strategies for managing the view and ensuring your Steam experience remains clean and uncluttered.

1. Unsharing Your Library (The Direct Approach)

The most straightforward solution is to unshare your library with the other user. This completely removes their access to your games. To do this:

1. Open Steam: Launch the Steam client.
2. Go to Settings: Click on "Steam" in the top left corner, then select "Settings."
3. Navigate to Family: In the Settings menu, find and click on "Family."
4. Authorize Library Sharing: Under the "Family Library Sharing" section, you'll see the account you've shared with. Click "Unauthorize."
5. Confirm Unsharing: Confirm you want to unshare your library.

2. Filtering Your Game List (The Selective Approach)

If you want to keep the library sharing but prefer to manage what you see, you can use Steam's filtering options:

1. Open Your Library: Go to your Steam library.
2. Use the Filters: Steam allows you to filter games by various criteria, including categories, tags, and even playtime. Experiment to find a filter that effectively isolates your personal games from the shared ones.
   • Example: Use the "Only show games I own" filter. The shared games may not appear in your list depending on your filter.

3. Utilizing the "Categories" Feature (Organizational Approach)

Steam's category feature is a powerful tool for organization. You can create categories for your own games and ignore the shared games section altogether. Categorizing your games enhances organization beyond merely hiding shared titles.

1. Access Game Categories: In your Steam library, right-click on a game and select "Add to Category..."
2. Organize Your Library: Assign different categories for your own games versus games you might play from a shared account. This approach isn't strictly "hiding" but enhances manageability.

4. Creating a Separate Steam Account (The Complete Separation)

For a completely separate gaming experience, creating a new Steam account is an option. You can use this account for games you purchased personally and keep the shared account on its own. This approach provides the cleanest separation.

Conclusion

There's no single "hide shared library" button in Steam. However, by using a combination of unsharing, filters, categories, or even creating a new account, you can effectively manage your Steam experience and maintain a clear view of your own game collection. Choose the method that best suits your needs and preferences.