You can hide a game from Steam Family Sharing by marking it as private. This action prevents others using your Steam Library Sharing from seeing or playing the game.
Hiding a Game: The Private Option
Steam provides a built-in feature to mark specific games as private. This is the primary method for hiding a game from others, including those you share your library with via Steam Family Sharing.
Reference Information:
You can mark a game as private from the "Manage" submenu on the game itself. This menu is available from right-clicking on a game or clicking the gear icon on the game details page. Additionally, it can be found under the "Privacy" settings in the game properties dialog.
Here are the common ways to access this setting:
-
From Your Library List:
- Go to your Steam Library.
- Find the game you want to hide.
- Right-click on the game title.
- Hover over the "Manage" submenu.
- Select the option "Mark as Private".
-
From the Game Details Page:
- Go to your Steam Library and select the game.
- On the game's details page, click the gear icon (⚙️) located on the right side.
- This opens the "Manage" menu.
- Hover over "Manage".
- Select "Mark as Private".
-
From the Game Properties:
- Go to your Steam Library and find the game.
- Right-click on the game.
- Select "Properties...".
- In the "Properties" dialog box that appears, navigate to the "Privacy" settings (the reference mentions this is another place it can be found, although typically the "Manage" menu is the direct path for marking as private). Note: The "Mark as Private" option is most commonly found directly under the "Manage" sub-menu as described above, rather than deep within the standard "Properties" window, but the reference indicates it relates to privacy settings.
What Happens When a Game is Marked Private?
When you mark a game as private:
- It will not appear in the Steam Library of users who are accessing your library via Family Sharing.
- Your status (e.g., "In-Game") will not be visible to friends or others on Steam when you are playing a private game.
- Your playtime in that game will not be recorded or displayed publicly.
- The game will be hidden from lists like "Recently Played" or "Showcased Games" on your profile.
Essentially, marking a game private makes your ownership and activity in that specific game invisible to others on Steam, including those in your Family Library Sharing group.
Summary Table
| Action | Location | Effect on Family Sharing |
|---|---|---|
| Mark Game as Private | Right-click game > Manage menu > Mark as Private | Hides game from their library |
| Click Gear icon > Manage menu > Mark as Private | ||
| Game Properties > Privacy (?) |
By utilizing the "Mark as Private" feature accessed through the game's "Manage" menu, you can effectively hide a specific game from anyone accessing your library via Steam Family Sharing.
