To bring up Steam chat while you are playing a game, you need to open the Steam Community Overlay.
The Steam community overlay is an in-game interface that allows access to many Steam Community features while playing games. This includes accessing your friends list and chat conversations without needing to minimize or exit your game.
How to Access Steam Chat In-Game
The primary method to open the Steam overlay and access chat is by using the default keybind.
- Default Keybind: The default keybind of Shift+Tab will open the overlay in any game where it is supported and enabled.
Once the overlay is open, you can navigate to your friends list and active chat windows or start new conversations.
Default Keybind
| Action | Default Keybind |
|---|---|
| Open Steam Overlay | Shift + Tab |
What if the Default Keybind Doesn't Work?
If pressing Shift+Tab doesn't open the overlay, check the following:
- Overlay Enabled: Ensure the Steam Overlay is enabled globally and for the specific game you are playing in your Steam settings.
- Keybind Changed: You might have changed the default keybind in Steam settings. Check Steam > Settings > In-Game to see or change your keybind.
- Game Support: While most games support it, verify if the specific game fully supports the Steam Overlay.
- Running as Administrator: Sometimes running Steam or the game as administrator can affect overlay functionality.
By using the Shift+Tab key combination, you can easily access your Steam chat and other community features without leaving your game.
