Can I install my Steam on two PCs and play a game?

NeilF · 25 Jun 2014 at 12:56

I've got two PCs at home, one of which at the moment has my Steam account and all my games.

If I install Steam on the second PC and log into my account, can I download a couple of my games and play them on that PC too? (I assume not at the same time on the two PCs though)

MikeTheNative · 25 Jun 2014 at 12:58

Yes you can, just can't be logged into both at the same time.

edit - It seems I was wrong you can be logged into both.

Witcher1979 · 25 Jun 2014 at 13:04

Yeah just stick one machine into offline mode. You don't even have to install the game on the 2nd PC set yor main PC to share the folder, 2nd PC set folder as a mapped network drive and add the network drive to steam as a library folder then the game will play over ethernet. I do this a lot if I want my son to play a game and me as well downstairs with 0 issues. If your main PC is not being used you can just use steam streaming to play them as well with both machines having Steam online at the same time.

Kishywish · 25 Jun 2014 at 13:38

MikeTheNative said:
Yes you can, just can't be logged into both at the same time.

You can be logged into Steam and be online on both at the same time - just can't play games on both at the same time.

As pointed above, if you go 'offline' you can then play steam games on both at the same time, if you wish.

ic1male · 25 Jun 2014 at 13:50

You have the option of installing the game to the second PC or streaming it from the first. Very clever.

NeilF · 25 Jun 2014 at 13:55

Ta for the info

uv · 25 Jun 2014 at 16:07

MikeTheNative said:
Yes you can, just can't be logged into both at the same time.

This was changed with the introduction of Home Streaming. If you are logged on to Steam on two PCs but only one of them has a particular game installed, you can stream that game to the other PC.

MikeTheNative · 25 Jun 2014 at 16:51

Kishywish said:
You can be logged into Steam and be online on both at the same time - just can't play games on both at the same time.

As pointed above, if you go 'offline' you can then play steam games on both at the same time, if you wish.

uv said:
This was changed with the introduction of Home Streaming. If you are logged on to Steam on two PCs but only one of them has a particular game installed, you can stream that game to the other PC.

Fair play didn't know this.

TheBigCheese · 25 Jun 2014 at 16:51

I've tried the streaming idea once, on two PCs in the same room on the same network.

Very strange but absolutely brilliant! Can't wait to try it out sitting on the sofa!

Xelene · 25 Jun 2014 at 17:09

TheBigCheese said:
I've tried the streaming idea once, on two PCs in the same room on the same network.

Very strange but absolutely brilliant! Can't wait to try it out sitting on the sofa!

It works pretty well. I have a headless PC tower with my library installed, then stream to my Macbook Air.

Witcher1979 · 26 Jun 2014 at 09:18

Yeah I use the streaming service to play on my laptop in bed.