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Steam · PC / Steam Deck · 5 min · Updated September 2026

How to lock down Steam with Family View

Steam is the PC game store with friends, chat and community. Family View locks parts of Steam behind a PIN — but not chat inside each game. Many children also use Discord alongside Steam.

In short

Turn on Family View under Steam → Settings → Family. Choose what is locked: store, community, chat. Set a PIN. Check Steam Wallet and purchases in individual games separately. Consider Steam Families if your account has been updated.

  1. 1

    Enable Family View

    Open Steam on your child’s PC → Steam (menu) → Settings → Family → Manage Family View. Choose what requires a PIN: store, community, friends, chat. Save a PIN they do not know. Test that the store is actually locked before you rely on it.

  2. 2

    Steam Family (newer family group)

    Steam also has Steam Family for sharing games between adults and children. Check whether your account uses Family View or the newer family group — menus vary by update. Steam Families gives more granular control than old Family View.

  3. 3

    Friends and chat

    Family View can lock Steam chat and community. Friends can still invite to games if allowed. Review the friends list together — Steam does not read messages for you. Ask whether they chat via Discord instead.

  4. 4

    Wallet and in-game purchases

    Steam Wallet can be topped up and used in the store and some games. In-game purchases (loot boxes, skins) are often controlled by the game itself — outside Family View. Check receipts in email and the bank. Remove saved payment cards from the Steam account if possible.

  5. 5

    Age ratings on games

    Steam shows PEGI/ESRB on game pages. Family View can hide titles, but they may still see games via friends’ libraries. Talk about which types of games fit. Free games can have adult content — price is not a safety signal.

See the PC gaming guide for general purchase limits. The App & Game Decoder covers Steam briefly. Check Discord too if your child plays online with friends.

Related checks

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Interactive checks that fit what you are reading about here.

More help in Denmark

If you need someone to talk to, use these — they are free, and they take parents and children.

  • Parents’ Helpline 35 55 55 57

    Børns Vilkår. Free, anonymous counselling for parents and relatives in Denmark on 35 55 55 57. They take calls about screens, conflict and online problems.

  • Media Council for Children and Young People

    Public guidance in Denmark on children, young people and digital media. Advice on age, content and parent conversations — without sales language.

  • StopSpillet 70 22 28 25

    The Danish Gambling Authority’s helpline on gambling harm. Call 70 22 28 25. The conversation is confidential — even if you are unsure it is a problem yet.

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