how to hide games on steam from friends
How to Hide Games on Steam from Friends: A Comprehensive Guide
Steam, the popular digital distribution platform for video games, offers a wide array of features and customization options. One such feature is the ability to hide games from your friends, allowing you to maintain your privacy and control over your gaming library. Whether you prefer to keep certain games private or simply want to surprise your friends with a new addition, hiding games on Steam can be a useful tool. In this article, we will provide you with a comprehensive guide on how to hide games on Steam from friends, offering step-by-step instructions and additional tips to make the process smooth and hassle-free.
1. Why Hide Games on Steam?
Before diving into the details of hiding games on Steam, it’s essential to understand why someone might want to utilize this feature. There are several reasons why you might choose to hide games from your friends, including:
a. Privacy: Not all games are meant for public consumption. Some titles might be too personal or sensitive to share with your friends. Hiding these games allows you to maintain your privacy and keep your gaming habits confidential.
b. Surprises: If you’re planning a surprise for your friends, hiding the game until the perfect moment can add an element of excitement and anticipation.
c. Organizational purposes: Steam libraries can quickly become cluttered, especially if you have a vast collection of games. Hiding games can help you streamline your library and make it easier to navigate.
2. Steam Family Sharing
One method to hide games on Steam from friends is by utilizing the Steam Family Sharing feature. This feature allows you to share your library with other Steam users, including close friends and family members. By sharing your library, you can grant access to specific games while hiding others. Here’s how to set up Steam Family Sharing:
a. Open the Steam client and navigate to the “Steam” menu located at the top-left corner of the window.
b. Click on “Settings” to open the settings menu.
c. In the settings menu, select the “Family” tab.
d. Click on the “Authorize this computer ” button to enable Steam Family Sharing on your device.
e. Once authorized, you can choose which games to share with your friends by right-clicking on a game in your library, selecting “Properties,” and navigating to the “Family” tab. From there, you can check or uncheck the box next to “Share this game.”
3. Game Privacy Settings
In addition to Steam Family Sharing, Steam also offers individual game privacy settings that allow you to further customize who can see your gaming activity. These settings can be particularly useful if you want to hide specific games from certain friends while remaining visible to others. Here’s how to adjust the privacy settings for individual games on Steam:
a. Open the Steam client and navigate to your profile by clicking on your username located at the top-right corner of the window.
b. In your profile, click on the “Edit Profile” button, which is typically located under your profile picture.
c. Scroll down to the “Privacy Settings” section.
d. In the privacy settings, locate the “Game details” option and click on the dropdown menu.
e. From the dropdown menu, select one of the following options:
i. “Public” – This option allows your friends and the public to see your gaming activity, including the games you own and play.
ii. “Friends Only” – With this option, only your friends will be able to see your gaming activity, including the games you own and play.
iii. “Private” – Choosing this option will hide your gaming activity from everyone, including your friends.
4. Creating Custom Categories
Another effective way to hide games on Steam from friends is by creating custom categories within your library. This method allows you to organize your games into different folders, making it easier to manage and hide specific titles. Here’s how to create custom categories on Steam:
a. Open the Steam client and navigate to your library by clicking on the “Library” tab located at the top of the window.
b. In your library, find the game you want to hide and right-click on it.
c. From the context menu, select “Set Categories.”
d. A new window will appear, allowing you to create a custom category. To hide the game, create a category name that doesn’t reveal the contents (e.g., “Hidden Games,” “Private Collection,” etc.).
e. Click on the “OK” button to save the category.
5. Steam Family View
For those who share their Steam account with family members or friends, Steam Family View is an excellent option to hide games and restrict access to certain features. By enabling Steam Family View, you can ensure that only specific games are accessible, making it an ideal solution for parents who want to control their children’s gaming habits or individuals who want to hide games from certain individuals. Here’s how to enable Steam Family View:
a. Open the Steam client and navigate to the “Steam” menu located at the top-left corner of the window.
b. Click on “Settings” to open the settings menu.
c. In the settings menu, select the “Family” tab.
d. Click on the “Manage Family View” button to access the Family View settings.
e. In the Family View settings, you can adjust various options, including:
i. “Lock the Steam Store” – This option restricts access to the Steam Store, preventing purchases or downloads without the PIN.
ii. “Hide restricted content” – Enabling this option hides any games or content that is not permitted by the chosen age rating.
iii. “Require PIN to exit Family View” – This option adds an extra layer of security, requiring a PIN to exit Family View.
f. Once you’ve adjusted the settings to your preference, click on the “OK” button to save the changes.
6. Utilizing Steam Groups
Steam Groups are communities within Steam where users can gather, interact, and share their gaming experiences. While primarily designed for socializing and connecting with like-minded gamers, Steam Groups can also be used to hide games from friends. By creating or joining a private Steam Group, you can limit who can view your gaming activity. Here’s how to utilize Steam Groups to hide games:
a. Open the Steam client and navigate to the “Community” tab located at the top of the window.
b. In the Community section, click on the “Groups” tab.
c. To join an existing private group, use the search bar located on the right side of the window and enter the name of the group you want to join.
d. Once you’ve found the desired group, click on it to open the group page.
e. On the group page, click on the “Join Group” button to become a member.
f. If you want to create a private group, click on the “Create a Group” button located at the top-right corner of the window.
g. Follow the on-screen instructions to set up your private group, ensuring that the privacy settings are adjusted to your preference.
7. Adjusting Steam Profile Settings
In addition to the aforementioned methods, adjusting your Steam profile settings can also help you hide games from friends. By customizing your profile privacy settings, you can control who can see your gaming activity, including the games you own and play. Here’s how to adjust your Steam profile settings:
a. Open the Steam client and navigate to your profile by clicking on your username located at the top-right corner of the window.
b. In your profile, click on the “Edit Profile” button, typically located under your profile picture.
c. Scroll down to the “Profile Status” section.
d. In the profile status settings, locate the “Game details” option and click on the dropdown menu.
e. From the dropdown menu, select one of the following options:
i. “Public” – This option allows your friends and the public to see your gaming activity, including the games you own and play.
ii. “Friends Only” – With this option, only your friends will be able to see your gaming activity, including the games you own and play.
iii. “Private” – Choosing this option will hide your gaming activity from everyone, including your friends.
8. Using Steam’s Offline Mode
If you prefer a more straightforward approach to hiding games on Steam, utilizing Steam’s Offline Mode can be an effective solution. By going offline, your friends won’t be able to see your gaming activity, including the games you own and play. Here’s how to use Steam’s Offline Mode:
a. Open the Steam client and navigate to the “Steam” menu located at the top-left corner of the window.
b. Click on “Go Offline” to activate Offline Mode.
c. A confirmation window will appear, informing you about the features and services that will be unavailable in Offline Mode. Click on the “Restart in Offline Mode” button to proceed.
d. Once in Offline Mode, your friends won’t be able to see your gaming activity until you return to Online Mode.
9. Steam Family Options
Steam Family Options is a comprehensive suite of parental control features designed to help parents manage their children’s gaming activities. However, these features can also be utilized by individuals who want to hide games on Steam from friends. By customizing the Family Options settings, you can restrict access to certain games, content, and features. Here’s how to adjust Steam Family Options:
a. Open the Steam client and navigate to the “Steam” menu located at the top-left corner of the window.
b. Click on “Settings” to open the settings menu.
c. In the settings menu, select the “Family” tab.
d. From there, you can customize various family options, including:
i. “Content Settings” – Allows you to specify the content that is accessible based on age ratings and specific game genres.
ii. “Online Access Settings” – Enables you to control access to Steam’s online features, such as multiplayer, chat, and community content.
iii. “Family View” – Similar to Steam Family View, this feature allows you to restrict access to certain games, content, and features.
e. Adjust the settings to your preference, taking into consideration the games you want to hide from friends.
10. Additional Tips and Considerations
While hiding games on Steam can be beneficial, it’s essential to keep a few additional tips and considerations in mind:
a. Be mindful of your friends’ privacy settings: Even if you hide a game from your library, your friends might still be able to see it if they have different privacy settings. Respect their privacy choices and communicate openly about what you’re comfortable sharing.
b. Check game-specific privacy settings: Some games have their own privacy settings that override your overall Steam privacy settings. Make sure to review and adjust these settings if needed.
c. Use the “Hidden” feature in your library: Steam offers a “Hidden” category within your library, allowing you to quickly access and manage hidden games. Right-click on a game, select “Set Categories,” and check the box next to “Hidden” to move the game to this category.
d. Regularly review your privacy settings: As Steam continues to update its features and settings, it’s crucial to periodically review and adjust your privacy preferences to ensure they align with your current needs.
In conclusion, hiding games on Steam from friends is a valuable feature that allows you to maintain your privacy, surprise others, and keep your gaming library organized. By utilizing methods such as Steam Family Sharing, game privacy settings, custom categories, Steam Family View, Steam Groups, adjusting profile settings, Offline Mode, Steam Family Options, and following additional tips, you can easily hide games on Steam and tailor your gaming experience to your preferences. Remember to respect others’ privacy choices and communicate openly about your gaming preferences to create a positive and enjoyable gaming environment for everyone.
how to disable guided access
Guided Access is a feature on Apple devices that allows users to restrict the use of certain apps or features, making it a useful tool for parents, teachers, and individuals with disabilities. However, there may be times when you want to disable Guided Access, either temporarily or permanently. In this article, we will discuss various methods of disabling Guided Access on different Apple devices and the reasons why you might want to do so.
What is Guided Access?
Guided Access is a feature first introduced in iOS 6 that allows users to lock their device to a single app and control which features are available. This feature was primarily designed for parents who wanted to limit their child’s access to certain apps, but it has also proven to be useful for individuals with disabilities.
When you enable Guided Access, you can set a passcode that must be entered before the user can exit the locked app. Additionally, you can disable certain features, such as the home button or touch screen, to prevent users from accessing other apps or features on the device. Guided Access is also available on Mac computer s with macOS Catalina or later.
Reasons to Disable Guided Access
While Guided Access can be useful in certain situations, there are times when you may want to disable it. Some common reasons include:
1. Forgetting the Guided Access Passcode: If you have enabled Guided Access and set a passcode, it can be challenging to disable it without the passcode. This is especially true if you have forgotten the passcode, making it impossible to exit the locked app.
2. Needing to Use Other Apps: While Guided Access can be helpful for limiting distractions, there may be times when you need to use other apps or features on your device. For example, if you have locked your device to a single app to prevent your child from accessing other apps, you may want to disable Guided Access temporarily to check your emails or make a phone call.
3. Technical Issues: In some cases, Guided Access may cause technical issues on your device. For instance, some users have reported that their device gets stuck in Guided Access mode, making it challenging to exit the locked app.
4. Accessibility Options: Apple has a range of accessibility options built into their devices, such as VoiceOver and Zoom. These features may not work correctly when Guided Access is enabled, so you may need to disable it to use these features.
5. Privacy Concerns: If you have enabled Guided Access on someone else’s device, such as a child’s or employee’s, you may want to disable it to respect their privacy.
Now that we have discussed the reasons why you might want to disable Guided Access let’s take a look at how to do it on different Apple devices.
How to Disable Guided Access on iPhone and iPad
To disable Guided Access on an iPhone or iPad, follow these steps:
1. Open the app that is currently in Guided Access mode.
2. Triple-click the home button (or side button if you have an iPhone X or later).
3. Enter the passcode that you set for Guided Access.
4. Tap the “End” button in the top left corner of the screen.
5. You will then be prompted to enter your device’s passcode or use Touch ID or Face ID to exit Guided Access.
If you have forgotten the passcode for Guided Access, you will need to force restart your device. The method for doing this varies depending on the model of your device. For example, on an iPhone 7 or earlier, you can force restart by holding down the power button and the home button until the Apple logo appears. On an iPhone 8 or later, you can force restart by quickly pressing and releasing the volume up button, then quickly pressing and releasing the volume down button, and then holding down the side button until the Apple logo appears.
How to Disable Guided Access on Mac
To disable Guided Access on a Mac, follow these steps:
1. Open the app that is currently in Guided Access mode.
2. Press the “Command” + “Option” + “Escape” keys to open the Force Quit Applications window.
3. Select the app that is currently in Guided Access mode.
4. Click “Force Quit.”
5. You will then be prompted to enter your Mac’s password to exit Guided Access.
How to Disable Guided Access Permanently
If you want to disable Guided Access permanently on your device, follow these steps:
1. Go to “Settings” on your device.
2. Tap on “General.”
3. Scroll down and tap on “Accessibility.”
4. Tap on “Guided Access” and toggle the switch off.
Note that disabling Guided Access permanently will also delete any passcodes that were set for Guided Access.
How to Disable Guided Access for Specific Apps
If you want to disable Guided Access for specific apps, follow these steps:
1. Open the app that you want to disable Guided Access for.
2. Triple-click the home button (or side button if you have an iPhone X or later).
3. Enter the passcode that you set for Guided Access.
4. Tap on “Options” in the bottom left corner of the screen.
5. Toggle off the features that you want to disable.
6. Tap on “Done.”
This will disable Guided Access for that specific app only.
How to Disable Guided Access for Multiple Apps
If you want to disable Guided Access for multiple apps, you can use the “Accessibility Shortcut” feature on your device. To enable this feature, follow these steps:
1. Go to “Settings” on your device.
2. Tap on “General.”
3. Scroll down and tap on “Accessibility.”
4. Tap on “Guided Access.”
5. Toggle on the “Accessibility Shortcut” feature.
Now, whenever you triple-click the home button, you will see the option to enable or disable Guided Access, along with any other accessibility features you have enabled.
Conclusion
Guided Access is a useful feature for controlling the use of apps and features on your Apple devices. However, there may be times when you need to disable it, whether temporarily or permanently. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily disable Guided Access on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Whether you are experiencing technical issues, need to use other apps, or want to respect someone’s privacy, these methods will help you disable Guided Access with ease.