All Discussions > Steam Forums > Steam for Mac > Topic Details
emmetttt 3 Feb @ 5:52pm
How to set a common install location for family sharing on mac
I've spent over two hours googling and searching and just can't figure this out. Any advice deeply appreciated.

- Spouse and I have set up a steam family and the games are showing up correctly in each other's libraries.
- We have a new Mac mini M4, and have separate profiles we log into, and have each been playing our own games on steam on our own profiles
- We want to play some of each other's games, which we now see in family sharing, but get prompted to install it again on the same computer, which seems like a waste of drive space

Here's what I've tried:
- Using mac's File Sharing to make the steam app install folders for each user public to the other (couldn't get steam to open/recognize the path for each user)
- Tried going through Steam settings > Storage > adding/changing drive location (doesn't seem to work unless I literally have a separate external drive)
- Tried setting up a new default install location in a shared folder, with the thought that I can move all the games there (couldn't get it working, and all the directions are for the windows version)

This feels absurd. We have 2 user profiles on the same computer and the games are shared. How can we access them without taking up double the hard drive space? Thank you in advance for ANY advice.
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emmetttt 6 Feb @ 5:36pm 
In case anybody else has this problem, here is what eventually worked: I made a folder inside the Applications folder, which solved the permissions settings issues. Once that folder was made, Steam let me add it as a drive. Games have been sharing fine since then.
#1
rafiano82 31 Oct @ 5:52pm 
Thank you for this. It’s been annoying the hell out of me too.
#2
Harmless 13 Nov @ 8:25pm 
Thank you, emmetttt <3 for saving me from so much frustration.

This worked perfectly!

I created a "Steam Games" folder in the Applications folder.

I followed the directions https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/4BD4-4528-6B2E-8327 to "Add Drive" (which allows you to select a folder) and to move our shared games there.

Both locations appeared as "Macintosh HD" but you can rename them in that same Storage settings screen by selecting the three-dots button next to the available space graphic. Select "Rename Library" (it's just an alias within Steam).

NOTE: I had to repeat these steps on the second Mac account, which also has its own Steam account (linked Family accounts). Once I added the drive to Steam, our shared games showed up as playable (and are playable!).
#3
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Date Posted: 3 Feb @ 5:52pm
Posts: 3
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