Steam, developed by Valve Corporation, is one of the most popular digital distribution platforms for video games. With over 120 million active users globally, it offers more than just game downloads—it is also a hub for social interaction, allowing players to connect with friends, join groups, and see what others are playing. One of the common questions that arises among users is: Can Steam friends see my game activity? This is a valid concern for individuals who value their gaming privacy or simply want more control over their digital footprint.
TL;DR
Yes, your Steam friends can typically see your game activity, but you have full control over your privacy settings. You can choose who sees your recently played games, current gameplay status, and total playtime. By adjusting your profile and game details visibility settings, you can make your activity completely private or visible only to selected friends. It’s essential to understand how Steam’s privacy options work to maintain the level of control you desire.
Understanding Game Activity on Steam
Game activity on Steam includes several components:
- Current gameplay status – What game you’re currently playing.
- Recently played games – The last few games you’ve played, viewable on your profile.
- Total playtime – Number of hours you’ve spent on each game.
By default, most of this information is shared with your friends, and in some cases, even publicly visible to all Steam users. But don’t worry—Steam offers detailed privacy settings that let you control every aspect of what others can see.
What Can Steam Friends See?
Unless you’ve modified your privacy settings, your Steam friends can typically see the following:
- The game you are currently playing – This appears in the friend list and is also broadcast to your in-game status.
- Recently played games – Accessible by visiting your profile, this shows your latest gaming activity, including playtime.
- Achievements and screenshots – If shared, these can appear in your activity feed.
You might be surprised how much this reveals about your gaming habits, especially if you play niche or private titles that you might not want others to know about.
Managing Privacy Settings
Steam makes it relatively straightforward to manage who sees your game activity. Here’s how to do it:
Step-by-Step Guide: Making Your Game Activity Private
- Open the Steam client and click on your username at the top.
- Select “View my profile.”
- On your profile page, click the “Edit Profile” button.
- Navigate to “Privacy Settings” on the right-hand menu.
- Here, you’ll find key privacy options such as:
- My Profile – Control overall visibility (Public, Friends Only, Private).
- Game Details – This includes the list of games you own, your wishlist, achievements, and playtime.
- Friends List – Control who sees your friends.
- Inventory – Manage who can see your items and steam trading cards.
- Set “Game Details” to Private to hide your game activity from friends and everyone else.
Note: If you set your game details to “Private,” others won’t be able to see the games you’ve played, how long you played them, or your achievements—even if they are your friends.
Controlling In-Game Status
Sometimes, privacy isn’t just about your game history—it’s about real-time visibility. Steam shows your current playing status to your friends by default. If you prefer to play quietly, here’s what you can do:
Set Yourself to “Offline”
Click on “Friends & Chat” in the bottom-right corner of the Steam interface and change your status to “Invisible” or “Offline.” This way, others won’t know you’re active or what you’re playing—even if your game details are public.
Pro Tip: You can also launch Steam in offline mode to entirely avoid network activity.
Private Games and Hidden Titles
Steam does not provide a direct feature to “hide” a specific game from your profile while keeping other games visible. However, there are a few workarounds:
- Set Entire Game Details to Private: As mentioned earlier, this will hide all game activity, not just specific titles.
- Remove or hide from library: In rare cases, you can right-click a game and choose “Hide from library.” Although this does not prevent friends from seeing it if game details are available, it simplifies your personal management.
- Play in offline mode: This avoids broadcasting what you are playing altogether.
Steam Family Sharing Caveat
It’s worth noting a specific nuance with Steam Family Sharing. When games are shared with others on the same device, play history and achievements are saved per user. However, shared libraries themselves are visible to Steam, and there’s a small chance friends could deduce activity through ownership visibility. Again, adjusting “Game Details” visibility is your best defense.
The Steam Mobile App: Does It Share Too?
When you use the Steam mobile app, your in-game status and activity are synced across platforms. This means that if your privacy settings allow it, friends can still see what you’re playing while you’re logged in on mobile. Make sure to review settings via the app as well:
- Go to “You” tab, click Settings.
- Select “Privacy Settings” and adjust as needed.
Always remember that even mobile app permissions mirror your account-wide choices regarding visibility.
Why Does Steam Show Activity by Default?
Steam has always been positioned as a socially connected platform. Showing activity encourages friends to start playing similar games, follow activity feeds, and build a shared experience. While this can foster engagement, it’s not ideal for everyone. Thankfully, Valve has recognized user demand for more control, which is why recent years have brought more robust privacy features.
When People Can Still See What You’re Playing
Here’s a list of cases where your game activity may still be visible:
- You have set your game detail visibility to Public or Friends Only.
- You’re part of Steam Broadcast or Streaming and broadcasting play unintentionally.
- A third-party service connected to your Steam account (e.g., Discord) shows your game status.
Be cautious about linked services and make sure privacy preferences are consistent across platforms.
Final Thoughts
Steam’s privacy settings are relatively comprehensive once you know where to look. But by default, your activity is quite visible—so if privacy matters to you, it’s vital to take control. Whether you’re looking to surprise your friends with a new game, avoid judgment for how much time you’ve spent on a guilty pleasure, or simply prefer to play solo without alerting your friend list, adjusting game activity visibility gives you the control you need.
Remember: It’s your account, your library, and your right to keep your activity private.
