If you claimed a Steam game through a Free to Keep promotion while it was active, Steamworks says the promotion grants a permanent game license. The offer itself ends; the license acquired during its claim window is described as permanent. That is not true of a Free Weekend, which grants temporary access, or a Free to Play game, which is free to acquire.
“Permanent” does not mean a game is transferred out of Steam or can never become inaccessible. A revoked gift or CD key can remove a game, and deleting your Steam account deletes its licenses. The first step is to identify what kind of free offer you claimed.
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Which kind of free Steam offer did you claim?
Steam uses “free” for different arrangements. The claim window, license duration, and access rules depend on the offer type—not simply on whether you paid at the time.
| Offer | What Steam documentation says | What it means for access |
|---|---|---|
| Free to Keep | A time-limited promotion that lets a player permanently acquire a game license. The promotional package is removed from the store page when the offer ends. Steamworks: Free to Keep | If you acquired the package during the promotion, the license is described as permanent. If you missed the deadline, that temporary offer package is no longer available. |
| Free Weekend | Steamworks describes this as granting a temporary license. Steamworks: Free to Keep | You can play during the free-play period; it is not a permanent claim. |
| Free to Play | Steam Support says these games can be downloaded and played without a credit card or wallet funding; Steamworks describes them as having a free license. Steam Support: Free to play games on Steam and Steamworks: Free To Play Games | The game is free to acquire rather than a temporary trial. The particular game may still have its own restrictions. |
| Recurring subscription | A canceled subscription remains active until the paid plan expires. Some subscriptions may have additional game-specific terms. Steam Support: Recurring Subscriptions and Steam Subscriber Agreement | Access is tied to the subscription arrangement, not a Free to Keep claim. |
Steamworks documents these offer categories, but its documentation does not establish one universal Steam client button or phrase that identifies the offer type for every game. When in doubt, check the specific promotion rather than assuming that “free” means permanent.
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What “permanent” means for a Free to Keep claim
Steamworks defines Free to Keep as a time-limited promotion that allows a player to permanently acquire a game license for free. In other words, the promotion has a start and end, but a license acquired during that period is described as permanent. The term concerns the license granted by the offer; it does not mean ownership independent of Steam or guarantee access under every possible account or payment circumstance.
Why a game might become unavailable later
A gift was revoked
Steam says it may remove a gift after a refund or payment dispute. The recipient is notified that the game is no longer available in the library, and Steam says the account is not restricted. To play again, the recipient must purchase the game or redeem another gifted copy. Steam Support: Revoked Gifts
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- When you access your Visa Virtual eGift Card for the first time, you’ll need to register your name, address, phone number, and email address via activationspot.com. These details should also be used as your billing address for online purchases, as many merchants require address verification for purchase authorization.
- This Visa Virtual eGift Card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Visa Virtual eGift Cards are emailed active.
- Funds do not expire but your Visa Virtual eGift Card has a ‘valid thru’ date (9 years from date of purchase). If funds remain after this date has passed, please call the Toll Free number found on your Visa Virtual eGift Card for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout.
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A CD key was revoked
A publisher can revoke a CD key—for example, if it was intended for a limited activation period or was found to have been obtained fraudulently. Steam says the game is removed and the account is not restricted. This guidance concerns key activations; it does not say that ordinary Free to Keep claims are routinely revoked. Steam Support: Revoked CD Keys
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The Steam account was deleted
Deleting a Steam account permanently deletes its game licenses, and Steam says deletion cannot be reversed once completed. Account deletion does not automatically refund purchases. Steam Support: Account Deletion – Common Questions
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- When you access your Visa Virtual eGift Card for the first time, you’ll need to register your name, address, phone number, and email address via activationspot.com. These details should also be used as your billing address for online purchases, as many merchants require address verification for purchase authorization.
- This Visa Virtual eGift Card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Visa Virtual eGift Cards are emailed active.
- Funds do not expire but your Visa Virtual eGift Card has a ‘valid thru’ date (9 years from date of purchase). If funds remain after this date has passed, please call the Toll Free number found on your Visa Virtual eGift Card for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout.
- This item is not eligible for refund, resale, or return. Available for sale within the United States only. Not available to residents of Puerto Rico, Hawaii, New Mexico, South Dakota, West Virginia and the US Virgin Islands.
A subscription ended
For a subscription-based game, canceling does not end access immediately: Steam says the plan remains active until its paid period expires. The subscription may also be subject to additional terms for that game. Steam Support: Recurring Subscriptions and Steam Subscriber Agreement
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.A claimed game is missing: what to check
A missing library entry does not by itself prove that a license expired. Steam recommends checking the account and library visibility settings:
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- Visa Virtual eGift Cards are designed for online use only. Gift Cards are subject to Terms and Conditions: a.co/5bw3qXJ
- When you access your Visa Virtual eGift Card for the first time, you’ll need to register your name, address, phone number, and email address via activationspot.com. These details should also be used as your billing address for online purchases, as many merchants require address verification for purchase authorization.
- This Visa Virtual eGift Card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Visa Virtual eGift Cards are emailed active.
- Funds do not expire but your Visa Virtual eGift Card has a ‘valid thru’ date (9 years from date of purchase). If funds remain after this date has passed, please call the Toll Free number found on your Visa Virtual eGift Card for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout.
- This item is not eligible for refund, resale, or return. Available for sale within the United States only. Not available to residents of Puerto Rico, Hawaii, New Mexico, South Dakota, West Virginia and the US Virgin Islands.
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- Confirm the signed-in account. Make sure you are using the Steam account on which you claimed the game.
- Review library filters. A filter may hide the title from the library view.
- Check Hidden Games. The game may have been placed in the hidden list rather than removed.
- Do not use installed files as proof of a license. Having game files on a device does not establish that the account owns the game or currently has Family Sharing access.
- Contact Steam Support if it is still missing. Steam’s Games Are Missing from my Library guidance covers these checks.
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