To request a refund, sign in to Steam Support with the account that bought the game, open Purchases, select the game and its issue, then choose “I’d like to request a refund.” Submit the form and select an available refund destination. For a standard Steam Store game, Valve’s rule is a request within 14 days of purchase and less than two hours of playtime. You can still ask outside those limits, but approval is not guaranteed.
How to submit a Steam game refund request
- Go to Steam Support and sign in to the Steam account that made the purchase.
- Open Purchases and select the game purchase.
- Choose the problem that best describes why you want help.
- Select “I’d like to request a refund.”
- Complete the form, choose Steam Wallet or the original payment method if offered, and submit the request.
- Check your email for confirmation that Steam received the request, then look for a later message when it has been processed.
If the game is missing from Purchases, Steam says it may be too far outside the refund window to appear in that flow. You can still contact Steam Support and ask for review.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Visa Virtual eGift Card | $54.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Visa Virtual eGift Card | $28.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Visa Virtual eGift Card | $105.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
$500 Apple Gift Card—Email Delivery | $500.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Visa Virtual eGift Card | $206.95 | Buy on Amazon |
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
What is Steam’s standard refund rule for games?
For games and software bought on Steam, Valve’s standard policy is that the request be made within 14 days of purchase and the game have less than two hours of playtime. Steam counts online, offline, and shared-library playtime. The policy was last updated April 23, 2024; check the current Steam Refunds policy for the live terms.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteMissing either threshold does not prevent you from asking. Steam says it will review requests outside the rules, but that is not a promise of approval. If Steam declines a request and you believe it was mishandled, its support guide says you can submit another request with a detailed message.
#1 Best Overall
- 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.
How refund rules differ by purchase type
The standard 14-day and two-hour rule does not cover every Steam transaction. The conditions below are summarized from Valve’s refund policy; open the relevant policy section for the full terms.
| Purchase type | Key conditions |
|---|---|
| DLC | Generally request within 14 days and have less than two hours of playtime in the underlying game since buying the DLC. The DLC must not have been consumed, modified, or transferred. Some third-party DLC is nonrefundable; Steam identifies exceptions on the Store page. |
| In-game purchases | For Valve-developed games, requests may be made within 48 hours if the item has not been consumed, modified, or transferred. Third-party developers may opt in; Steam discloses eligibility at purchase. |
| Pre-purchases and early access | For a playable early- or advance-access game, the two-hour limit applies immediately and the 14-day period starts at release. A game that cannot be played until release can be refunded any time before release; the standard window starts on release. |
| Bundles | Eligibility generally depends on combined playtime being under two hours and no item being transferred. Bundle contents can impose additional restrictions. |
| Gifts | An unredeemed gift follows standard conditions. If the gift has been redeemed, the recipient must initiate the request. |
| Other Steam purchases | Wallet funds, renewable subscriptions, hardware, video content, purchases made outside Steam, and games with a VAC ban have separate rules. Consult the matching section of Valve’s policy rather than applying the standard game rule. |
Where the money goes and how long a refund takes
For an approved refund, Steam says it issues the funds within a week. The refund goes to Steam Wallet or, if supported, the original payment method. If that payment method cannot be credited, Steam puts the amount in your Wallet. Wallet credit may take 24–48 hours to appear, and international payment methods may take longer to process.
Rank #2
- 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.
What to do if Steam denies the request
If the decision seems wrong, submit another refund request and include a detailed explanation of the issue. If you are outside the usual time or playtime limits, explain the circumstances clearly; Steam may review an exception, but the policy does not guarantee one. Consumers in some jurisdictions may have additional rights when a game is faulty.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 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.
Rank #4
- For all things Apple - products, accessories, apps, games, music, movies, TV shows, iCloud+, and more.
- Perfect for App Store purchases and subscriptions—get apps, games, music, movies, TV shows, and more.
- The perfect gift to say happy birthday, thank you, congratulations, and more.
- Available in $15 - 500, Card delivered via email or SMS
- Use it for purchases at any Apple Store location, on the Apple Store app, apple.com, the App Store, iTunes, Apple Music, Apple TV, Apple News+, Apple Books, Apple Arcade, iCloud+, Fitness+, Apple One, and other Apple properties in US only
Rank #3
- 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.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
