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How to Refund a Steam Game That Won’t Run or Meet Your Expectations

Use Steam Support to request a refund for a game that will not run or did not meet your expectations. Valve’s standard offer covers eligible requests within 14 days and under two hours of playtime.

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To request a refund for a Steam Store game, sign in to Steam Support, open Purchases, select the game and the problem, then choose I’d like to request a refund and submit the form. Valve’s standard refund offer for games and software applications is for requests made within 14 days of purchase and with less than two hours of playtime. You can still submit a request outside those conditions, but approval is not guaranteed. Valve’s refund policy was last updated 23 April 2024.

Request a refund through Steam Support

  1. Go to Steam Support’s refund request guide and sign in to the account that bought the game.
  2. Select Purchases.
  3. Choose the game you want refunded. If it is not listed, Steam says it may be outside the refund window; you can still review the policy and submit a request if the form allows it.
  4. Select the issue that best describes what happened, then choose I’d like to request a refund.
  5. Complete the form, choose Steam Wallet or the original payment method if offered, and submit it. Steam says it sends a confirmation email after submission and another when the refund has been processed.

How the standard refund conditions apply

For games and software applications sold on the Steam Store, Valve’s standard offer applies when both conditions below are met. These are the stated conditions, not a guarantee that every request will be approved.

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Purchase condition Standard offer
Time since purchase Within 14 days
Playtime Less than two hours

If you have passed either limit, Valve still allows you to ask for a refund and says it will review the request, but the policy does not promise approval. Explain the issue clearly in the request form. Read Valve’s Steam Refunds policy.

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If the Steam game won’t run

Check the game’s Steam Store page for its supported operating systems and hardware requirements. Steam Support says that if a game bought on the Steam Store does not support your operating system, you can request a refund using the usual process. Steam Support’s platform guidance covers this case.

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If the game appears to meet your system requirements but still fails to start, choose the closest matching problem in the refund form and describe what happens. The cited policy does not guarantee a refund solely because a game fails to run; requests are handled under the refund policy and any applicable local rights.

Where the money goes and how long it takes

Valve says an approved refund is issued within a week. Depending on the available options and payment method, the money may go to your Steam Wallet or back to the original payment method. Some payment methods cannot return funds to the original source, so Steam may offer Wallet credit instead. The policy does not promise the exact day a bank or payment provider will show the funds. See Valve’s refund details.

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If you bought a key outside Steam

Valve cannot refund purchases made outside Steam, including third-party CD keys. Contact the retailer that sold the key to ask about its refund policy. The Steam refund process applies to purchases made through the Steam Store. Valve’s policy explains the distinction.

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Additional rights where you live

Valve notes that consumers in some jurisdictions may have additional rights to a refund when a game is faulty. Those rights depend on where you live and the circumstances; the Steam policy does not establish the rules for every location or guarantee a particular outcome. If you believe local consumer law applies, check the rules for your jurisdiction or consult an appropriate consumer-advice service. Valve’s policy includes this qualification.

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