To request a Steam game refund, sign in to Steam Help with the account that bought the game, open Purchases, select the purchase, and submit the refund form. Valve’s standard terms for Steam Store games and software are 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.
Submit the refund request through Steam Help
- Go to Steam Help and sign in to the Steam account that made the purchase.
- Select Purchases.
- Choose the game purchase you want refunded.
- Select the issue that best describes the problem, then choose I’d like to request a refund.
- Complete the form. If offered, choose Steam Wallet or the original payment method for the refund.
- Submit the request. Look for an email confirming it was submitted, followed by a separate email after Steam has processed it.
These are Valve’s published request steps. If the purchase does not appear in the list, it may be outside the request window in Steam’s support flow. For an older or otherwise ineligible purchase, you can still send a detailed request, but Valve does not promise approval.
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Check whether the standard game rule applies
For a game or software application bought through the Steam Store, Valve’s standard policy is to request a refund within 14 days of purchase and with less than two hours of playtime. Valve’s policy page was last updated April 23, 2024. The two-hour figure is a limit, not a target: Steam Support counts online, offline, and shared-library playtime.
Valve says you may request a refund even if you fall outside the stated terms; it will review the case, but a refund is not assured. If approved, Valve says it issues the refund within one week.
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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.
Understand where the refund goes and when it appears
Depending on availability, the refund goes to your Steam Wallet or the payment method used for the purchase. If that payment method cannot accept a refund, Valve says the full amount is credited to your Steam Wallet. Some payment methods in some countries do not support refunds to the original method.
- Steam Wallet: Steam Support says approved Wallet credit may take 24–48 hours to appear.
- Original payment method: International payment methods may take longer. If an approved refund has not appeared after seven days, Steam advises contacting your bank about a pending refund.
- Purchase cancelled within 24 hours: Your bank may take up to 30 days to confirm it never received the funds. You may see a released authorization hold instead of a separate credit.
These are processing estimates and explanations from Valve’s Steam policy and support pages; the timing of a bank or payment provider’s posting can vary.
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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.
Know the rules for other Steam purchases
The ordinary game rule does not apply identically to every purchase type. Check the relevant Steam policy before relying on the standard 14-day and two-hour terms.
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If a title cannot be played before release, Valve says you can request a refund at any time before release; the standard 14-day period begins on the release date. Playtime during Early Access or Advanced Access counts toward the two-hour limit.
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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.
Downloadable content
Steam-store DLC is generally refundable within 14 days if you have played the base game for less than two hours since buying the DLC. The DLC must not have been consumed, modified, or transferred. Some third-party DLC is excluded and marked nonrefundable before purchase.
In-game purchases
For Valve-developed games, eligible in-game purchases can be requested within 48 hours if the item has not been consumed, modified, or transferred. A third-party developer may opt in to refunds; Steam indicates eligibility at the time of purchase.
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Gifts
An unredeemed gift follows the standard refund window. For a redeemed gift, the recipient initiates the request; if approved, the funds go back to the original purchaser.
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Third-party purchases, bans, and other products
- Purchased outside Steam: Valve cannot refund third-party CD keys or Steam Wallet cards bought elsewhere.
- VAC ban: Valve says a customer who receives a VAC ban loses the right to a refund for that game.
- Bundles, videos, Wallet funds, subscriptions, and Valve hardware: These have separate rules, so do not assume the standard game terms apply.
What to do if your request is outside the limits
Submit the form and explain the situation clearly. Valve says it will take a look at requests outside its published rules, but this is discretionary rather than an exception that guarantees a refund. If you believe Steam handled an inquiry incorrectly, its support FAQ says you may submit another detailed request.
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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.
Valve says refunds are intended to remove purchase risk, not to provide free access, and it may restrict refunds if the system is abused. It also explicitly says that refunding a game bought shortly before a sale and buying it again at the sale price is not abuse. Valve notes that consumers in some jurisdictions may have additional legal rights, including for faulty games; the details depend on local law.
Quick Recap
Official Steam information
- Steam Refunds policy — Valve’s policy terms, including the April 23, 2024 update date.
- Steam Support refund request instructions — the request flow and support guidance.
- Steam Support Common Refund Questions — answers about eligibility and processing.
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.
