October DealsAmazon USOctober deal check: compare before you payAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.Check DealsClean PCRecommendedOne scan can reveal what keeps slowing WindowsLook for cleanup and repair opportunities.Run ScanOctober DealsAmazon USDeal season is back - check today's better picksAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.See Picks×
Skip to content
VGSources
Blog

Can You Return Steam Gifts? How Steam Gift Refunds Work

Steam gift refunds depend on redemption: the purchaser requests the refund, and a redeemed gift also needs the recipient’s approval for removal first.
Length3 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Yes. The purchaser can request a refund for an unredeemed Steam game gift through Steam Support. If the recipient has redeemed it, they must first approve its removal and refund; then the purchaser submits a separate request. Steam’s usual rule is that the purchase was made within 14 days and the recipient played the game for less than two hours. Steam may review requests outside those limits, but approval is not guaranteed.

Who has to request the refund?

It depends on whether the recipient redeemed the gift. The purchaser handles the purchase refund in either case, but a redeemed gift also requires the recipient’s approval before the purchaser requests the refund.

Gift status Who acts What happens
Not redeemed Purchaser The purchaser submits a refund request through Steam Help.
Redeemed Recipient, then purchaser The recipient approves removal and refund; the purchaser then submits a separate request for the gift purchase.
Declined Recipient Steam automatically refunds the purchaser.
No action within 30 days after delivery No further action required Steam says it automatically cancels the gift and refunds the purchaser.

A gift is a one-time transfer. Steam Support explains that once accepted, the game is permanently added to the account where it was redeemed. See Steam’s gift FAQ for the rules on redemption, declines, and automatic cancellation.

How to request a refund for an unredeemed gift

  1. Sign in to Steam Help as the purchaser.
  2. Open Purchases, then select the gifted game purchase.
  3. Choose I would like a refund, select a reason, and submit the request.

Steam says an approved refund goes to the original payment method if that method supports refunds. Otherwise, the amount is credited to the Steam Wallet. The exact refund option and handling are described in Steam’s refund request instructions.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
#1 Best Overall
Visa Virtual eGift Card
  • 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 to request a refund after the gift was redeemed

  1. The recipient signs in to Steam Help and selects the gifted game.
  2. The recipient chooses I’d like to request a refund and checks the option allowing the original purchaser to request a refund. This approves removal of the game from the recipient’s account.
  3. After the recipient’s approval, the purchaser signs in to Steam Help, opens Purchases, selects the gift purchase, and submits a separate refund request.

The purchaser should wait until the recipient has approved removal before submitting. Steam says a request made too early will be declined. The recipient’s approval is not itself the refund request; the purchaser still has to submit that request. Steam’s refund guidance for redeemed pre-order gifts describes the same approval sequence.

What are the usual eligibility limits?

Steam’s current gift FAQ states the usual rule as purchase within 14 days and less than two hours of play by the recipient. The recipient’s playtime matters, not the purchaser’s. Steam’s Common Refund Questions says requests outside its stated rules may still be submitted for review. That means the limits are not an absolute bar to asking, but an exception is not assured.

Rank #2
Visa Virtual eGift Card
  • 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.

For an approved refund, Steam gives a general estimate of up to seven days for the money to appear, or 24–48 hours for credit to the Steam Wallet. These are processing estimates, not guarantees for every payment method.

What if Steam revokes the gift?

A gift removed because of fraud or a payment dispute is different from a normal refund: Steam says the game is revoked from the recipient’s library. Steam does not support third-party sales of Steam gifts. If the gift was bought from a third-party seller, contact that seller about a refund; see Steam’s explanation of revoked gifts.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Rank #3
Visa Virtual eGift Card
  • 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.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

When a game cannot be gifted

Developer restrictions, regional restrictions, or compatibility issues can prevent gifting some games or add-ons. Restrictions for a particular gift are shown during purchase and in its description, and they can change. Steam suggests a Steam Gift Card as an alternative for a future game purchase when a game cannot be gifted; that is not a way to refund a gift already bought. See Steam’s purchasing and billing FAQ and its region restrictions guidance.

This applies to Steam game gifts. Returning Steam hardware or asking about statutory consumer rights is a separate matter and may depend on the product and the buyer’s location.

Quick Recap

Bestseller No. 1
Bestseller No. 2
Bestseller No. 3
Bestseller No. 4
$500 Apple Gift Card—Email Delivery
$500 Apple Gift Card—Email Delivery
The perfect gift to say happy birthday, thank you, congratulations, and more.; Available in $15 - 500, Card delivered via email or SMS
$500.00
Bestseller No. 5
Best Value
Visa Virtual eGift Card
  • 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
$500 Apple Gift Card—Email Delivery
  • 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

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.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

More quests from Patch Notes

  1. How to Turn On Vibrant Visuals in MinecraftMinecraftBlog3min
  2. Best Multiplayer Games for Low-End PCsBlog4min
  3. Minecraft: How To Use And Install OptiFineBlog5min
Recommended PC Tool
Recommended PC Tool
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?Free driver scan
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?Free scan - under a minute

Two free Windows tools

One Free Minute Could Fix That PC

Before you go - each of these free tools takes about a minute and tackles what quietly slows a Windows PC down.

Special offer. View Outbyte info, uninstall instructions, EULA, and Privacy Policy.