Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
For most games and software bought through the Steam Store, the standard refund rule is to request one within 14 days of purchase and have played for less than two hours. Requests go through Steam Support. Steam says it will consider requests outside those limits, but approval is not guaranteed. Other purchase types—such as DLC, gifts, Wallet funds, subscriptions, and hardware—have different conditions.
How to request a Steam refund
- Go to help.steampowered.com and sign in to the account that made the purchase.
- Choose the purchase and the available refund or purchase-assistance option, then submit the request with the relevant details.
- Watch for Steam Support’s decision. If Steam approves the request, it says the refund is issued within a week. The money goes to Steam Wallet or the original payment method, depending on availability.
Some payment methods in some countries do not support refunds to the original method. If Steam cannot return the money that way, it says it will credit the full amount to the Steam Wallet. The policy does not specify an exact posting time for every bank or payment method.
| # | 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 |
Refund rules by purchase type
| Purchase | When a request may qualify | Important conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Games and software applications | Within 14 days of purchase and with less than two hours of playtime | Steam says it considers requests outside these conditions, but this is discretionary, not a guarantee. |
| Downloadable content (DLC) | Within 14 days of purchase, with less than two hours played in the underlying game since the DLC purchase | The DLC must not have been consumed, modified, or transferred. Some third-party DLC is nonrefundable, for example when it irreversibly changes or levels a character; Steam says such exceptions are marked on the Store page. |
| In-game purchases | Within 48 hours in Valve-developed games | The item must not have been consumed, modified, or transferred. Third-party developers decide whether to enable refunds; the purchase flow indicates whether a refund is offered. |
| Pre-purchases | Before release, a request can be made any time if the title cannot be played before release. After release, the standard 14-day and under-two-hour conditions apply. | The two-hour limit applies, and Early Access or Advance Access playtime counts toward it. Steam states an exception related to beta testing. |
| Steam Wallet funds bought on Steam | Within 14 days of purchase | None of the funds may have been used. |
| Renewable subscriptions | Within 48 hours of initial purchase or automatic renewal | The subscription must be unused in the current billing cycle. Playing an included game or using, consuming, modifying, or transferring an included benefit or discount counts as use. |
| Bundles | A bundle may qualify if combined use is under two hours | No items may have been transferred. The checkout flow indicates whether a bundle containing nonrefundable DLC or an in-game item is refundable. |
| Hardware bought through Steam | See Steam’s separate Hardware Refund Policy | The general digital-purchase policy does not give hardware timeframes; do not apply the game refund rule to hardware. |
| Gifts | An unredeemed gift may qualify within the standard 14-day and under-two-hour period. | For a redeemed gift, the recipient must initiate the request under the same conditions; the refund goes to the original purchaser. |
What usually makes a purchase ineligible
- Purchases made outside Steam, including third-party CD keys and Steam Wallet cards, cannot be refunded by Valve under this policy.
- A VAC ban on a game removes the right to refund that game.
- Video content is not refundable unless it is bundled with other refundable non-video content.
- Steam may stop offering refunds if it considers a user’s requests abusive.
Some jurisdictions may provide additional rights when a game is faulty. Steam also links to information about EU withdrawal rights; the applicable rules depend on where you live and the details of the purchase.
Canceling a subscription is different from getting a refund
To stop an active renewable subscription from renewing, use the cancellation option in your account details. Steam says access continues through the current billing cycle. Cancellation prevents automatic renewal; it does not by itself establish that the current payment qualifies for a refund.
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.
Steam’s policy and the limits of the standard rule
Steam’s official Steam Refunds policy, last updated April 23, 2024, says: “You can request a refund or get other assistance with your Steam purchases at help.steampowered.com.” The 14-day, under-two-hour rule is the standard condition for games and software applications, not a universal rule for every Steam purchase. Steam says it will review requests outside its stated conditions, but the outcome is not assured.
Quick Recap
Bestseller No. 1
Bestseller No. 2
Bestseller No. 3
Bestseller No. 4
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
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.
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.
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.
