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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Yes. Steam’s standard refund policy allows you to request a refund for a game within 14 days of purchase if you have played it for less than two hours. A short trial does not disqualify you. If you are over either limit, you can still ask Steam to review your request, but approval is not guaranteed.
How Steam’s standard game-refund rule works
For a game bought on Steam, check both the time since purchase and the recorded playtime. The standard refund offer applies when you request within 14 days of purchase and have played for less than two hours. Meeting both limits makes the request eligible under the standard policy; it does not mean you should wait until the last moment to submit it.
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$500 Apple Gift Card—Email Delivery | $500.00 | Buy on Amazon |
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- Purchase age: No more than 14 days have passed.
- Playtime: Less than two hours are recorded.
Steam says it may review requests that fall outside these limits. That is an opportunity to ask, not a promise that the refund will be approved.
How to request a refund
- Open Steam Support’s refund page and sign in to the account that made the purchase.
- Select the game or purchase and follow the prompts to request a refund. If you are outside the standard limits, explain the circumstances clearly and submit the request for review.
- If Steam approves the request, the refund is issued within a week. It may go to the original payment method if that method supports refunds, or to your Steam Wallet.
What if you have played for two hours or more, or bought the game over 14 days ago?
You can still submit a request through Steam Support, but Steam will consider it outside the standard refund rules and review it individually. Explain why you are asking and include relevant details; do not assume an exception will be granted.
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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.
Does the rule change for Early Access, preorders, gifts, or other purchases?
Yes. Steam has separate conditions for some purchase types. The table summarizes the cases most likely to affect someone who has tried a game or related content.
| Purchase type | Relevant Steam policy |
|---|---|
| Early Access or Advance Access game | Time played before release counts toward the two-hour limit. |
| Pre-purchased game unavailable until release | You can request a refund before release. The standard 14-day and two-hour period begins on the release date. |
| Steam-store DLC | Generally refundable within 14 days if the base game has been played for less than two hours since the DLC purchase and the DLC has not been consumed, modified, or transferred. Some third-party DLC is marked nonrefundable before purchase. |
| In-game purchase | For Valve-developed games, a request may be made within 48 hours if the item has not been consumed, modified, or transferred. In third-party games, this option depends on whether the developer has opted in; Steam says it discloses availability at purchase. |
| Bundle | A full refund may be available if no item has been transferred and combined use is under two hours. Nonrefundable DLC or in-game items can affect eligibility. |
| Gift | An unredeemed gift follows the standard 14-day and two-hour conditions. For a redeemed gift, the recipient must initiate the request under those conditions; funds return to the purchaser. |
| Purchase outside Steam | Valve cannot refund purchases made outside Steam, including third-party CD keys and Steam Wallet cards. |
Other exceptions also apply: Steam says a game cannot be refunded after a Valve Anti-Cheat ban, and video content is not refundable unless included with other refundable content. Steam may stop offering refunds if it believes the system is being abused. It says that buying a game before a sale and rebuying it at the sale price is not abuse.
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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.
What the policy does—and does not—guarantee
Steam’s official policy says customers may ask for a refund even when they fall outside the stated rules, and Steam will take a look. The policy page was last updated April 23, 2024. It does not determine the outcome of an individual request or explain which additional consumer protections may apply in every country. If you believe a game is faulty, your rights may depend on your jurisdiction.
Quick Recap
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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.
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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.
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