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How Steam Refunds Work and How to Request One

Steam refunds are requested through Steam Support. Here are the standard game limits, special cases for pre-orders and gifts, and what to expect after submitting.
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Request a Steam refund at Steam Support: sign in to the account that made the purchase, open Purchases, select the transaction, choose the relevant issue and then select I’d like to request a refund. For most games, Steam’s stated standard is a request within 14 days of purchase and less than two hours of playtime; requests outside those limits can still be submitted for review, but approval is not guaranteed.

How to request a Steam refund

  1. Go to Steam Support and sign in to the account that made the purchase.
  2. Open Purchases and select the purchase you want refunded. If it is missing, Steam says it may be too far outside the refund window.
  3. Choose the problem that best describes the purchase, then select I’d like to request a refund.
  4. Complete and submit the form. Choose Steam Wallet or the original payment method if Steam offers that option.
  5. Check your email for confirmation that Steam received the request, then for a later message stating that it has been processed.

Submitting a request is not the same as receiving approval. Steam reviews requests that fall outside its usual conditions.

Steam’s usual refund rules for games

Valve says it will refund a game requested within 14 days of purchase if it has been played for less than two hours. Steam counts online, offline and shared-library playtime toward the limit. These policy figures appear on Steam’s current support page, which does not state a publication year.

If you have passed either limit, you can still send a request and explain the circumstances. Steam says it will take a look, but its guidance does not promise an exception; purchases significantly outside the 14-day window are not eligible under the FAQ’s guidance.

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How different purchases are handled

Purchase type Steam’s stated conditions Important detail
Standard game Request within 14 days of purchase and less than two hours played. Online, offline and shared-library play count. Requests outside the conditions may be submitted for review. Source: Steam refund policy.
In-game purchase For Valve-developed games, eligible items may be refunded within 48 hours of purchase. The item must not have been consumed, modified or transferred. Third-party developers can choose to enable refunds on those terms, and Steam indicates eligibility at purchase. Source: Steam refund policy.
Pre-order Request any time before release. After release, request within two weeks of release and with less than two hours played. For pre-orders bought more than six months earlier, a refund to the original payment method may not be possible, though Steam Wallet credit may still be requested. Advanced Access has special timing described below. Source: Steam refund policy.
Gift An unredeemed gift can be selected from the purchaser’s purchase list. A redeemed gift requires recipient approval first. After the recipient approves removal and refund through their own Steam Support account, the purchaser submits the request. Source: Steam refund policy.

In-game items and purchases

For a missing in-game purchase, Steam recommends contacting the game’s support team first. If that team cannot resolve the issue, include the correspondence when submitting the Steam request.

Pre-orders and Advanced Access

For an Advanced Access pre-order, the 14-day period starts on the game’s release date. Steam also says a refund can be requested before Advanced Access begins.

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  • 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.
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Redeemed gifts

The recipient must first use their Steam Support account to approve the refund and removal of the gift. Only then should the purchaser submit the refund request. If approved, Steam refunds the original payment method or credits the purchaser’s Steam Wallet if that method cannot receive the refund.

How long an approved refund takes

Steam says an approved refund can take up to seven days to appear. Steam Wallet credit is estimated at 24–48 hours; international payment methods may take longer. These are Steam Support estimates, and the current support page does not state a publication year.

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If Steam approves a request within 24 hours of purchase, it may cancel the original transaction instead of issuing a separate account credit. In that case, the bank releases its authorization hold; Steam says bank confirmation can take up to 30 days in many cases. If more than seven days have passed since approval, Steam advises contacting your bank about a pending refund.

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If Steam declines the request

If you believe Steam mishandled a decision, Steam says you can submit another request with a detailed message. Explain the relevant dates, playtime, purchase type and circumstances clearly; a new submission is still subject to Steam’s review.

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Policy conditions and processing estimates are Valve / Steam Support guidance, and the pages do not provide publication dates. Check the live Steam refund policy and Steam Support pages for current wording.

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  • 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.
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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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