Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
The original purchaser submits the Steam refund request. If the recipient has already redeemed the gift, that recipient must first approve removing it from their library and authorize the purchaser to request the refund. Steam’s standard rule is purchase within 14 days and less than two hours of the recipient’s playtime.
First, check whether the gift was redeemed
| Gift status | Who acts first | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Not redeemed | Original purchaser | The purchaser can open the purchase in Steam Help and submit the request directly. |
| Redeemed | Gift recipient | The recipient must approve removal of the gift before the purchaser submits the request. |
Refund an unredeemed Steam gift
- Have the purchaser sign in to Steam Help at help.steampowered.com.
- Open Purchases and select the gifted game.
- Choose the refund option, select the reason that best describes the problem, and submit the request.
- Wait for Steam’s email confirming that the request has been processed.
Refund a redeemed Steam gift
The recipient cannot simply ask the purchaser to submit the request immediately. Steam says a purchaser’s request will be declined if the recipient has not approved the removal first.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Visa Virtual eGift Card | $28.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Visa Virtual eGift Card | $54.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
$200 Apple Gift Card—Email Delivery | $200.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Amazon eGift Card - Amazon Logo - Classic | $50.00 | Buy on Amazon |
Recipient’s steps
- The recipient signs in to Steam Help.
- Under Games, Software, etc., the recipient finds and selects the gifted game.
- The recipient chooses the applicable reason and selects the refund-request option.
- The recipient approves removal of the gift and authorizes the original purchaser to request the refund.
Purchaser’s steps
- After the recipient’s approval, the purchaser opens Steam Help and goes to the purchase history.
- The purchaser selects the gift and submits the refund request.
Steam’s standard eligibility rule
For the normal gift-refund rule, both conditions must be met:
- The game was purchased within the previous 14 days.
- The recipient has played it for less than two hours.
Steam counts online, offline, and shared-library playtime in the playtime total. A request outside either limit can still be submitted, but Steam reviews it individually rather than covering it under the standard rule. Submitting a request is not a guarantee that Steam will approve it.
#1 Best Overall
- 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.
Where the refund goes
If Steam approves the request, it returns the money to the original payment method when that method can accept a refund. If it cannot, Steam credits the full amount to the purchaser’s Steam Wallet. The recipient does not receive the purchase price.
How long an approved refund takes
- Steam says an approved refund can take up to seven days to appear.
- An approved Steam Wallet credit may appear in 24–48 hours.
- International payment methods can take longer.
These are processing estimates after approval, not a promise that the request will be approved.
Rank #2
- 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.
Pre-order gifts have a different starting date
For a released pre-order, Steam says the standard rule applies when the request is made within two weeks of release and playtime is below two hours. For a pre-order bought as a gift, the recipient must first initiate and approve removal of the gift. The normal 14-day period starts when the game releases, not when the pre-order was originally purchased.
Fraud, payment disputes, and third-party purchases
If Steam removes a gifted game because of fraud or a payment dispute, it removes the game from the recipient’s library and sends a notice. If the gift was bought through a third-party site, Steam says the buyer should contact that seller for the refund instead of using Steam’s normal purchase-refund workflow.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Rank #3
- 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
Common problems and what to do
The purchaser cannot find the game
Confirm that the purchaser is signed in to the account that paid for the gift. A redeemed gift may require the recipient to complete the approval step before the purchase appears eligible for the purchaser’s request.
The recipient already played for two hours
The gift is outside Steam’s standard playtime condition. The purchaser can still submit a request for review, but approval is discretionary.
Rank #4
- Amazon.com Gift Cards never expire and carry no fees.
- Multiple gift card designs and denominations to choose from.
- Redeemable towards millions of items store-wide at Amazon.com or certain affiliated websites.
- Available for immediate delivery. Gift cards sent by email can be scheduled up to a year in advance.
- No returns and no refunds on Gift Cards.
The 14-day window has passed
Steam’s standard rule no longer covers the purchase. A request may still be sent for review; explain the circumstances accurately.
The refund has been approved but money has not arrived
Allow up to seven days, or 24–48 hours for a Steam Wallet credit, with additional time possible for international payment methods. Check the original payment method and the purchaser’s Steam Wallet before contacting support again.
Quick Recap
Quick checklist before submitting
- Identify whether the gift is redeemed.
- Use the purchaser’s Steam account for the final request.
- If redeemed, obtain the recipient’s approval to remove the gift first.
- Check the purchase date and the recipient’s total playtime, including shared-library time.
- Choose the correct destination expectation: original payment method when supported, otherwise Steam Wallet.
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.
