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How to Refund a Steam Game That Doesn’t Meet Your Expectations

Use Steam Support to request a refund. The standard rule is within 14 days of purchase and less than two hours played, though you can still ask outside those limits.
Length3 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
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Request a Steam game refund through Steam Support: sign in to the account that bought the game, open Purchases, select the game, choose the issue, and click “I’d like to request a refund.” Steam’s standard rule for games and software bought on Steam is to request within 14 days of purchase and have played for less than two hours. You can still ask outside those limits, but approval is not guaranteed.

How to request a Steam game refund

  1. Go to Steam Support and sign in to the Steam account that made the purchase.
  2. Open Purchases and select the game purchase.
  3. Choose the problem that best describes your reason for contacting support.
  4. Select “I’d like to request a refund.”
  5. Complete and submit the form. Choose Steam Wallet or the original payment method if Steam offers both options.
  6. Look for an email confirming that Steam received the request, followed by another email after it has been processed.

If Steam declines the request and you believe it was handled incorrectly, its support FAQ says you can submit another request with a detailed message.

Steam’s standard refund rule for games

Valve’s Steam Refunds policy, last updated April 23, 2024, says games and software bought on Steam are generally eligible when the request is made within 14 days of purchase and playtime is less than two hours. The playtime total includes online, offline, and shared-library play.

Missing either condition does not prevent you from asking: Steam says it will review requests outside the stated rules, but does not promise approval. The game may also be missing from the Purchases list if it is too far outside the normal refund window for that request flow. Consumers in some jurisdictions may have additional rights if a game is faulty.

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How other Steam purchases differ

The standard two-hour and 14-day rule does not apply uniformly to every Steam transaction. Check the matching policy section for the purchase type:

Purchase type Key conditions
DLC Generally request within 14 days and have less than two hours of playtime in the underlying game since buying the DLC. The DLC must not have been consumed, modified, or transferred. Some third-party DLC is nonrefundable; Steam identifies this on the Store page.
In-game purchases For Valve-developed games, requests are generally allowed within 48 hours if the item has not been consumed, modified, or transferred. Third-party developers may opt in; eligibility is disclosed at purchase.
Pre-purchases and Early Access For a playable pre-release or Early Access game, the two-hour playtime limit applies immediately; the 14-day period starts at release. If a pre-purchased game cannot be played until release, you can request a refund any time before release; the standard window begins after release.
Bundles Eligibility depends on combined playtime being under two hours and no item having been transferred. Bundle contents may impose additional restrictions.
Gifts An unredeemed gift follows standard conditions. If the gift has been redeemed, the recipient initiates the refund request.
Other categories Steam Wallet funds, renewable subscriptions, hardware, video content, purchases made outside Steam, and games with a VAC ban have separate rules. See the relevant section of the Steam Refunds policy.

Where the money goes and when it arrives

For an approved refund, Steam says it issues the money within a week to the original payment method or Steam Wallet. The original payment method must support refunds; if it cannot be credited, Steam sends the amount to your Steam Wallet. International payment methods may take longer to show the refund, and approved Steam Wallet credit may take 24–48 hours.

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If you are outside the usual refund rules

Submit a request through Steam Support and explain the circumstances clearly. Steam says it will review requests outside its normal rules, so the two-hour and 14-day limits are not a technical bar to asking—but a refund is not assured. If the game is faulty, applicable consumer rights may also depend on your jurisdiction.

For the complete, current terms, consult Valve’s Steam Refunds policy and Steam Support’s request portal.

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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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