Recommended Free Tools
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
If Steam Guard is blocking your login, recover through whatever you still control, in this order: the phone number on the account, a saved recovery code, or the old authenticator on a device you still have. Steam Support is the escalation route only when none of those remain. The first three routes are self-service. The table below matches your situation to a route.
Choose the route that matches what you still have
| What you still have | Route to take | Self-service or Steam Support |
|---|---|---|
| The phone number on the account, but the phone is lost or sold | Get a replacement phone with the same number from your wireless provider, then use the SMS recovery prompts | Self-service (SMS) |
| A saved recovery code, or the code shown on Steam Mobile’s Steam Guard page | Use the recovery code | Self-service |
| The old authenticator on a phone you still use | Sign in on the new phone and select “Move Authenticator” | Self-service |
| A working phone number, but the old authenticator is no longer accessible | Select “I no longer have access to my authenticator” and follow the SMS transfer prompts | Self-service (SMS) |
| No phone access and no recovery code | Ask Steam Support to remove the authenticator through “Help me with my issue” | Steam Support |
If your phone is lost or sold but the number still works
I sold or lost my phone and I can’t log in anymore!
If the phone itself is gone but the number on your account still works, Steam recommends asking your wireless provider for a replacement phone with the same number where possible. Steam can then send SMS messages to that replacement phone, which is what makes account recovery possible.
| # | 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 |
- Contact your wireless provider and ask for a replacement phone that keeps the same number. Whether this is available depends on the provider and your plan.
- Activate the replacement phone with that number.
- Start the recovery in Steam and follow the SMS prompts. Steam sends the codes to the number on the replacement phone.
Steam does not recommend a specific device. Any phone that can receive SMS on that number will work for this route.
If you have your recovery code
Steam’s setup guide describes the code this way: “This code allows you to recover your account yourself, should you lose your phone or authenticator.” Use the code from Steam Mobile’s Steam Guard page, or the copy you saved when you first set up the authenticator. This is the most direct route when your phone is gone and your number is not reachable.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsSpecial 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.
I didn’t save my recovery code, where can I find it?
Check Steam Mobile’s Steam Guard page first. If the code is not there and you also have no copy from setup, move on to the phone-number route or the Support route in this guide. Do not try to reconstruct or guess a code.
If you are moving to a new phone
When your old phone still has the authenticator and you have it in hand, you can move it. The transfer steps are in Steam’s transfer guide.
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.
- On the new phone, sign in to your Steam account in the Steam mobile app.
- Select “Move Authenticator” and follow the on-screen prompts.
- If the old authenticator is no longer accessible but your registered number still works, select “I no longer have access to my authenticator” and follow the SMS transfer prompts.
- Expect the trade and Market restriction described below once the transfer is complete.
Trade and Market restrictions to expect
Steam’s FAQ attaches restrictions to two actions. Plan for them before you move or remove the authenticator, especially if you have a trade or a Market sale pending.
| Action | Trading and Market effect | Steam source |
|---|---|---|
| Authenticator transfer completed on a new device | Two-day trade and Market restriction | Steam Guard Mobile Authenticator FAQ; removing the mobile authenticator |
| Authenticator removed | Trading and selling restricted for 15 days | Steam Guard Mobile Authenticator FAQ; removing the mobile authenticator |
| Using a recovery code | Not stated in Steam’s setup guidance | Steam Guard setup guide |
If you have no phone access and no recovery code
This is the escalation route. Steam Support can remove the mobile authenticator for you, but the sources do not give a general resolution time for tickets, so do not plan around a specific wait.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
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.
- Open Steam’s official Mobile Authenticator FAQ page at help.steampowered.com.
- Select “Help me with my issue” and submit a request asking Steam Support to remove the authenticator.
- If the email address on the account is also inaccessible, include proof of account ownership in the ticket, as Steam instructs.
When Steam Guard codes are rejected
- Check the phone’s date and time. Steam says the authenticator derives its codes from the phone’s time, so a wrong clock produces codes the server rejects. Set the date and time to update automatically.
- Wait for a fresh code. Authenticator codes change every 30 seconds, so retrying the same code is pointless.
- Confirm the account. If several Steam accounts use the app on one phone, make sure the code you entered belongs to the account you are signing in to.
When Steam’s email codes don’t arrive
- Check the inbox of the email address associated with the account, including the spam folder.
- Add Steam’s listed support and no-reply addresses to your trusted senders, using the addresses shown on Steam’s help pages.
- Request another code.
- If the email still has not arrived after three hours, contact Steam Support.
Protect your recovery credentials
Your recovery is only as safe as the codes behind it. Follow these rules throughout the process:
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
- Never share your password, authenticator codes, or SMS recovery or removal codes with anyone.
- Steam’s FAQ states: “Steam Support will never ask for your password or mobile authenticator code (nor will any Valve employees).” Treat any message or caller who asks for them as a scam.
- Use only Steam’s official help site. The Steam Guard help page warns users against programs offered as Steam cleanup or repair tools, so do not install a third-party utility to fix a Steam Guard problem.
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.
