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Will Steam Issue a Refund? Rules, Exceptions, and How to Request One

Steam’s standard game refund rule is a request within 14 days of purchase and under two hours played. Here’s how to submit a request and what changes for pre-orders, in-game purchases, and EU/UK withdrawal rights.
Length3 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
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Usually, yes: Steam’s standard rule is that a game refund request must be made within 14 days of purchase and the game must have less than two hours of recorded playtime. You can still ask outside those limits, but Steam reviews the request and does not promise approval. Start at Steam Help → Purchases.

When Steam will usually refund a game

Valve’s standard refund policy for a game is a request within 14 days of purchase and under two hours of playtime. Both conditions apply. Steam counts online, offline, and shared-library playtime, so switching between modes or playing from another library does not create a separate allowance. See Steam’s refund policy.

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If you are outside either limit, you can still submit a request for Steam to review. That is an option to ask, not an exception Steam guarantees.

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How to request a refund

  1. Sign in to Steam Help.
  2. Open Purchases and select the transaction.
  3. Choose the issue that best describes the problem, then select the refund request option.
  4. Choose Steam Wallet or the original payment method if Steam offers both for that transaction, and submit the form.

If the purchase does not appear in the refund flow, Steam says it is too far outside the refund window to be listed as eligible there. You can still contact Steam Support with a request for review.

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How rules differ by purchase type

Purchase type Steam’s stated rule Important condition
Game Request within 14 days of purchase; under two hours played Playtime includes online, offline, and shared-library play.
Pre-order Request any time before release. After release, the standard 14-day and under-two-hours rule applies, with the period starting on release. An Advanced Access purchase can be refunded before Advanced Access begins; the standard refund period still starts on release.
In-game purchase For Valve-developed games, eligible purchases may be refunded within 48 hours. The item must not have been consumed, modified, or transferred. A third-party developer chooses whether to enable refunds on these terms; Steam displays eligibility at purchase.

These are Steam’s published policy terms, not a guarantee that every transaction will qualify. See Common Refund Questions and Pre-Order Refunds.

What happens if a game goes on sale after you buy it?

Steam does not refund the price difference. If your original purchase meets the refund conditions, you can request a refund and then buy the game again at its current sale price. The refund and repurchase are separate transactions, and the original request is still subject to Steam’s eligibility rules. Steam Sales – Purchasing and billing FAQ.

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Where the money goes and when it arrives

For an approved refund, Steam’s request flow offers the Steam Wallet or original payment method where supported. Steam says an approved refund may take up to seven days to appear; Wallet credit may appear in 24–48 hours. International payment methods can take longer. These are estimates, not fixed delivery deadlines. Steam’s refund FAQ.

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There is a separate case for a purchase cancelled within 24 hours: a bank may take up to 30 days to confirm it never received the funds. The transaction may disappear rather than show as a separate refund credit.

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EU and UK withdrawal rights are a separate issue

Steam distinguishes its voluntary refund policy from statutory withdrawal rights in the EU and UK. Its notice says the digital-content withdrawal period ends 14 days after purchase or when downloading begins, whichever happens sooner; for hardware, the 14 days run from physical possession. Steam’s voluntary policy, by contrast, allows up to two hours to try digital games. The exact legal right depends on jurisdiction and circumstances, so consult the applicable local rules if you are relying on a statutory right. EU/UK Right of Withdrawal and Steam Refunds.

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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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