Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

To request a refund for a Steam Store game, sign in to Steam Support, open Purchases, select the game and issue, then choose I’d like to request a refund and submit the form. Valve’s standard offer for games and software applications covers requests made within 14 days of purchase with less than two hours of playtime. 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 account that bought the game.
  2. Select Purchases.
  3. Choose the game you want to refund. If it is not listed, Steam says it may be outside the refund window.
  4. Select the problem that best describes what happened.
  5. Choose I’d like to request a refund and complete the request form.
  6. Select Steam Wallet or the original payment method if the option is available, then submit the request.

Steam says it sends a confirmation email after you submit the request and another when the refund has been processed.

Steam’s standard refund window

For games and software applications bought on the Steam Store, Valve’s standard refund offer applies when you request a refund within 14 days of purchase and have played for less than two hours. The policy was last updated on 23 April 2024. See Steam’s Refunds policy.

These are the standard conditions, not a guarantee that every request will be approved. Valve says you may submit a request even if you fall outside them, and it will review it; that does not promise a refund. If you are close to either limit, submit the request promptly and explain the issue accurately.

Special 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.

If the game won’t run

Check the game’s Steam Store page for its supported operating systems and hardware requirements. Steam Support says you can request a refund through the normal process if a Steam Store game does not support your operating system. Its platform availability guidance explains this case.

You do not need to buy new hardware or paid repair software before submitting a refund request. Start with the published requirements and the Steam Support form; describe what happens when you try to run the game.

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.

If you don’t like the game or played more than two hours

You can still send a refund request if the game did not meet your expectations or your playtime is at least two hours. Valve says it will take a look at requests outside its standard conditions, but the policy does not guarantee approval. Explain your reason clearly in the form rather than assuming that a particular explanation qualifies automatically.

Where the refund goes and how long it takes

For an approved refund, Valve says it is issued within a week. You may choose Steam Wallet or the original payment method if that method supports refunds. Some payment methods cannot return money to the original source, so Steam Wallet may be the available destination. The date funds appear in a bank or payment account can vary; Valve does not promise a specific arrival day.

What’s actually slowing this PC down?

Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.

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.

Steam Store purchase or third-party key?

Valve’s refund policy covers purchases made through Steam, not purchases made elsewhere. If you bought a CD key from a third-party retailer, contact that seller about its refund terms; Valve says it cannot refund that purchase.

Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

Possible additional rights

Valve notes that consumers in some jurisdictions may have additional rights to a refund when a game is faulty. The rules depend on where you live, and Steam’s policy does not establish what rights apply in a particular case. For a location-specific legal question, check the consumer rules in your jurisdiction.

Quick Recap

Bestseller No. 1
Bestseller No. 2
Bestseller No. 3
Bestseller No. 4
$500 Apple Gift Card—Email Delivery
$500 Apple Gift Card—Email Delivery
The perfect gift to say happy birthday, thank you, congratulations, and more.; Available in $15 - 500, Card delivered via email or SMS
$500.00
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

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.