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Steam · Independent guide

How to Request a Refund for a Steam Purchase You Made

Concept illustration of a purchased game, receipt and return arrow toward a wallet.

Steam says it will refund nearly any purchase for any reason if you ask within 14 days and have played under 2 hours. You file the request yourself on help.steampowered.com under Purchases. Some item types follow their own rules, so check yours before you start.

See how each purchase type is handled

We never ask for your password, Steam Guard codes or card numbers; the request is made by you on help.steampowered.com.

Concept illustration, not a screenshot of the recovery process.

On this page

Steam's own policy

Numbers here come from Steam's refund policy page and Steam Support FAQs, checked September 2026.

No codes, no logins

We never ask for passwords, Steam Guard codes or payment details, and never file requests for you.

Independent guide

Respawnr is not affiliated with Valve or Steam; refund policies can change at any time.

Find the purchase. Check the details.

Start with the purchase record for your own account. Steam reviews the request under the policy for that purchase type.

Read Steam’s refund policy ↗

Your purchase record

Three things to check

  1. The right purchase

    Find the game or item in your Steam purchase history.

  2. Its refund conditions

    Review purchase date, playtime where relevant, and rules for the item type.

  3. The official request

    Continue through Steam Support and follow the options shown for that purchase.

This is a preparation guide, not a receipt or an approval. A submitted request still needs Steam’s review.

Open Steam Support ↗

Not every purchase follows the same refund rule

Steam's basic window is 14 days and under 2 hours played; these types differ.

DLC
Within 14 days if the base game has under 2 hours played since the DLC purchase and the DLC is unused.
In-game items
In Valve games, 48 hours if unused; other developers must opt in, or Steam can't refund them.
Pre-purchases
If not playable before release, refundable any time until launch; the 14-day, 2-hour window then starts at release.
Gifts
Refunds go to the buyer; a redeemed gift needs the recipient's approval on Steam Support first.

Steam also says: bundles are refundable if nothing was transferred and combined play is under 2 hours; unused Wallet funds bought on Steam within 14 days; subscriptions within 48 hours of purchase or renewal if unused. Valve cannot refund purchases made outside Steam, such as third-party keys or Wallet cards. A VAC ban removes the right to refund that game. Video content is normally excluded, except when bundled with other refundable non-video content. Hardware such as Steam Deck has its own Hardware Refund Policy. Always check the current policy at store.steampowered.com/steam_refunds.

From request to money back, step by step

This follows Steam Support's own refund instructions; menu names can shift over time.

You made the purchase on your own Steam account and can sign in to it.

  1. Sign in to Steam Support

    Go to help.steampowered.com and sign in with your own Steam account.

    What to check: Steam Support shows your account name and a list of help topics.

  2. Open Purchases and pick the item

    Open Purchases and select the item. If you cannot find it or the refund option is absent, use the purchase-help options Steam shows; being outside the standard window does not by itself rule out a request.

    What to check: The purchase opens with a list of problems to choose from.

  3. Choose the problem and ask for a refund

    Select the issue, click I'd like to request a refund, and add a short honest reason.

    What to check: A refund form with a drop-down for where the money should go.

  4. Pick Steam Wallet or the original payment method

    If Steam can't refund to your original method, it credits your Steam Wallet instead.

    What to check: A confirmation email arrives at the address linked to your Steam account.

  5. Steam reviews the request

    Steam Support checks the purchase against its refund policy and approves or declines it.

    What to check: A second email telling you the refund was approved or declined.

  6. Money returns

    Steam says Wallet credit usually takes 24 to 48 hours; other methods up to about 7 days.

    What to check: The credit shows in your Steam Wallet or on your bank or card statement.

These are the ranges Steam publishes, not promises. If a refund is approved within 24 hours of purchase, Steam may cancel the original transaction instead of crediting it, and your bank can take up to 30 days to drop the hold. Steam doesn't publish a fixed review time.

Refund conditions, by situation

Steam decides each request; the window and the item type matter most.

Game bought under 14 days ago, played less than 2 hours

What helps

Asking soon and choosing a refund destination that fits your payment method.

What can get in the way

Offline and shared-library playtime still count toward the 2 hours.

Outside the window, but with a real problem with the game

What helps

Steam says it will still look; describe the specific problem, and note any local consumer rights for a faulty game.

What can get in the way

A vague reason, or a purchase far older than 14 days.

In-game item in a non-Valve game that didn't opt in

What helps

Checking the store page at purchase, where Steam shows if an item is refundable, and asking the developer about its own terms.

What can get in the way

Steam says these purchases are generally not refundable through Steam.

Key or Wallet card bought from a third-party seller

What helps

Contacting the seller you bought it from under their own terms.

What can get in the way

Steam says purchases made outside Steam are not refundable by Steam.

Game you were VAC banned in

What helps

Nothing in the refund route; Steam lists these as not refundable.

What can get in the way

Steam's policy excludes games with a VAC ban on your account.

These are conditions to consider, not predictions of recovery. Follow the options and requirements the platform shows for your account.

A few details worth knowing

What is Steam's refund window?

Steam says you can request a refund for nearly any purchase within 14 days of buying it, if you've played it for less than 2 hours. Steam may still review requests outside that window, so it can be worth asking with a clear reason.

Does refunding a game remove my achievements or playtime?

No. According to Steam Support, a refund does not remove playtime or achievements from your Community profile.

How do I refund a gift I bought for a friend?

If the gift hasn't been redeemed, request it as the buyer within the normal window. If it was redeemed, the recipient must first allow it on Steam Support by ticking the option that lets the original purchaser request a refund.

Is there a limit on how many refunds I can request?

Steam says there is no set limit for eligible purchases. It also says refunds are not a way to get free games, and it may stop offering refunds to accounts it believes are abusing them.

Someone else bought games on my account. Should I refund them?

A refund request is not the right tool for a hijacked account; our guide to unauthorized Steam purchases covers what to do instead.