Steam refunds work through a straightforward process, but the window to request one is narrow

You can request a refund for any game on Steam within 14 days of purchase and as long as you have played it for fewer than 2 hours total. Steam processes most refund requests automatically within a few days. The refund goes back to your original payment method — the same card, PayPal account, or Steam Wallet you used to buy it.

The 14-day and 2-hour limits are firm. If you bought a game 15 days ago or have 2 hours and 5 minutes of playtime, Steam's automated system will reject the request. You can still try to appeal through Steam Support, but Valve does not may provide approval outside these boundaries.

Key Takeaways

  • You have 14 days from purchase and must have played fewer than 2 hours to request a refund through Steam's automated system.
  • Refunds return to your original payment method, whether that is a credit card, PayPal, or Steam Wallet credit.
  • The refund process takes a few days once approved; Steam does not process them instantly.
  • If you are outside the 14-day or 2-hour window, you can contact Steam Support to request an exception, though approval is not may provide.

How to request a refund through Steam

Open Steam on your computer and go to your Library. Find the game you want to refund, right-click it, and select "Manage" then "View Licenses and Licenses." Alternatively, you can go to your account page on the Steam website, click "Purchase History," find the game, and click the three-dot menu next to it.

Select "Request a Refund." Steam will ask you to choose a reason — common options include "It is not what I expected," "A technical issue," or "I would like a refund for another reason." Pick the one closest to your situation. You do not need to write a detailed explanation, though you can add one if you want. Click "Next" and then "Submit Request."

Steam will confirm the request and tell you it is under review. Most refunds are approved within three to five business days. You will receive an email when the decision is made. If approved, the money returns to your original payment method within a few days after that.

What happens to your game after a refund

Once a refund is approved, you lose access to the game immediately. You cannot play it, and it disappears from your library. If you own DLC (downloadable content) for that game, the DLC is also removed. Any achievements you earned in the game remain on your profile, but you cannot access them in-game.

If you buy the same game again later, you start fresh with no achievements or save files from before. Your save files are stored locally on your computer, so they technically still exist on your hard drive, but Steam will not let you access them through the game launcher.

Refunds for games purchased with Steam gift cards or wallet credit

If you bought the game using Steam Wallet credit (money you loaded into your Steam account), the refund goes back into your Steam Wallet as credit. You cannot convert that credit back to real money or transfer it to another account. You can only spend it on other games, software, or content on Steam.

If someone gave you a game as a gift and you want to refund it, the refund goes back to the person who purchased it, not to you. The gift giver receives the money in their original payment method, and you lose access to the game.

Refunds for games outside the standard window

If you are past the 14-day purchase window or have more than 2 hours of playtime, Steam's automated system will reject your refund request. You can still contact Steam Support and ask for an exception. Go to help.steampowered.com, click "Contact Steam Support," and select the game you want to refund.

Explain your situation clearly — for example, if the game has a game-breaking bug, if you discovered it does not work on your system, or if you have a legitimate reason you could not request a refund sooner. Steam Support reviews these cases individually, but they do not overturn the policy for minor reasons like "I did not like it" or "I changed my mind." Approval is at Valve's discretion and is not may provide.

Refunds for pre-orders and early access games

Pre-ordered games follow the same 14-day, 2-hour rule, but the clock starts on the release date, not the date you pre-ordered. If you pre-order a game six months in advance and it releases, you have 14 days from that release date to request a refund.

Early access games — games still in development that you can play before the final release — also follow the standard rules. However, if the game leaves early access and officially launches, the 14-day window resets from the launch date. This means you could potentially request a refund based on the official launch date even if you bought it months earlier during early access.

Common reasons refunds are denied

The most common reason for denial is exceeding the 2-hour playtime limit. Even if you played for only 2 hours and 10 minutes, the request is rejected. Another common reason is requesting a refund more than 14 days after purchase, even by a single day.

Refunds are also denied if you are trying to refund a game you bought on a different platform or account. Steam can only refund games purchased directly through Steam. If you bought a key from a third-party seller and activated it on Steam, you need to contact that seller, not Steam Support.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I refund a game if I played it for exactly 2 hours?

No. The limit is fewer than 2 hours, which means 1 hour 59 minutes is acceptable, but 2 hours or more is not. Steam tracks playtime automatically, and the system is strict about this boundary.

What if I bought the game on sale — do I get back the sale price or the full price?

You get back exactly what you paid, including any discount. If you bought it for $10 on sale when the regular price is $20, the refund is $10.

Can I refund a game and then buy it again during a sale?

Yes. There is no rule against this. You can refund a game, wait for a sale, and purchase it again at the lower price. However, you cannot refund the same game multiple times to exploit sales — if you refund and rebuy the same game repeatedly, Steam may flag your account.

Do I lose my achievements and trading cards when I refund a game?

Your achievements stay on your profile permanently, but you cannot view them in-game once you lose access. Trading cards you earned are removed from your inventory. If you buy the game again later, you start with no cards or achievements.

How long does it take to get the money back to my credit card?

Steam approves most refunds within three to five business days. After approval, your bank or credit card company takes another few days to post the credit, usually between three and five business days. Total time is typically one to two weeks, though it varies by your financial institution.