How to Ask for a Refund on Steam

What You’ll Need

A Steam account with the purchase you want refunded
Access to the email linked to your Steam account
The date of purchase and approximate playtime (Steam shows this in your account details)

Step-by-Step

Open Steam Help – Go to help.steampowered.com in any browser. You don’t need to open the Steam client, but you must be logged in to the account that made the purchase.
Find the purchase – Click “Purchases” in the menu. A list of your recent purchases appears, sorted by date. If you don’t see the item, use the search box or scroll further down. Click the game or DLC you want refunded.
Select the problem – Choose “I’d like a refund” from the list of reasons. If the game isn’t running properly, you can select “It isn’t what I expected” or “It’s not working as expected” – the reason doesn’t affect your eligibility for a refund, but it helps Steam understand why you’re requesting one.
Pick a refund method – Steam will ask where you want the money to go. You can choose the original payment method (credit card, PayPal, etc.) or Steam Wallet credit. Wallet credit usually arrives faster, but if you want the money back on your card, select that option.
Submit the request – Add a short comment explaining why you want the refund. This is optional but can speed up the process if there’s an issue. Click “Submit Request” and wait for the confirmation email.
Wait for approval – Steam sends an email when your refund is approved or declined. This typically takes up to 7 days, but most requests are processed within 24 hours. Once approved, the money goes back to your chosen method within 7 days (or 1-2 days for Steam Wallet).

Common Mistakes

Requesting after 14 days – Steam’s refund policy is strict. If it’s been more than 14 days since purchase, your request is almost always denied, even if you haven’t played the game.
Playing more than 2 hours – The 2-hour playtime limit is also strict. If you’ve played 2 hours and 5 minutes, you’re over the limit. The only exception is if the game has a technical issue that makes it unplayable, but that’s rare.
Refunding a game you bought as a gift – Gifted games have different rules. The recipient can’t refund a gift; only the purchaser can, and the refund goes back to the purchaser’s payment method.
Choosing the wrong purchase – If you bought a bundle, you can’t refund individual games from it. You must refund the entire bundle, and only if you haven’t played any of the games in it.

Tips

Act fast – The sooner you request, the more likely you are to get a refund, especially if you’re close to the 2-hour limit.
Be honest in your comment – If the game crashes, say so. If you just didn’t like it, say that too. Steam doesn’t require a reason, but a clear explanation can help if your request is borderline.
Check your playtime first – In your Steam library, click the game and look at “Playtime” in the right panel. If you’re over 2 hours, don’t bother requesting – it will be denied.
Use Steam Wallet for faster refunds – If you plan to buy another game anyway, choose wallet credit. It arrives much faster than a card refund.
Refund DLC separately – If you bought a game and DLC together, you can refund them separately. Just submit separate requests for each item.

Troubleshooting

Refund denied – If your request is denied, you can submit another one with a more detailed explanation. Steam’s support team reviews each case individually, so a second request might work if you explain a technical issue or a misunderstanding.
No email confirmation – Check your spam folder. If it’s not there, log into Steam and go to help.steampowered.com, then click “View refund status” to see the current state of your request.
Refund approved but money not received – Card refunds can take up to 7 days to appear. If it’s been longer, contact your bank or payment provider. Steam Wallet refunds are usually instant, but if not, restart Steam.
Accidental purchase – If you bought a game by mistake and haven’t played it, you’re almost guaranteed a refund. Just follow the steps and select “I accidentally purchased this.”
Game has been removed from Steam – If a game is delisted, you can still request a refund. The same rules apply, but the refund might be forced to Steam Wallet if the payment method is no longer available.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a refund if I played more than 2 hours?

Generally, no. The 2-hour limit is a hard rule for most purchases. However, if the game has a serious technical issue (like constant crashes), you can explain that in your request, and Steam might make an exception.

How long does a Steam refund take?

Approval takes up to 7 days, but most are processed within 24 hours. After approval, refunds to your original payment method take up to 7 days, while Steam Wallet refunds are usually instant.

Can I refund a game I bought as a gift?

Only the purchaser can refund a gifted game. The refund goes back to the purchaser’s payment method, not to the recipient. The recipient can’t request a refund themselves.

Can I refund a game I bought in a bundle?

You can refund the entire bundle, but not individual games from it. The refund is only possible if you haven’t played any of the games in the bundle for more than 2 hours total.

What happens to my game after a refund?

You lose access to the game immediately. It’s removed from your library, and you can’t play it anymore. If you had in-game items or progress, those are also lost.

Can I refund a game I bought with Steam Wallet funds?

Yes. The refund goes back to your Steam Wallet, not to a credit card. This is usually faster than a card refund.

Sources: Steam Support. Menus and buttons can differ slightly by version. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.