Steam's refund policy covers most games within 14 days and 2 hours of play

Steam allows you to request a refund on most games, software, and in-game content if you ask within 14 days of purchase and have played for fewer than 2 hours total. Valve processes most refund requests within a week. The refund goes back to your original payment method — the same card, PayPal account, or Steam Wallet you used to buy it.

This is not a judgment call. You do not need to explain why you want the refund or prove the game is broken. If you meet the time and playtime limits, Steam approves the request automatically in most cases. The main exceptions are games you have owned for longer than 14 days or played for more than 2 hours, which Valve almost never refunds.

Some games, software, and in-game purchases fall outside this policy entirely. Valve does not refund games you received as gifts if you have already activated them, season passes, battle passes, cosmetics, or most in-game currency. DLC (downloadable content) for games you own can be refunded under the same 14-day, 2-hour rule, but only if you have not played the base game for more than 2 hours since buying the DLC.

Key Takeaways

  • You have 14 days from purchase and 2 hours of playtime to request a refund on most games, and Valve approves these requests automatically if you stay within both limits.
  • Refunds return to your original payment method within about a week, whether that is a credit card, PayPal, or Steam Wallet credit.
  • Games you have owned longer than 14 days or played for more than 2 hours are almost never refunded, even if they are broken or unplayable.
  • Gifts, in-game cosmetics, battle passes, and most virtual currency cannot be refunded once activated, regardless of playtime.
  • If a game is unplayable due to a technical issue, you can contact Steam Support directly instead of using the automated refund system.

How to request a refund on Steam

Open Steam on your computer and go to your library. Find the game you want to refund, right-click it, and select Manage (or click the gear icon). Choose See support options, then click I would like a refund. Steam will show you the purchase date, playtime, and whether you are within the refund window.

Select your reason from the dropdown menu — common options include "This game does not run on my computer," "I purchased this by mistake," or "I am not enjoying this game." The reason you pick does not affect whether you get the refund if you are within the 14-day, 2-hour window. Click Next, then Submit for review.

Steam sends a confirmation email to the address linked to your account. You can check the status of your refund request by going to Help > Steam Support > Purchases and looking for the game under "Refund Requests." Most refunds process within 5 to 7 days. If Steam denies your request, you will see the reason in that same section.

When Steam will not refund a game

If you have played a game for more than 2 hours or owned it for longer than 14 days, Steam's automated system will deny your refund request. This applies even if the game crashes constantly, has a major bug, or stops working after an update. The policy is strict about the time limits because Valve treats them as a trial period, not a return window for used products.

Games you received as a gift are refundable only if you have not activated them yet — meaning you have not added them to your library. Once you set up a gift, it becomes non-refundable. If someone sent you a game you do not want, you must ask them to refund it before you claim it.

In-game purchases like cosmetics, skins, battle passes, and seasonal content are not refundable once you have bought them. Virtual currency (Steam Wallet funds) cannot be refunded once spent. Pre-orders can be refunded up until the game releases, even if you have pre-downloaded it.

What happens if a game is broken or unplayable

If a game is genuinely unplayable — it will not start, crashes when ready, or has a critical bug that makes it impossible to progress — you can contact Steam Support directly instead of using the automated refund form. Go to Help > Steam Support, search for the game, and select I have a problem with this product. Choose Technical issue and describe what is happening.

Steam Support can refund games outside the normal 14-day, 2-hour window if the issue is severe enough. They may ask you to try troubleshooting steps first — updating drivers, verifying game files, or checking your system requirements. If the game genuinely will not run, Support can approve a refund even months after purchase.

This route takes longer than the automated system — often 2 to 4 weeks — because a person reviews your case. But it is your only option if you are past the refund important date and the game does not work.

Refunds to different payment methods

Steam refunds go back to whatever you used to pay. If you bought a game with a credit card, the refund appears as a credit on that card's statement within 5 to 10 business days after Steam approves it. If you used PayPal, the money returns to your PayPal account. If you paid with Steam Wallet funds (credit you already had in your account), the refund adds back to your Wallet balance when ready.

You cannot ask Steam to refund to a different payment method. If you want the money as a gift card instead of a card refund, you would need to spend the Wallet credit on something else after the refund lands. Some banks take longer to show refunds than others — if you do not see it after 10 business days, contact your bank to confirm it arrived.

Refunds on DLC and season passes

DLC (extra content for a game you own) follows the same 14-day, 2-hour rule, but the 2-hour limit applies to the base game, not the DLC itself. If you have played the base game for more than 2 hours total, you cannot refund any DLC for it. If you bought DLC and have not played the base game at all, you can refund the DLC as long as you ask within 14 days of purchase.

Season passes and battle passes are treated as a single purchase. If you buy a season pass and play the game for 3 hours, you cannot refund the pass even if you only used one of the included items. Some games let you refund individual cosmetics or battle pass tiers if you bought them by mistake, but this varies by game and is handled by the game developer, not Steam.

What to do if your refund is denied

If Steam denies your refund request, the reason appears in your refund history under Help > Steam Support > Purchases. The most common reason is exceeding the 2-hour playtime or 14-day window. You cannot appeal an automated denial if you are outside these limits.

If you believe the denial was a mistake — for example, Steam's timer is wrong or you are within the window — you can contact Steam Support and ask them to review it manually. Go to Help > Steam Support, find the game, and select I have a question about my refund. Explain your situation clearly. Support can override the automated system in rare cases, but they usually uphold the 14-day, 2-hour policy.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

No. The limit is under 2 hours, not 2 hours or less. If your playtime is 2 hours and 1 minute, Steam will deny the refund. The timer counts total time in-game, including time spent in menus, loading screens, and paused gameplay.

Do I lose the game after I get a refund?

Yes. Once the refund is approved, the game is removed from your library and you can no longer play it. If you want to play it again later, you have to buy it again. You can repurchase the same game at any time.

What if I bought a game on sale and it goes on sale again after my refund?

You get back the amount you paid, not the current sale price. If you bought a game for $15 on sale and it is now $10, your refund is $15. You can then buy it again at the current $10 price if you change your mind.

Can I refund a game if my account was hacked and someone else bought it?

Contact Steam Support when ready and explain what happened. Support can refund unauthorized purchases even if they are outside the normal 14-day window. You will also need to find your account by changing your password and enabling Steam Guard (two-factor authentication).

Do Steam gift cards count as a refund method?

No. If you paid with a Steam gift card code, the refund goes back to your Steam Wallet as credit, not as a new gift card code. You can spend that Wallet credit on any game or item on Steam.