Steam will refund a game if you ask within 14 days of purchase and have played it for fewer than 2 hours
Steam's refund policy is straightforward: you can request your money back on any game, DLC, or in-game purchase as long as you meet two conditions. You must ask for the refund within 14 calendar days of buying it, and you must have played it for less than 120 minutes total. Both conditions have to be true — if you bought a game 10 days ago but played it for 3 hours, Steam will deny the refund.
The refund goes back to your original payment method. If you paid with a credit card, it returns to that card. If you used a Steam gift card or wallet balance, the money goes back into your Steam wallet as store credit. The refund typically appears within 5 to 10 business days, though it can take longer depending on your bank.
You do not need to give a reason when you request a refund through Steam's system. You straightforward go to your purchase history, select the game, and click "I would like a refund for this product." Steam's automated system will approve or deny it based on the 14-day and 2-hour rules alone.
Key Takeaways
- Steam refunds any game purchased in the last 14 days if you have played it for fewer than 2 hours total.
- The refund returns to your original payment method or to your Steam wallet if you paid with store credit.
- You do not need to explain why you want a refund — Steam's system checks only the date and playtime.
- Refunds typically take 5 to 10 business days to appear, but can take longer depending on your bank.
- Games purchased during sales or with a discount are refundable under the same rules as full-price games.
How the 2-hour playtime limit is measured
Steam counts every minute you spend in the game, whether you are actively playing or just sitting in a menu. If you launch a game and leave it running while you do something else, that time still counts toward your 2-hour limit. There is no way to pause the timer or exclude idle time.
The playtime counter resets only when you close the game completely. If you play for 1 hour, close it, and play again later, both sessions add up. Steam shows your total playtime for any game in your library — you can check it before requesting a refund to see exactly where you stand.
Some games have a grace period of a few minutes built in. If you play for 1 hour 58 minutes, Steam may still approve a refund because the system rounds down slightly. But you should not rely on this — treat 2 hours as a hard limit.
What happens if you refund a game you received as a gift
If someone gave you a game as a gift through Steam, you can still refund it within 14 days and 2 hours of receiving it. The refund goes back to the person who bought it, not to you. They receive the money in their original payment method or Steam wallet, depending on how they paid.
This means if a friend gifts you a game and you hate it, they get their money back — you do not. If you want to give them something else instead, you would need to buy them a different game or gift card with your own money.
Games and content that Steam will not refund
Some purchases fall outside the refund policy. Games you own through a subscription service like PlayStation Plus or Xbox Game Pass cannot be refunded because you do not own them — you are renting access. Season passes, battle passes, and cosmetic items (skins, emotes, weapon skins) are refundable only if you have not used them in the game yet.
Pre-orders are refundable up until the game releases, even if you have played the early access version. Once the game officially launches, the standard 14-day, 2-hour rule takes over. Games purchased with Steam gift cards or wallet balance are refundable under the same rules as any other purchase.
If a game is removed from Steam's store entirely — which happens occasionally due to licensing issues or developer decisions — you can still refund it within the normal window. After that window closes, Steam will not refund it even if the game is no longer available for purchase.
How to request a refund on Steam
Go to your Steam library and find the game you want to refund. Right-click it and select "Manage" or click the three-dot menu icon. Look for an option that says "Support" or "Request a refund." Click it, and Steam will show you a form asking why you want the refund. You do not have to fill this in — it is optional — but you can if you want to.
Select "I would like a refund for this product" and submit. Steam's system will check the purchase date and your playtime automatically. If both conditions are met, the refund will be approved when ready and you will see a confirmation. If you are over the 2-hour limit or outside the 14-day window, Steam will deny it right away and explain why.
You can request a refund on the Steam website or through the Steam app on your computer. The process is the same either way. If you have multiple games you want to refund, you have to request each one separately.
What to do if Steam denies your refund request
If Steam's automated system denies your refund because you are over the 2-hour limit or outside the 14-day window, you can appeal to Steam Support. Go to the Steam Support page, select the game, and choose "I would like to request a refund." Explain your situation in detail — for example, if the game crashed constantly and became unplayable, or if you discovered it was not what the store page described.
Steam Support reviews these appeals by hand, and they sometimes approve refunds even when the automated system said no. They are more likely to approve if you can show the game is genuinely broken or if the store page was misleading. They are less likely to approve if you straightforward changed your mind or found a better game elsewhere.
The appeal process takes longer than an automated refund — usually several days to a week. You will receive an email when Steam Support has made a decision. There is no may provide they will approve it, but it is worth trying if you believe you have a legitimate reason.
Refunds for in-game purchases and DLC
DLC (downloadable content) and in-game purchases like cosmetics or battle passes follow the same 14-day, 2-hour rule as the base game. The 2-hour timer is based on when you bought the DLC, not when you first bought the game. So if you bought a game six months ago and then bought DLC for it yesterday, you have 14 days and 2 hours from the DLC purchase to refund the DLC.
If you refund DLC, the base game stays in your library. You lose only the DLC content. If the DLC added items or cosmetics to your account, those are removed when the refund is processed. Some games will not let you use certain features if you refund the DLC that unlocked them.
In-game currency that you bought with real money — like gems, coins, or premium currency — can be refunded if you have not spent it in the game yet. Once you use it to buy something, Steam will not refund it.
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 119 minutes or less. If your playtime shows 2 hours and 1 minute, Steam will deny the refund. Check your playtime before requesting — you can see it in your library by hovering over the game.
What if I bought a game on sale and now it is cheaper?
You can refund it and buy it again at the lower price, as long as you meet the 14-day and 2-hour requirements. The refund policy does not change based on the price or whether there was a sale. Some people use this strategy during Steam sales to get a better deal.
Do I lose my save files when I refund a game?
Your save files stay on your computer, but you will not be able to play the game once the refund is processed. If you buy the game again later, you can load your old saves. Steam stores some save data in the cloud, which also remains after a refund.
Can I refund a game if the developer is no longer supporting it?
Yes. The refund policy does not care whether a game is actively updated or abandoned. As long as you are within 14 days and 2 hours, you can refund it. If you are outside that window, you would need to appeal to Steam Support and explain why the lack of support makes the game unplayable.
What if Steam's refund system is broken and will not let me request a refund?
Contact Steam Support directly through the support page. Explain that the refund button is not working or that you cannot access the refund form. They can process a refund manually if there is a technical problem preventing you from using the normal system.