What happens when you delete Steam
Deleting your Steam account removes your access to all games, DLC, and items tied to that account. Valve, the company behind Steam, does not let you fully delete an account yourself — instead, you can request account deletion through their support system, and they will review your request. The process takes time and has conditions: your account must have no recent purchases, no active bans, and no ongoing transactions.
If you straightforward want to stop using Steam without deletion, you can deactivate your account instead, which hides your profile and stops you from launching games, but keeps your account data on Valve's servers. Deactivation is reversible; deletion is permanent.
Key Takeaways
- You cannot delete your Steam account directly through settings — you must submit a request to Steam Support and wait for Valve to review it.
- Your account must have no purchases in the last 30 days, no active bans, and no money in your Steam Wallet before deletion can be approved.
- Deactivating your account is faster and reversible, while deletion is permanent and takes weeks to process.
- Games you purchased are tied to your account, not your computer, so deleting the account means losing access to your entire library.
- If you want to keep your games but stop using Steam, uninstalling the client from your computer is simpler than account deletion.
The difference between deactivating and deleting
Deactivation is the faster option. You can deactivate your account through Steam settings in seconds. Your profile becomes hidden, you cannot launch any games, and your friends cannot see you online. However, your account still exists on Valve's servers, your games remain in your library, and you can reactivate anytime by logging back in.
Deletion is permanent. Once Valve approves your request, your account, all games, DLC, items, and purchase history are removed from their system. You cannot recover the account or any of its contents. Deletion takes two to four weeks after approval, and Valve may deny the request if your account does not meet their conditions.
Most people who want to stop using Steam should deactivate instead. Deletion is only necessary if you want your account completely removed from Valve's records.
How to deactivate your Steam account
Open Steam on your computer and log in. Click your username in the top right corner and select "Account". Scroll down to find "Deactivate Steam Account" and click it. Steam will ask you to confirm and will explain that you cannot launch games while deactivated. Click "Deactivate" again to finish.
Your account is now deactivated. Your profile is hidden, and you cannot play any games. If you change your mind, log back in and click "Reactivate Steam Account" in the same menu. Reactivation is when ready.
How to request account deletion
Go to the Steam Support website and log in with your account. Click "Accounts & Bans" and then "I want to permanently delete my Steam account". Read the warning that explains deletion is permanent and irreversible. Click the checkbox to confirm you understand, then click "Continue".
Steam will show you a list of conditions your account must meet: no purchases in the last 30 days, no active bans, no money in your Steam Wallet, and no active Family Sharing sessions. If your account meets all conditions, click "Request Deletion". If not, you will see which condition is blocking the request.
After you submit the request, Valve reviews it manually. This takes two to four weeks. You will receive an email when the review is complete. If approved, your account will be deleted within a few days. If denied, the email will explain why.
Conditions that block account deletion
Valve will deny your deletion request if your account has made any purchase in the last 30 days. This includes buying games, DLC, cosmetics, or anything else through Steam. You must wait 30 days from your last purchase before resubmitting.
An active ban also blocks deletion. If your account is banned for cheating, fraud, or violating Steam's terms, you cannot delete it. Valve considers this a safety measure to prevent banned accounts from being recycled.
Money in your Steam Wallet prevents deletion. You must spend or remove all funds before submitting. To remove funds, contact Steam Support — you cannot transfer wallet money to a bank account, but Support can sometimes process a refund if you explain the situation.
Active Family Sharing sessions also block deletion. If another account is sharing your games through Family Sharing, you must disable that sharing first. Log into your account, go to "Account" settings, find "Family Sharing", and click "Deauthorize all other computers".
What to do instead of deleting
If you want to stop using Steam but do not want to wait weeks for deletion, deactivate your account instead. Deactivation is when ready and reversible, and it hides your profile and stops you from playing games.
If you want to keep your games but remove Steam from your computer, straightforward uninstall the Steam client. Your games stay in your library, and you can reinstall Steam and log back in anytime. Uninstalling the client does not affect your account.
If you want a fresh start with a new account, create a new Steam account with a different email address. Your old account will still exist, but you can deactivate it so your profile is hidden.
What happens to your games after deletion
Once your account is deleted, you lose access to every game, DLC, and item you purchased. There is no way to recover them. If you own games on Steam that you want to keep, do not delete your account — deactivate it instead, or straightforward stop using Steam without taking any action.
Games you purchased on Steam are licensed to your account, not owned outright. You do not own a copy you can transfer or sell. Deleting the account means losing the license entirely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete my Steam account if I have games I paid for?
No. Once your account is deleted, you lose access to all games and cannot recover them. If you want to keep your games, deactivate your account instead, or straightforward stop using Steam without deleting anything. Deletion is only for people who want their account completely removed and do not care about losing their library.
How long does it take to delete a Steam account?
Submitting the request takes a few minutes. Valve's review takes two to four weeks. If approved, the account is deleted within a few days after that. Total time is usually three to five weeks. Deactivation, by contrast, is when ready.
Can I reactivate my account after deletion?
No. Deletion is permanent and irreversible. Once Valve deletes your account, it is gone forever, along with all games, items, and purchase history. If you think you might want to use Steam again, deactivate instead of deleting.
What if my account has a ban — can I still delete it?
No. Accounts with active bans cannot be deleted. Valve treats deletion requests as a way to remove accounts from their system, and they do not allow banned accounts to be deleted as a safety measure. Your account will remain on their servers.
Do I have to delete my account to stop playing Steam games?
No. You can straightforward stop using Steam without taking any action. If you want your profile hidden from friends, deactivate your account instead. Deletion is only necessary if you want your account completely removed from Valve's records, which is rare.