Steam account deletion is permanent and removes access to all your games
When you delete a Steam account, Valve removes your access to every game you own on that account, your friends list, your chat history, and your inventory. You cannot undo this action. The account cannot be recovered after deletion is complete, and you cannot use the same email address to create a new Steam account for 30 days.
Steam does not let you delete an account through the settings menu or your profile page. Instead, you must visit Steam's account deletion page directly, confirm your identity, and wait for Valve to process the request. The process takes a few days, and during that time you can still cancel the deletion if you change your mind.
Before you start, understand what you are losing: every game tied to that account, whether you paid for it or received it free, will be gone. You cannot transfer games to another account. If you share games with family members using Steam's Family Library feature, those shared games will stop working for them once the account is deleted.
Key Takeaways
- Deleting a Steam account removes all games, friends, chat history, and inventory permanently and cannot be undone.
- You must visit the Steam account deletion page directly — there is no delete button in your account settings.
- Steam gives you 30 days to cancel the deletion after you request it, so you have time to change your mind.
- The email address you used for the account cannot be used to create a new Steam account for 30 days after deletion is complete.
- Any games you shared with family members through Steam Family Library will stop working for them when ready.
Before you delete: what happens to your games and account data
Every game on your Steam account — whether you bought it, received it as a gift, or claimed it free during a promotion — is tied to that account only. Deletion removes your license to play those games. You cannot move them to another account, sell them, or transfer them to a friend. If you have spent money on in-game items, cosmetics, or battle passes, those are gone too.
Your Steam profile, username, and all public information will be removed from the platform. Friends will no longer see you in their friends list. Any community content you posted — screenshots, artwork, reviews, or comments — will be deleted. If you have a Steam inventory with trading cards, cosmetics, or other items, those will be removed.
If you use Steam Family Library to share games with family members on other accounts, those shared games will stop working when ready when your account is deleted. The people you shared with will lose access to your entire library. They will keep their own games and any games shared with them by other accounts.
How to request account deletion on Steam
Go to the Steam account deletion page at help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/E4D8-921C-4CB7-2D7D. You must be logged into the account you want to delete. If you are not logged in, Steam will ask you to sign in with your email address and password.
Read the warning message that explains what deletion means. Steam lists what you will lose: games, Steamworks account data, profile information, and anything in your inventory. Scroll down and check the box next to "I understand the consequences, delete my account." You must check this box to proceed.
Enter your account password in the field that appears. Steam requires this to confirm you are the account owner. Click the "Delete Account" button. Steam will show a confirmation message saying your deletion request has been submitted.
The 30-day waiting period and how to cancel
After you submit the deletion request, Steam enters a 30-day waiting period. During this time, your account remains active but flagged for deletion. You can still log in, play games, and use all account features normally. If you change your mind, you can cancel the deletion at any time during these 30 days.
To cancel the deletion, log into your account and return to the account deletion page. Click the "Cancel Account Deletion" button. Steam will when ready remove the deletion flag, and your account will return to normal. Your games, friends list, and inventory will all remain intact. You can cancel as many times as you want during the 30-day window.
After 30 days pass, Steam permanently deletes the account. The email address becomes unavailable for 30 additional days. You cannot create a new Steam account with that email until 60 days have passed since you first requested deletion.
What to do if you want to keep your games but stop using Steam
If you want to leave Steam but keep your game library, do not delete your account. Instead, you can straightforward stop using it. Your games will remain in your library indefinitely, and you can return to play them whenever you want. You do not have to log in regularly or do anything to maintain the account.
If you want to hide your profile from other users, log into your account, go to your profile settings, and set your profile to Private. This hides your friends list, game library, and activity from other Steam users. You will still be able to see your own games and play them, but nobody else can view your account.
If you want to stop receiving emails from Steam, go to your account settings, select "Preferences," and uncheck the boxes next to the email types you do not want. You can turn off promotional emails, event notifications, and friend activity alerts while keeping your account active.
Reasons people delete Steam accounts and alternatives
Some people delete their accounts because they no longer game or want a fresh start. Others delete because they are concerned about account security or privacy. A few delete because they want to remove their purchase history or online presence from the platform.
Before you delete, consider whether one of these alternatives solves your actual problem. If you are worried about account security, change your password to something strong and enable Steam Guard, which requires a code from your phone or email to log in. If you want privacy, make your profile private instead of deleting it. If you want to stop spending money on games, straightforward do not buy any — your account will not charge you for anything you do not purchase.
If you are taking a break from gaming, you do not need to delete your account. You can log out and return months or years later. Your games will still be there, and you will not lose any progress on games that save to the cloud.
What happens to your Steam Wallet balance
If you have money in your Steam Wallet — credit you loaded onto your account to buy games — that balance is forfeited when you delete your account. Steam does not refund Wallet credit. You cannot transfer it to another account or convert it back to real money.
Before you delete, spend any remaining Wallet balance on games or in-game items if you want to get some value from it. Once the account is deleted, that money is gone. If you have a large balance, consider whether deletion is worth losing that credit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete my Steam account if I have an active game purchase or pre-order?
Yes. Deletion removes your access to all games, including pre-orders and games you have not yet downloaded. You cannot refund games before deletion — the deletion process itself removes your license to play them. If you want a refund instead, contact Steam Support before you delete the account.
What if I forgot my password and cannot log in to delete my account?
Go to the Steam sign-in page and click "Forgot your password?" Enter your email address, and Steam will send you a password reset link. Check your email (including spam folders) and follow the link to create a new password. Once you can log in, you can proceed with account deletion.
Can someone else delete my Steam account if they have my password?
Yes, which is why a strong, unique password is important. If you think someone else has access to your account, change your password when ready and enable Steam Guard two-factor authentication. If your account has already been deleted by someone else, contact Steam Support to report the unauthorized deletion.
Will deleting my Steam account delete my games from my computer?
No. The game files on your hard drive will remain, but you will not be able to play them. Steam requires you to be logged into an account that owns the game to launch it. After deletion, you cannot log in, so the games become unplayable. You can manually delete the game folders from your computer if you want to free up space.
Can I create a new Steam account with the same email address after I delete my old one?
Not for 30 days after the deletion is complete. Steam locks the email address for 30 days following account deletion. After that period, you can use the same email to create a new account. This means the total time from deletion request to new account creation is about 60 days.