Steam refunds work through a request system, not automatic approval
Steam will refund a game if you ask within 14 days of purchase and have played it for fewer than 2 hours total. You do not need a reason, and Valve does not ask for one. The refund goes back to your Steam Wallet (the account balance you use to buy games) by default, though you can request it go to your original payment method instead — a credit card, debit card, or PayPal account.
The process is straightforward: you go to your purchase history, find the game, and click "Request a Refund". Steam then reviews your request automatically. Most refunds process within a few days, though it can take up to two weeks if your payment method needs to verify the transaction.
The 14-day and 2-hour limits are firm. If you bought a game 15 days ago, or if you have played it for 2 hours and 15 minutes, Steam's system will reject your request. There is no appeal process and no exception for any reason — not for bugs, not for changing your mind, not for a game you did not mean to buy.
Key Takeaways
- You have 14 days from purchase to request a refund, and you must have played the game for fewer than 2 hours total.
- Refunds go to your Steam Wallet by default, but you can choose to have the money returned to your original payment method instead.
- Steam's system approves or denies refund requests automatically — there is no human review or appeal.
- Once you exceed the 2-hour limit or the 14-day window, you cannot get a refund through Steam's standard process.
How to request a refund step by step
Open Steam on your computer and log in. Click on "Steam" in the top left corner, then select "View Purchase History". Find the game you want to refund in the list — games are listed newest first, so recent purchases appear at the top.
Click on the game title to open its details page. You will see a button that says "Request a Refund". Click it. Steam will ask you to choose a reason from a dropdown menu — the options are "It's not what I expected", "It does not run well on my computer", "I have a different reason", or similar wording. Your choice does not affect whether you get the refund; Steam approves or denies based only on the 14-day and 2-hour limits.
After you select a reason, click "Next". Steam will show you a summary of the refund request and ask you to confirm. Review the amount and the game name to make sure you are refunding the right purchase. Then click "Yes, request a refund" to submit it.
Steam will send you an email confirming that your request was received. Within a few days, you will get a second email saying whether the refund was approved or denied. If approved, the money appears in your Steam Wallet when ready, or in your original payment method within 5 to 10 business days if you chose that option.
What happens to the game after you refund it
Once a refund is approved, the game is removed from your Steam library. You cannot play it anymore. If you buy it again later, you start fresh — your save files and progress are gone, and you cannot recover them through Steam.
If you refund a game and then want to buy it again, you can do so when ready. There is no waiting period or penalty. However, if you refund the same game multiple times in a short period, Steam may flag your account for review. The company watches for patterns of buying, refunding, and rebuying the same games, which can look like someone trying to play a game for free repeatedly.
Refunds for games bought on sale or with a discount
Steam refunds the amount you actually paid, not the regular price. If you bought a game on sale for $10 and the regular price is $30, you get $10 back. This applies even if the game goes on sale again after you refund it — you are not refunded the difference.
If you used a Steam gift card or store credit to buy the game, the refund goes back to your Steam Wallet as store credit. You cannot convert Steam Wallet money back to real money or a payment method; it can only be used to buy more games or content on Steam.
Why Steam might deny your refund request
The most common reason for denial is exceeding the 2-hour playtime limit. Steam tracks your total playtime across all sessions — if you have played the game for 2 hours and 1 minute, the refund will be denied. Playtime includes time spent in the game menu, in loading screens, and in any mode, including single-player, multiplayer, or story campaigns.
The second reason is the 14-day window. If more than 14 days have passed since you bought the game, Steam will deny the request, even if you have played it for only 10 minutes. The 14 days are counted from the purchase date, not from when you first launched the game.
Occasionally, Steam denies a refund if your account shows a pattern of abuse — for example, if you have refunded many games in a short time, or if you refund the same game repeatedly. This is rare and usually only happens if the behavior is extreme. A single refund or even a few refunds over time will not trigger this.
Refunds for games with downloadable content or season passes
If you bought a game and then bought downloadable content (DLC) or a season pass separately, each purchase is treated as its own transaction. You can refund the base game and the DLC independently, as long as each is within its own 14-day and 2-hour window. Refunding the base game does not automatically refund the DLC, and vice versa.
If you refund the base game but keep the DLC, the DLC becomes unusable — you own content for a game you no longer have. Steam will not prevent you from doing this, but the DLC has no value to you. If you refund the DLC, the base game remains in your library and playable.
Getting help if your refund was denied
If Steam denies your refund request and you believe the denial was a mistake, you can contact Steam Support. Go to help.steampowered.com, click "Contact Steam Support", and select the game in question. Explain why you think the refund should have been approved — for example, if you believe your playtime is recorded incorrectly, or if you bought the game fewer than 14 days ago and have the receipt to prove it.
Steam Support is staffed by humans and can review your account and purchase history. However, they rarely overturn denials based on the 2-hour or 14-day limits unless there is a clear error in Steam's system. If your playtime is genuinely under 2 hours and your purchase is within 14 days, Steam Support may be able to help. If you are outside those windows, do not expect a reversal.
Response times from Steam Support vary widely — anywhere from a few days to several weeks. During busy periods, support can be slow. If you need a refund urgently, contact support as soon as possible, but be prepared to wait.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I refund a game I bought as a gift for someone else?
No. Only the person who received the gift can request a refund, and only if they have not redeemed it yet. Once a gift is redeemed and added to someone's library, only that person can refund it. If the gift recipient refunds the game, the money goes to their Steam Wallet, not back to you.
What if I refund a game and then buy it again within the return window?
You can buy the game again when ready. However, if you do this repeatedly with the same game — buying, refunding, buying again — Steam may restrict your account or deny future refunds. This behavior looks like trying to play a game for free multiple times, which violates Steam's refund policy.
Do I lose my save files when I refund a game?
Yes. Once the refund is approved and the game is removed from your library, your save files are deleted. Steam does not keep backups of saves for refunded games. If you buy the game again later, you start from the beginning.
Can I refund a game if I bought it more than 14 days ago but have barely played it?
No. The 14-day limit is absolute. Even if you have played the game for only 5 minutes, if you bought it 15 days ago, Steam will deny the refund. There is no exception for low playtime.
What if Steam's refund system is broken and won't let me submit a request?
Contact Steam Support through help.steampowered.com. Explain that you cannot access the refund request button or that the system is showing an error. Steam Support can sometimes process refunds manually if there is a technical problem preventing you from using the standard system, though this is rare.