Steam refunds you within 14 days and 2 hours of purchase, no questions asked

Steam's refund policy is straightforward: you can request your money back on any game, software, or in-game content you buy through Steam if you ask within 14 days of purchase and have played for fewer than 2 hours total. Valve processes most refunds within a week, returning the money to your original payment method — the same card, PayPal account, or Steam Wallet you used to buy it.

The 14-day and 2-hour limits are both hard stops. If you've owned the game for 15 days, you cannot refund it, even if you've played for only 30 minutes. If you've played for 2 hours and 5 minutes, you cannot refund it, even if you bought it yesterday. Both conditions must be met.

This policy covers games, software, video content, and in-game purchases made through the Steam store. It does not cover gifts that have been redeemed, items bought on the Steam Community Market, or content you obtained through a Steam key from outside Steam.

Key Takeaways

  • You have 14 calendar days from purchase and must have played fewer than 2 hours total; both limits explore.
  • Refunds go back to your original payment method within about a week, though Steam Wallet refunds appear faster.
  • Redeemed gifts, Community Market purchases, and third-party Steam keys are not refundable through this policy.
  • You can request a refund directly through your Steam library without contacting support, and Steam will not ask why.
  • Pre-orders follow the same rules: the 14-day clock starts when the game releases, not when you pre-purchase.

How to request a refund through Steam

Open Steam on your computer and go to your library. Find the game or item you want to refund, right-click it, and select "Manage" then "Request a refund". You'll see a form asking why you want the refund — the options are "It's not what I expected", "I have a bug or performance issue", or "Other". Your answer does not affect whether you get the refund; Steam approves refunds based only on the 14-day and 2-hour limits.

After you submit the request, Steam sends a confirmation email. The refund status appears in your account under "Help" > "Steam Support" > "Purchases". Most refunds process within 5 to 7 days. If you paid by credit or debit card, the money returns to that card and may take an additional 3 to 5 business days to appear, depending on your bank. If you used PayPal or Steam Wallet credit, the refund is usually visible within 24 hours.

You can request a refund on the same game multiple times if you buy it again later, as long as each purchase meets the 14-day and 2-hour requirements. There is no limit to how many refunds you can request in a year, though Steam may review your account if you request many refunds in a short period.

What the 2-hour playtime limit actually means

Steam counts total playtime across all sessions, including single-player, multiplayer, and idle time if the game is running. If you launch a game and leave it open while you do something else, that time counts toward the 2-hour limit. Playtime resets only when you close the game completely.

You can check your playtime before requesting a refund by right-clicking the game in your library and selecting "Properties" > "Local Files". The playtime shown there is what Steam uses to evaluate your refund request. If you're close to 2 hours, you can still request a refund, but Steam will deny it if your playtime has crossed that threshold.

Some games track playtime differently. Games that run through a launcher (like Bethesda games through the Bethesda Launcher, or some older titles) may not count launcher time toward Steam's 2-hour limit. The Steam client's count is what matters for refunds, not the game's own playtime tracker.

Refunds for pre-orders and early access games

When you pre-order a game on Steam, the 14-day refund window does not start until the game officially releases. You can pre-order a game months in advance, and as long as you request a refund within 14 days of release and have played fewer than 2 hours, you'll get your money back. This gives you a chance to try the finished game before the refund window closes.

Early access games follow the same rule: the 14-day clock starts from your purchase date, not from any future full release. If you buy an early access game and play it for 10 hours, you cannot refund it, even if the game is still in development and the full version hasn't launched yet.

What you cannot refund through Steam

Redeemed gift codes are not refundable. If someone sends you a game as a gift and you redeem it, you cannot refund it through Steam's standard policy, even if you've played for only 5 minutes. The person who bought the gift can request a refund within 14 days of purchase if they haven't redeemed it yet, but once you claim it, it's yours to keep.

Items bought on the Steam Community Market — skins, trading cards, cosmetics — cannot be refunded. These are player-to-player transactions, not purchases from Steam itself. The same applies to items bought in the in-game stores of games like Counter-Strike 2 or Dota 2 that use third-party payment systems.

Steam keys purchased from third-party sites like Humble Bundle, Green Man Gaming, or Fanatical are not covered by Steam's refund policy. Those sites have their own refund rules, which vary widely. If you buy a key from a third party and redeem it on Steam, you cannot refund it through Steam, even if the key was fraudulent or the site misrepresented the product.

Refunds for DLC, season passes, and in-game content

Downloadable content and season passes follow the same 14-day and 2-hour rules as base games. The 2-hour limit applies to the base game, not to the DLC itself — if you've played the game for 3 hours total, you cannot refund DLC you bought, even if you just purchased it. The 14 days is measured from when you bought the DLC, not from when you bought the base game.

In-game purchases — cosmetics, battle pass tiers, loot boxes — are refundable under the same conditions. If you buy cosmetics in Dota 2 or Team Fortress 2 through Steam, you can refund them within 14 days if you haven't used them extensively. "Extensively" is vague; Steam evaluates these case-by-case, but using an item in a match or equipping it usually counts as use.

What happens if Steam denies your refund request

If your refund request is denied, Steam sends an email explaining why — usually because you've exceeded the 2-hour playtime or the 14-day window. You can appeal the decision by contacting Steam Support directly through the same help ticket, but Steam rarely overturns denials based on the playtime and date limits.

If you believe the denial was an error — for example, if Steam's playtime counter is wrong, or if you were charged twice for the same purchase — you can open a support ticket and provide evidence. Steam Support reviews these cases individually, though response times vary from a few days to several weeks depending on ticket volume.

If you paid by credit card and believe the charge was unauthorized, you can also dispute it with your card issuer or bank. Be aware that disputing a charge may result in your Steam account being restricted or banned, so contact Steam Support first if possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Steam refund me to my original payment method or to my Steam Wallet?

Steam refunds to your original payment method by default — the card, PayPal account, or other payment source you used to buy the game. If you paid with Steam Wallet credit, the refund goes back into your Wallet. You cannot choose to receive a refund as Steam Wallet credit if you paid with a card.

Can I refund a game if I've played it for 1 hour and 59 minutes?

Yes. The limit is fewer than 2 hours, so 1 hour and 59 minutes qualifies. Once you cross 2 hours, you cannot refund it. Check your playtime in the game's Properties before requesting a refund if you're close to the limit.

What if I buy a game on sale and the price drops further after I refund it?

You get a refund for the price you paid, not the current price. If you bought a game for $20 on sale, refund it, and it goes on sale for $10 the next day, you receive $20 back. You can then buy it again at the lower price if you want.

Can I refund a game if my computer can't run it?

Yes, as long as you're within 14 days and 2 hours of purchase. When you request the refund, you can select "I have a bug or performance issue" as the reason. Steam does not require proof of the performance problem; the refund is approved based on the time and playtime limits alone.

Do I lose my save files if I refund a game?

Refunding a game removes it from your library, but your save files remain on your computer in the game's local folder. If you buy the game again later, you can often restore your saves. However, some games store saves in the cloud, and those may be deleted when you refund. Check the game's documentation before refunding if your saves matter to you.