Steam's refund policy lets you return games within 14 days of purchase if you've played for less than 2 hours

Steam will refund your purchase price to your Steam Wallet or original payment method if you meet two conditions: you bought the game within the last 14 calendar days, and you've played it for fewer than 120 minutes total. You don't need to explain why you want the refund. The system is automated — most refunds process within a week, though some take longer depending on your payment method.

This policy covers games, software, and in-game content you buy directly from Steam. It does not cover gifts you've already sent to someone else, items you've used in multiplayer games, or DLC (downloadable content) for games you've heavily played. If you're outside the 14-day window or over the 2-hour limit, Steam will usually deny the request, but you can still submit one and explain your situation — Steam's support team occasionally makes exceptions for technical problems or misleading store pages.

Key Takeaways

  • You have 14 days from purchase and under 120 minutes of playtime to request a refund through Steam's automated system.
  • Refunds go back to your Steam Wallet by default, but you can request your original payment method instead when you submit the request.
  • The refund request takes about a week to process, though payment method and your bank can add extra time.
  • Requests outside the 14-day or 2-hour window are usually denied, but technical issues or store page problems may convince Steam's support team to make an exception.

How to submit a refund request through Steam

Open Steam on your computer and go to your library. Find the game you want to refund, right-click it, and select "Manage" then "View CD Key" or just click the game's name to open its store page. On the store page, scroll down and look for "See all options" or a three-dot menu, then select "Request a refund." Steam will ask you why you want the refund — pick the reason that fits best, though your answer doesn't affect whether you get approved.

You'll see a summary of your purchase date, playtime, and the refund amount. At this point, choose where you want the money to go: back to your Steam Wallet (instant) or to your original payment method (slower, but you get actual money). Click "Request Refund" and Steam will process it. You'll get an email confirming the request, and another when it's approved or denied.

If you bought the game as a gift and haven't sent it yet, you can refund it the same way. If you already sent it, the person who received it has to request the refund themselves using their own Steam account.

What happens if Steam denies your refund

If you're past 14 days or over 2 hours of playtime, Steam's automated system will deny the request. You can appeal by clicking "Contact Steam Support" in the denial email. Write a clear explanation — mention if the game has a technical bug that stops you from playing, if the store page was misleading about what the game includes, or if you have another specific reason.

Steam's support team reviews appeals manually, which takes several days to a few weeks. They're more likely to approve if you can point to a concrete problem: a game that crashes on startup, a feature advertised on the store page that doesn't exist, or a multiplayer game that shut down its servers. They're less likely to approve if you simply changed your mind or found a better price elsewhere.

Refunds to your original payment method take longer

If you choose to refund to your Steam Wallet, the money appears instantly and you can spend it on any game or item Steam sells. If you choose your original payment method — credit card, debit card, PayPal, or another service — Steam sends the refund to that processor, and then your bank or payment company has to accept and post it. This usually takes 5 to 10 business days, but can stretch to several weeks depending on your bank.

Check your bank's transaction history or contact them directly if a refund hasn't shown up after two weeks. Sometimes banks hold refunds temporarily or flag them as suspicious. Steam's part is done once they send it; after that, your bank controls the timing.

In-game purchases and DLC refunds work differently

Cosmetic items, battle passes, and other in-game purchases follow the same 14-day, 2-hour rule, but "played" means something different. If you've launched the game at all since buying the item, Steam counts that toward your 2-hour limit. Some in-game items can't be refunded at all if you've used them — for example, if you've equipped a cosmetic skin or opened a loot box, Steam won't refund it.

DLC (expansion packs, level packs, or additional content) can be refunded if you haven't played the base game for more than 2 hours since buying the DLC. If you've already played the base game for 50 hours, buying a DLC pack and then requesting a refund will be denied because your total playtime exceeds the limit.

Refunds for games removed from Steam's store

If a game is removed from Steam — because the developer pulled it, licensing expired, or Steam took it down — you can still request a refund even if you're past the 14-day window. Steam's support team handles these manually, and they usually approve them because you can no longer buy the game or get updates. You'll need to contact Steam Support directly rather than using the automated refund button.

The same applies if a game's price drops significantly within 14 days of your purchase. Steam doesn't automatically refund the difference, but you can request one and explain the price change. Support may approve it as a goodwill gesture, though it's not may provide.

What to do if Steam Support doesn't respond

Steam Support can be slow. A typical response takes 3 to 7 days, but during busy periods it can stretch to two weeks or longer. You can check the status of your support ticket by logging into your Steam account, going to "Help," and selecting "View your support history." Click on your ticket to see if there's a response or if Steam is still reviewing it.

If you haven't heard back after three weeks, you can reply to your ticket with a follow-up message. Keep it brief and professional — just ask for an update on the status. Do not open multiple tickets for the same issue, as that can slow things down further.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I refund a game I've owned for more than 14 days?

The automated system will deny it, but you can appeal through Steam Support if there's a specific reason — the game is broken, the store page was misleading, or the servers shut down. Support reviews these manually and sometimes approves them, but there's no may provide.

What if I refund a game and then buy it again on sale?

You can do this, and it's a common way to get a discount. Refund the game, wait for it to process (usually a week), then buy it again at the lower price. Just make sure the sale is still active when your refund clears, since Steam sales change frequently.

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

Your save files stay on your computer even after you refund the game. If you buy it again later, Steam will find your old saves and let you continue where you left off. However, if you uninstall the game and delete the files manually, they're gone.

Can I refund a game if I used a gift card to buy it?

Yes. The refund goes back to your Steam Wallet, not to the gift card itself. You can then spend that wallet balance on any other game or item Steam sells.

What if the game won't launch or is unplayable?

Contact Steam Support immediately with details about the error — what happens when you try to launch it, your operating system, and any error messages. Even if you're past the 2-hour limit, support often approves refunds for games with technical problems that prevent you from playing.