Steam refunds work within a two-hour, 14-day window

Steam will refund a game if you ask within 14 days of purchase and have played it for less than two hours total. That's the entire policy — there's no "reason" requirement, no customer service conversation, and no judgment. You request the refund through your account, Steam processes it, and the money goes back to your original payment method in three to five business days.

The two-hour limit is strict. If you've played for two hours and one minute, you're outside the window. The 14-day calendar starts the moment you buy the game, not when you first launch it. Both limits must be met; missing either one disqualifies you.

Games purchased during a sale are refundable at the same rate. If you bought a game for $15 on sale and it goes back to $30 the next day, Steam refunds you the $15 you paid, not the current price.

Key Takeaways

  • You have 14 days from purchase and under two hours of playtime to request a refund through your Steam account.
  • Steam refunds go back to your original payment method — credit card, PayPal, or Steam Wallet — in three to five business days.
  • The refund request is automatic; Steam does not require you to explain why you want your money back.
  • Pre-ordered games are refundable up to two weeks after release, using the same two-hour playtime rule.
  • DLC, in-game items, and season passes follow the same policy but are refunded separately from the base game.

How to request a refund on your computer

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 Licenses and Licenses." You'll see a link that says "I would like a refund for this product." Click it.

Steam will ask you to choose a reason from a dropdown menu. The options are "It's not what I expected," "It doesn't run well," "I have a bug or problem," or "Other." Pick whichever is closest to true. Then select whether you want the refund to go back to your original payment method or to your Steam Wallet (store credit you can spend on other games).

Click "Request Refund." Steam will confirm that you're within the two-hour, 14-day window. If you are, the refund is approved immediately. You'll see a confirmation number. The money will appear in your original account in three to five business days.

Requesting a refund on the Steam website

If you're not at your computer, you can request a refund through the Steam website. Go to your account, select "Purchase History," find the game, and click the three-dot menu next to it. Select "Request a Refund."

The process is identical to the desktop version: choose a reason, pick where the money goes, and confirm. You'll get the same confirmation number, and the refund timeline is the same.

What happens if you're outside the refund window

If you've owned the game for more than 14 days or played it for more than two hours, Steam will not refund it through the standard process. The system will tell you that you don't meet the requirements and will not let you proceed.

You can still contact Steam Support directly, but they rarely override the policy. They may make exceptions for games with severe bugs or performance problems that make the game unplayable, but this is uncommon. If you try, go to the Steam Support website, select "Games, Products, Software," then "Refunds" and explain the specific problem. Expect a response in one to three business days, and be prepared for a "no."

Refunding DLC and in-game purchases

DLC (downloadable content), season passes, and cosmetic items follow the same two-hour, 14-day rule as the base game. You request them the same way: through your library or purchase history, selecting the specific item, and choosing your refund destination.

In-game currency that you bought but haven't spent can be refunded. In-game currency that you've already used to buy cosmetics or battle passes cannot. If you bought $20 of premium currency and spent $15 of it, Steam will refund only the $5 you haven't used.

Where the refund money goes

You choose the destination when you request the refund. If you pick your original payment method, the money returns to the card or account you used to buy the game. If you pick Steam Wallet, it becomes store credit you can spend on any game or DLC on Steam.

Refunds to credit cards and PayPal take three to five business days to appear. The time depends on your bank or payment processor, not Steam. Steam Wallet refunds are instant — the credit appears in your account immediately.

If you used a gift card to buy the game, the refund goes back to your Steam Wallet, not the gift card itself. You cannot get a refund back onto a physical gift card.

Common reasons refunds get denied

The most common reason is playtime. If Steam's records show you've played the game for more than two hours, the refund will be rejected automatically, even if you think you played less. Steam counts total playtime across all sessions, including time spent in menus or alt-tabbed away from the game.

The second reason is the 14-day window. If you bought the game more than 14 days ago, you're outside the window regardless of playtime. There's no exception for games you haven't launched yet.

The third is that you've already refunded the game before. If you refunded a game and then bought it again, Steam will refund the second purchase, but if you do this repeatedly with the same game, Steam may flag your account and deny future refunds for that title.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I refund a game I got as a gift?

Yes. The 14-day, two-hour window starts from when the gift was sent to you, not when you claimed it. If you claimed it more than 14 days ago or have played it for more than two hours, you cannot refund it.

What if I refund a game and then want to buy it again?

You can buy it again immediately. Steam will let you repurchase any game you've refunded. However, if you refund and repurchase the same game multiple times, Steam may restrict your refund access for that title.

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

Your save files stay on your computer, but you lose access to the game itself. If you refund and repurchase later, your old saves will still be there if the game stores them locally. Cloud saves may or may not be recoverable depending on the game.

Can I refund a game that's on sale?

Yes. You get back the price you paid, not the current price. If you bought a game for $10 during a sale and it's now $20, you get a $10 refund.

How long does it take to see the refund in my bank account?

Steam processes the refund immediately, but your bank takes three to five business days to post it. Weekends and holidays don't count toward this timeline. If it's been more than five business days, contact your bank, not Steam.