Yes, you can refund a game on Steam. Valve will refund almost any game if you ask within 14 days of purchase and you have played it for less than two hours. You do not need a special reason. You can ask because the game runs badly, because you bought it by mistake, or simply because you did not enjoy it. This guide covers the steps, the limits for every purchase type, and the edge cases most guides skip.
Steam refund rules at a glance
The standard rule is simple: 14 days from purchase, under two hours of playtime. Both conditions must hold. The two-hour limit counts all playtime, including offline play and Family Sharing. Outside the rules, you can still ask, and Valve will review it.
| Purchase type | Window | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Game or software | 14 days | Under 2 hours played |
| DLC | 14 days | Under 2 hours on the base game since purchase; DLC unused |
| In-game purchases | 48 hours (Valve games); opt-in only for other games | Item must not be consumed, modified or transferred |
| Pre-order (not yet playable) | Any time before release, then 14 days | Under 2 hours after release |
| Early Access or Advance Access | 14 days from release | All playtime counts toward the 2-hour limit, except beta testing |
| Bundle | 14 days | Combined playtime under 2 hours; nothing transferred |
| Gift (unredeemed) | 14 days | Under 2 hours, if the game was never played |
| Steam Wallet funds | 14 days | Only if none of the funds were used |
| Renewable subscription | 48 hours from purchase or renewal | Only if unused in the current billing cycle |
| Video content | Not refundable | No refund, unless part of a bundle with refundable items |
How to request a refund on Steam
The fastest route is the Steam Support website. The whole process takes about five minutes.
- Go to help.steampowered.com and sign in with the Steam account that bought the game.
- Click Purchases. Your recent transactions appear first.
- Select the game you want to refund. Check the date and playtime shown first.
- Choose the problem that best fits, such as the game does not run, a gameplay issue, or an accidental purchase.
- Select I would like a refund. Choose your refund destination: your original payment method or your Steam Wallet. Wallet credit usually arrives faster.
- Write one or two short sentences that explain the problem. Keep it factual. Submit the form.
You can also start the same request in the Steam client, under Help then Steam Support then Purchases. There is no phone number for Steam refunds. Any site that offers one is a scam. Steam replies by email, and most requests inside the limits are approved within a few hours. Wallet credit lands in 24 to 48 hours; card refunds take up to seven days.
Edge cases most refund guides miss
The standard rule covers most purchases, but each purchase type has its own limits. These are the cases that catch buyers out.
DLC refunds
DLC is refundable within 14 days, but only if the base game has been played for less than two hours since you bought the DLC, and only if the DLC is unconsumed, unmodified and untransferred. Some third-party DLC is marked non-refundable on the store page.
In-game purchases
Valve games allow in-game purchase refunds within 48 hours if the item is unconsumed, unmodified and untransferred. Other developers can opt in to the same terms, and Steam tells you at purchase whether an item is refundable.
Bundles
A bundle gets a full refund if none of its items were transferred and combined playtime across all items is under two hours.
Gifts
An unredeemed gift can be refunded within the standard 14-day and two-hour window. Once redeemed, only the recipient can start the refund, and the money still goes back to the original buyer.
Pre-orders and Early Access
Pre-order a game that is not yet playable and you can refund it at any time before release. The 14-day clock starts on the release date. Early Access and Advance Access work differently: any playtime counts toward the two-hour limit, even before the full release, except beta testing.
VAC bans and keys bought outside Steam
A Valve Anti-Cheat ban removes the refund right for that game, permanently. Valve also cannot refund purchases made outside Steam, including CD keys from third-party stores. If a key does not work, contact the seller that took your money.
Subscriptions and Wallet funds
Renewable subscriptions can be refunded within 48 hours of purchase or renewal, but only if unused in that billing cycle. Playing an included game counts as use. Steam Wallet funds are refundable within 14 days, but only if you have not spent any of them.
What to do if Steam refuses your refund
A refusal is not always final. Over two hours, the standard policy will not apply, but Valve still reviews requests outside the rules. Submit a fresh request and explain the real problem in plain words: crashes on launch, a game that will not run on listed hardware, or a purchase by a child on a shared account.
If the game will not launch, try our guide on how to fix a Steam game that will not launch first. If it launches but keeps crashing, our guide to games that keep crashing on PC covers the most common causes. A note that says you tried the standard fixes makes your case stronger. Do not file a chargeback first. It can lead to account restrictions, and Steam support is faster for a genuine problem.
Your UK rights when a game is faulty
Steam refund policy is a voluntary offer from Valve, beside your legal rights, which can go further when a game is faulty. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, digital content sold in the UK must be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose, and as described. A game that does not run, that is missing advertised features, or that is so broken it cannot be played may breach those terms, and you may have a right to a repair, a replacement, or a refund, even outside the 14-day and two-hour limits. This is general information, not legal advice. If Steam refuses a refund for a genuinely faulty game, contact Citizens Advice. Before you buy, check whether a game will run on your PC.
Refund abuse and the sale price trick
Refunds remove the risk from buying games, not a way to get free games. Abuse them and Valve may stop offering them to your account. One thing is not abuse: Valve states clearly that refunding a game bought just before a sale and rebuying it at the sale price does not count as abuse. If a game you bought yesterday drops in price today, you can refund and rebuy it inside the 14-day and two-hour limits.
Frequently asked questions
Can I refund a Steam game after two hours of playtime?
Not under the standard policy. The two-hour limit is firm for automatic approval. You can still ask, and Valve will review it. A faulty game has a better chance than a game you simply finished.
Can I refund a Steam game after 14 days?
Not under the standard policy, but you can still ask. Valve reviews requests outside the window. If the game is faulty, your UK consumer rights may also apply, so contact Citizens Advice if support refuses.
Does Steam refund to my bank card or only to my Wallet?
You can choose. Steam offers a refund to your original payment method or to your Steam Wallet. Wallet credit is usually faster, within 24 to 48 hours, while card refunds can take up to seven days.
Can I refund a game I bought as a gift?
Yes, if the gift is unredeemed and inside the 14-day and two-hour window. If the recipient already redeemed it, the recipient must start the refund, and the money returns to you as the original buyer.
Conclusion
Steam has one of the most generous refund policies in PC gaming. Ask within 14 days, keep playtime under two hours, and you can get your money back for almost any reason. The steps take five minutes. The traps are the edges: DLC clocks, combined bundle limits, Early Access playtime, VAC bans, and third-party keys. Check those before you buy. If a game is genuinely faulty, your UK consumer rights sit behind Steam policy as a second line of defence.
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