Find out how to get a refund for games bought on Steam. If the game you recently purchased doesn’t meet your expectations, it’s essential to request a refund.
Getting a refund for a game on Steam is straightforward, no matter the reason. Our article offers a step-by-step guide through the process and provides detailed information about Steam’s refund policy.
Could you clarify the Steam Refund Policy for me?
Most games bought directly from Steam are eligible for a refund. Additionally, if you receive a game as a gift, you can request a refund, and the amount will be credited back to the original purchaser.
To assess your eligibility for a refund, Steam follows its specified refund policy.
You must request a refund within 14 days of the purchase date or, if you pre-ordered the game, within 14 days from its release.
You must not have played the game for over two hours.
If your purchase doesn’t satisfy the two eligibility rules, you can still request a refund on Steam. However, it’s important to note that each case will undergo manual review by Steam and they are not obligated to issue refunds unless required by specific country laws. Therefore, providing detailed reasons for your refund request is essential.
Refunds for Other Purchases: A Guide to Understanding the Steam Refund Policy
For most DLC, you can request a refund within 14 days as long as you’ve played less than two hours on the base game since buying it. However, some types of DLC are not eligible for refunds, such as third-party online-only games that involve permanent changes. These items are clearly labeled both on the store page and at checkout.
To qualify for a refund, the combined playtime of all games in a bundle must not surpass two hours. Individual refunds for games within the bundled package are not available.
You cannot receive a refund for a game if you have been banned by Valve’s anti-cheat system. Furthermore, using game keys from sources outside of Steam also makes you ineligible for refunds.
The rules for in-game purchase refunds differ. Steam allows refunds on Valve games’ in-game purchases within 48 hours, provided they haven’t been used, modified, or traded. Third-party developers can choose to follow this policy as well; if so, you’ll be notified by Steam at the time of purchase. If not specified otherwise during your transaction with third-party games, you won’t be eligible for a refund.
Here’s how to request a refund for a game on Steam:
To request a refund, start by visiting help.steampowered.com and signing in to your Steam account. If you’re on the mobile app instead, tap the hamburger icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom menu and select Support. Choose the game you want to get a refund for.
If it doesn’t show up right away, click on “View complete purchasing history” and find it there. Click on “I would like a refund,” then select “I’d like to request a refund.” After that, choose where you’d prefer the reimbursement through the “Choose refund method” dropdown list—either directly into your Steam Wallet for the fastest option or returned via your original payment source if that’s possible with yours.
Choose the Reason dropdown to indicate why you are requesting a refund, and add any additional comments in the Notes section.
After you have filled out all the necessary information, click on the “Submit Request” button.
After you submit your request, you’ll receive a confirmation email. A follow-up email will typically arrive within a few days to inform you whether the refund has been approved. Refunds may take up to seven business days to appear in your account; however, international payment methods might experience longer delays.
You may be able to submit another refund request if you believe the initial decision was unjust; however, it’s likely that the outcome will remain unchanged.
To receive a refund on Steam, simply follow the company’s guidelines. If you meet their criteria, obtaining your money back for games purchased should be straightforward.
