How to Refund a Game on Steam? [All You Need To Know]

Are there any recent games you regret purchasing on Steam?

No worries — you can get your money back in no time. 

This guide will explain:

• How to refund a game on Steam
• How to apply even if you fall outside the requirements
• What the return policy entails
• What counts as refund abuse

Let’s see what we can do!

Steam Refund Policy

Steam’s refund system is pretty simple. Valve states that you can request reimbursement on nearly anything (we’ll get into the specifics in a bit) for any reason, as long as it’s within a certain time limit.

The deadline is no more than two hours of logged playtime and two weeks after the purchase. You’ll need to fulfill both conditions.

But, you can still try even if your request falls outside this time frame! After all, Valve looks into each appeal and might make an exception.

So, in a nutshell: your reasons aren’t vital, but timing is!

Now, let’s take a closer look at purchases where you’re guaranteed to get your money back.

Where Steam Refunds Apply

Naturally, you can apply for games and software you’ve bought from the Steam store. But, there are other kinds of content you can return as well. That includes:

• Pre-ordered games — refundable any time before the release
• DLC — refundable within the standard period, but only if it’s from the Steam Store
• In-game purchases — refundable within 48 hours of purchase for all Valve-developed titles
• Renewable subscriptions — refundable within 48 hours of purchase or automatic renewal, but only if it’s unused
• Bundles — refundable if the combined usage time for all items is less than two hours
• Gifts — refundable within the standard period, provided the recipient initiated the refund for a redeemed gift.

The Steam refund policy states that the content can’t be consumed, modified, or transferred if you want to return it. This goes especially for in-game purchases, DLC, and renewable subscriptions. 

Furthermore, if you have any doubts about a non-Valve/Steam Store product, you’ll be notified ahead if reimbursement isn’t possible.

But what about hardware?

It has its own return policy. Here’s the long and short of it!

To return your goods, you’ll need to cancel the order within two weeks of receiving them. Once you’ve canceled, you have another two weeks to send back the items.

You’ll be reimbursed for the purchase and the delivery charges!

You can’t abuse or modify the hardware and still get the full Steam refund. 

Where Steam Refunds Don’t Apply

Yup, there are situations where you’ll be unable to claim your funds back.

There are three such cases: 

1. If it’s a purchase made outside of Steam.
2. If VAC (the Valve Anti-Cheat system) banned you.
3. If it’s video content (like episodes, tutorials, movies, and shorts) that’s not part of a bundle with refundable items.

Other than that, some game content may be non-refundable. For example, this can happen if a DLC makes irreversible changes to the game. So, keep your eyes peeled for titles marked as non-refundable before buying!

Steam Refund Abuse

Finally, there’s the matter of refund abuse.

Many gamers have been trying to cheat the system and play for free. That means playing for just under two hours, submitting a refund, and then getting the game just to return it again.

Indie game developers have spoken out against this practice! Short games suffer the most.

In any case, if Valve notices unusual activity (too many requests in a short period), you’ll get a warning. If you ignore it and continue your spree, you’ll lose the ability to refund.

Luckily, you can refund games on Steam when their price goes down and then re-buy them to save a buck. That doesn’t count as abuse.

How to Refund a Game on Steam

So, you’ve decided to return a game!

Let’s break down the whole process.

First, you’ll need to log into Steam Support via browser. You can’t do it with the app — you’ll have to go to help.steampowered.com.

Once you’re logged in, click on Purchases.

Look for the title you want to refund and click on it.

Next, you’ll need to select what issue you’re having. Simply choose “I would like a refund.”

After selecting it, you’ll need to click “I’d like to request a refund.”

That will open up the Steam refund request form. The top section lets you choose your preferred reimbursement method. You can transfer your funds back to your Steam Wallet or your card (PayPal, Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, and JCB).

Then, you’ll have to explain why you’re applying. There’s also a Notes field in the form for more information you’d like to share.

Steam lists several reasons, such as:

• It’s not fun.
• It frequently crashes.
• I purchased this by accident.

You can pick the one that matches your case the best or choose whichever. It doesn’t matter! Steam will refund a game as long as you’ve bought it in the last two weeks and didn’t play it for more than two hours.

Finally, you can find the Submit request button at the bottom — click it, and you’re done!

Now, all you need to do is wait for the confirmation email that you’ve successfully submitted your Steam refund request. Once you receive it, it can take up to seven days for your funds to appear in your account. Keep in mind that international payment methods can take a bit longer — up to ten days.

One more thing.

What can you do if you fall outside the refund rules?

Well, remember the Notes field in the request form? You can plead your case there. It’ll help if you’re polite and keep it short and to the point. 

Valve will look into your situation, and you might get lucky!

Conclusion

Whether a game just isn’t up to par or you’ve accidentally bought it in a drunken daze, you will be reimbursed. As long as you’re within the Steam refund time limit, you have nothing to worry about. The transparent and fair return policy makes sure of it.

And you can see in this guide that the whole refund process is also fairly straightforward! It’s only a matter of filling out a form on Steam Support.

So, try not to wait for too long — submit your request as soon as possible. Good luck!