Steam refunds are usually straightforward when the purchase is recent and playtime is low. Valve’s standard policy covers most games within 14 days of purchase and under 2 hours of playtime, with no detailed explanation required.
These steps apply to Steam purchases on Windows, Mac, and Linux, including games, DLC, and some in-game purchases.
Does this affect you?
Use this if a Steam game does not run, is not what you expected, or you changed your mind and want to ask for your money back.
Request a standard refund
- Open the Steam client or go to help.steampowered.com.
- Sign in to the Steam account that made the purchase.
- Go to Help > Steam Support.
- Choose Purchases.
- Select the game or item you want refunded.
- Choose I would like a refund.
- Pick the closest reason from the list.
- Choose original payment method or Steam Wallet.
- Submit the request.
If the purchase is within 14 days and has under 2 hours of playtime, approval is usually automatic or very fast. Steam Wallet refunds often appear sooner than card or bank refunds.
Request a refund outside the window
- Use the same Steam Support > Purchases path.
- Select the purchase and choose I would like a refund.
- Explain clearly why the request should be reviewed manually.
- Mention technical problems, unauthorized purchase concerns, or a game that became unavailable if relevant.
- Include troubleshooting you already tried for technical issues.
- Submit and wait for manual review.
Valve does not guarantee approval outside the normal policy, but clear and honest details give support something useful to review. If denied and you believe it was a mistake, reply to the ticket with additional context.
Special cases and limits
- Pre-purchases can usually be refunded any time before release.
- The normal refund clock starts after release for pre-purchased games.
- Some in-game currency and items are not refundable once used.
- Steam Wallet funds generally cannot be refunded after being added except in specific circumstances.
- Games tied to cheating bans are excluded from refunds under Steam policy.
If you are unsure about a game, try a demo when available and avoid playing far past 2 hours before deciding.
Sources
- Valve – Steam Refunds Policy (2025)
- Steam Support – Refund Request Help Article (2025)
- Valve – Steam Subscriber Agreement (2025)