How to Refund a Game on Steam

Steam Refund Policy Basics

Valve offers refunds on most purchases if you request within 14 days of purchase and have played less than two hours. Refunds return to your original payment method (or Steam Wallet if that is unavailable). DLC refunds require the base game to be refunded too, unless the DLC is standalone.

Step 1 — Confirm You Are Eligible

Check your playtime: right-click the game in your Library → Properties → General and look at playtime, or view it on the game's store page while logged in. If you exceed two hours or 14 days, refunds are at Valve's discretion and usually denied.

Step 2 — Open Steam Support

Go to help.steampowered.com in your browser (you can also reach it via Steam → Help → Steam Support in the client). Log in with the account that purchased the game.

Step 3 — Find the Purchase

Click Purchases, then locate the game you want refunded. Click on it to open the purchase detail page with support options specific to that transaction.

Step 4 — Select "I Would Like a Refund"

Choose I would like a refund from the list of issues. Select a reason from the dropdown — "It crashed / doesn't work" and "Accidental purchase" are common choices. Honest reasons do not affect approval if you meet the time limits.

Step 5 — Submit the Request

Confirm the refund method (original payment or Steam Wallet) and click Submit. You'll receive a confirmation email. Valve typically responds within 7 business days — approved refunds process within another 7 days depending on your payment provider.

Step 6 — After Approval

The game is removed from your library when the refund completes. If you bought a bundle, refunding one title may affect the bundle discount on remaining games — Steam shows a warning before you confirm.

Refund Checklist

• Under 14 days since purchase
• Under two hours of total playtime
• Submit via help.steampowered.com → Purchases
• Select I would like a refund
• Wait up to 7 days for Valve's decision