How to Refund a Game on Steam? 14 Days, 2 Hours, and Exceptions
You can request a refund for a game on Steam within 14 days and with less than 2 hours of playtime. Rules for DLC, in-game purchases, gifts, pre-orders, and bundles, plus a step-by-step request process.
This article was translated automatically from the Turkish original. Read the Turkish original
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In Short
If you have purchased a game on Steam within the last 14 days and have played it for less than 2 hours, you can request a refund without providing a reason. Requests are submitted via help.steampowered.com. Approved refunds are returned to your payment method or Steam Wallet within a week. DLC, in-game purchases, pre-orders, bundles, and gifts have their own specific rules.
Valve's core rule: 14 days and 2 hours
Valve's Steam Refund Policy reflects the version dated April 23, 2024, as of October 9, 2026. According to the policy, a refund can be requested for almost all purchases on Steam for any reason. Two conditions must be met together for games:
- No more than 14 days must have passed since the purchase date.
- Total playtime in the game must be under 2 hours.
Exceeding either of these two conditions does not mean your request will automatically be rejected. Valve states that they may also review requests falling outside these limits. Therefore, if the game does not launch or you experience a serious technical issue, you can apply by explaining the situation even if the time limit has passed. Approval is not guaranteed.
A refund is not a penalty or a special claim of right. "It didn't turn out as expected" or "it doesn't run well on my computer" are also valid reasons. The important thing is to adhere to the timeframes and not abuse the system.
Refund conditions by product type
The 14-day and 2-hour rule applies to games and software. Conditions vary for other products. The table below summarizes the policy items:
| Product | Refund Condition |
|---|---|
| Games and software | Within 14 days of purchase, less than 2 hours of playtime |
| DLC | Within 14 days; less than 2 hours of playtime on the base game since the DLC was purchased; DLC must not have been consumed, modified, or transferred. Some third-party DLCs are non-refundable, and this is noted on the store page before purchase. |
| In-game purchases in Valve games | Within 48 hours; item must not have been consumed, modified, or transferred |
| In-game purchases in third-party games | Only if the developer has enabled it; Steam indicates this at checkout. Otherwise, it cannot be refunded via Steam. |
| Pre-orders (unplayable before release) | At any time until release; after release, the 14-day and 2-hour rule starts from the release date |
| Pre-orders including Early Access or Advance Access | Playtime before release also counts toward the 2-hour limit |
| Bundles | Full refund if no items have been transferred and the total playtime of the items is under 2 hours |
| Steam Wallet balance | Within 14 days if purchased from Steam and never spent |
| Renewing subscriptions | Within 48 hours of initial purchase or any auto-renewal, if unused during that period |
| Movies, TV shows, training videos | Non-refundable; unless bundled with a refundable product |
| Keys and wallet cards purchased outside Steam | Valve cannot issue refunds; you must contact the retailer |
| Steam Hardware | Subject to a separate hardware refund policy |
Gifts
An unused gift can be refunded under the standard 14-day and 2-hour rule. A gift that has already been added to the recipient's library can also be refunded under the same conditions, but the refund request must be initiated by the gift recipient. In both cases, the money is returned to the original purchaser.
Things to note about pre-orders
You can cancel an unplayable pre-order at any time before release. For editions offering early access, the situation is different: every minute you play before release counts against the 2-hour limit. During a long early access period, it is easy to exceed 2 hours. Therefore, if you are unsure, play for a short time first and decide.
How to submit a refund request on Steam
Refund requests are submitted via the Steam Support site. The steps are as follows; menu names may show minor variations depending on your selected language:
- Go to help.steampowered.com and log in with the account you want to request a refund for.
- Open your purchases or select the game from your recently used products list.
- Select the problem you are experiencing, then proceed to the option to request a refund.
- Choose where the money should be returned: your payment method used at checkout or your Steam Wallet.
- Select the reason that applies to you from the list of reasons and write a brief explanation if necessary.
- Submit the request.
The description is not a mandatory defense text. However, if you have exceeded the time limit or experienced a technical issue, writing what happened briefly and concretely makes review easier. For example, "the game crashes on every launch, I updated the driver, the issue persists."
When and where the money is returned
According to the policy, an approved refund is issued within a week. Money can be returned to two places:
- Payment method used for purchase: Refunds to cards or other methods.
- Steam Wallet: Added to your account as balance to be re-spent on Steam.
Some payment methods do not support refunds back to the original payment. In this case, the amount is added to your Steam Wallet. Valve lists which methods are supported based on the country linked on the policy page. How soon the refunded amount appears on your card also depends on your bank.
If you refund a game bought with wallet balance, the amount naturally returns to the wallet. Balance added to the wallet can only be refunded if it has never been spent and 14 days have not passed.
Situations that invalidate a refund
Certain situations eliminate or limit the right to a refund:
- VAC ban: If you receive a Valve Anti-Cheat (VAC) ban in a game, you lose the right to refund that game.
- Consumed or transferred content: DLC and in-game items that you have used, modified, or transferred to another account are excluded from refunds.
- Non-Steam purchases: Keys and wallet cards purchased from another store cannot be refunded by Valve.
- Abuse: Valve states that it may stop offering refunds to users who appear to be abusing the refund system. Using the system to temporarily "rent" games falls into this scope.
The policy also clearly states a situation that is not considered abuse: purchasing a game right before a sale, refunding it, and repurchasing it at the discounted price is not considered abuse. This works well for those shopping before holiday or seasonal sales.
The policy also notes that consumers in certain countries may have additional statutory rights for defective goods. The right of withdrawal in the European Union is explained in a separate Steam support article.
Reducing the need for refunds before buying
A refund is a great safeguard, but the 2-hour limit is short. Doing a few checks before buying makes things easier:
- Compare the system requirements on the store page with your computer.
- Read the "non-refundable" warning on the checkout screen for DLC and in-game purchases.
- If you are buying a bundle, do not immediately transfer items inside to other accounts; transferred items prevent bundle refunds.
- Note the release date and whether there is early access on pre-orders.
If you are following upcoming games, the most anticipated games of 2026 article lists release dates together. For those considering buying a sports game, the EA SPORTS FC 27 guide provides information on editions and release.
Frequently asked questions
I played for more than 2 hours, can I still request a refund?
You can. Valve says they may also review requests falling outside the limits. If there is a technical issue, write it in your explanation. However, approval is not guaranteed.
Can I refund the same game and buy it again?
Yes. The policy does not consider refunding a game bought before a sale and repurchasing it at the discounted price to be abuse.
Who requests a refund for a gift I bought for my friend?
If the gift has not been used yet, the standard rule applies. If the recipient has added the gift to their library, the refund request must be initiated by the recipient. The money is returned to the purchaser in both cases.
I bought in-game currency, is it refundable?
Yes, in Valve's own games, within 48 hours and if unused. For other games, it is only possible if the developer has enabled it; Steam indicates this on the checkout screen.
Last updated: October 9, 2026. Information is taken from Valve's Steam Refund Policy page (last updated April 23, 2024); policies are subject to change, check the current version before purchasing.
