Home How to How to Refund a Game on Steam?

How to

How to Refund a Game on Steam? [Complete Guide]

August 22, 2023

Video games are one of the most popular past-time. People of all ages enjoy this, and scientific studies have proved that this helps build the mind’s logical and analytical abilities. There are many popular gaming platforms. Steam is one of the most popular multiplayer gaming platforms. It comes in use to install and manage the software across the system and also has community features to help you enjoy gaming with your friends and other people. In this article, you will learn to refund a game on Steam.

Steam Giftcards can be refunded within 14 days, and after that, the unredeemed gift cards may not be refunded. The same can happen if the gift card is redeemed; however gift recipient has to initiate the refund in cases like these, and the funds will be transferred to the original purchaser.

However, buying a game can be tricky since there is always a dilemma about whether you’d like it. Hence, to be able to return the game and get the money back is one thing you can expect from gaming platforms. Let us see different criteria and how you can refund a game on Steam.

What are the Criteria for Refunds?

There are majorly two criteria for you to refund a game on Steam:

refund

You must refund a game on Steam within 14 days.
You must have played the game for less than two hours.

The refund applies to the following cases

Now refund a game on Steam with the following cases:

Downloadable content

All the games purchased and downloaded from Steam can be easily refunded within 14 days from the date of purchase, downloadable content and they are being used for more than 2 hours in total.

In-game purchases

For any in-games developed by Valve- you can get a refund within 48 hours of purchase.

in game purchases

The condition here is that the item people buy should not have undergone any modification or transfer activity.

Pre-purchasable Titles

When you buy a game title, it can also be refunded. The condition is that you should pay in advance for the purchase and request a refund before the title’s release.

preorder

You can request a refund within 14 days; it should be used for under 2 hours.

Steam wallet refunds

You can also refund the Steam wallet funds, but only if you buy it from Steam and not by the funds.

steam wallet refunds

Steam Hardware

The hardware and accessories purchased over Steam can also be refunded. steam hardware For this, you require sending the packages back within 14 days of initiating the refund.

Bundle Refunds

Bundles are fully refundable if one does not transfer them to someone else. bundle hardware Every communication regarding what part of the bundle can or cannot be refunded is made by Steam.

If the above conditions are met, the company promises to refund a game on Steam. There is a slight chance of getting a refund even if both criteria do not meet.

Refund a game on steam

The company looks into the refund request and determines the individualistic conditions of the request. However, in the latter case, there is no refund guarantee.

Interesting Facts

Another interesting fact about the refund is that the games people buy outside of the stem and add to the branch with a product key cannot expect a refund from Steam. However, games purchased through Steam keys from a third party are eligible for a refund. This is also a way to encourage you to buy games through Steam.

refund a game on steam

However, this refund policy does not account for there is constant refund of a lot of games. This is an “abuse” of the policy. There is no clear definition of what Steam considers “abuse,” but you should not buy games in bulk and refund most of them. But the good thing here is that Valve, the company that owns Steam, doesn’t consider refunding a game before sale to buy it at a lower price to be abuse. This means that if you buy a game at $60 and sell it for $30 in the sale, you can refund the game and repurchase it for cheaper, given that there is a fulfillment of the initial refund conditions.

The refund can be credited to the same payment method or can be credited to the Steam wallet and is credited within a week of approval.

How to Refund a Game on Steam?

Following are a few easy steps to initiate the refund process to Refund a Game on Steam:

Ensure you fulfill the conditions provided for the mail before you request a refund. However, you can still mail the team and wait for the team to look into the matter.
Navigate to the Steam application, and there is a “Help” option. The dropdown has a “steam support” option on that tab.
The dropdown lists down a purchases list. Click on it and select the product for a refund.
Select the reason for the refund. A reference code has been further generated that tracks the refund process with a detailed email.

top steam games

5. After clicking on this option, the refund process will begin, and once you get the approval, the refund will be in a week.

FAQs

How do I ask Steam for a refund?

These are the steps to take if you want a Steam refund for a game: Visit the help section of the Steam Support website (help.steampowered.com). Open your Steam account and log in. Select 'Purchases.' You decide which game you wish to get refunded. Select 'I would like a refund' and follow the on-screen instructions to finish the procedure.

What are the Steam refund guidelines?

Steam's refund policy allows you to request a refund if you bought the game within 14 days of the purchase date and have played it for less than 2 hours. There may be exclusions and variations regarding regional laws, though.

I bought a game on sale; can I obtain a refund?

Generally speaking, if you purchased a game on sale and it is less than 14 days old with less than two hours of playtime, you can receive a refund.

How long does it take for Steam to provide a refund?

After authorizing your refund request, the return procedure could take up to seven days, depending on your payment method. Additionally, Steam will credit your original payment method with the refund.

Can I get a refund if I buy a game somewhere other than Steam, such as a physical store or a key reseller?

Refunds are typically only available for titles that you buy directly through the Steam platform. Moreover, you must approach them directly for a refund if you obtained the game from another merchant or critical reseller.

If a game didn't live up to my expectations or I didn't like it, can I get a refund?

Yes, as long as you match the prerequisites indicated earlier (less than 14 days since purchase, less than 2 hours of play), Steam will issue refunds for games you didn't like or didn't live up to your expectations.

Conclusion

So, Steam has a very sought-after process of refund that is very helpful for its users. We hope you like using Steam, and this guide helps you to refund a game on Steam with your refund process. Happy Gaming!

Jordan Ramée

Jordan Ramée: Video game and anime journalist since 2016. Turns obsessions into compelling content. Beware: Mentioning Hollow Knight may trigger lengthy lore discussions.