Steam is an immensely popular gaming platform used by millions of gamers to install games, play with friends, and chat with other gamers from around the world.
With millions of games available in the Steam library, it is easy to lose track of time and end up blowing through your budget. If you find yourself wishing that you could get a refund on a newly purchased game but don’t know where to start, then read this article. We will walk you through the process from start to finish.
This article covers the basic refund process for Steam games downloaded via the Steam client. dedicated knowledge base article.
Table of Contents
Basic Criteria for Refund
You are eligible for a refund on your purchase for any reason within 14 calendar days of purchase, as long as you have played the game for less than 2 hours. If you meet this criterion, continue reading below to get your money back.
If you’ve played the game for more than 2 hours or purchased a gift on Steam, you may not be eligible for a refund. Learn more at Steam Support.
Moreover, the game must have been purchased from the Steam or Steam Store.
Refunding a Game on Steam: How to Get Your Money Back
Step-By-Step Guide for Applying Refund:
Step 1. Navigate to the Help Page for Your Game
To begin, you need to navigate to your Steam help section (help.steampowered.com).
Step2. Login into your account
Use your username and password to go to the Steam support area.
Step3. Select Your Problem
Once you’re logged in, scroll down until you find “A Purchase” section. All recent purchases will be in this section.
Once you locate your game, open the topic page for the game.
Step4. Select, “Refund a Purchase” Option
When you open the purchase page, you will see different problems listed for that product. Select your problem, which is a refund.
Step5. Provide Details of Your Problem
When prompted, select the reason you are requesting a refund. There are two options – “I purchased the give accidentally” and “Gameplay or Technical Issues“.
Depending on your problem, select the one that best matches your situation and provide more details about the problem.
Some of the most common reasons for requesting refunds are related to technical issues or gameplay.
If you purchased the game by accident, you can select “I purchased the give accidentally” option. If your request is eligible, there will be an option to fill a form to provide more details about the purchase.
If you can’t find a Refund option for your game, then maybe you are not eligible for a refund. In that case, you should contact the developer directly or leave a comment on the Steam support page for help. Meanwhile, if at any time you change your mind about seeking a refund, you may contact Steam Support and request to close up the refund ticket.
Step6. Fill the Form to Provide Details
To provide more detail and the reason for your refund request, you can provide a description in the form.
If you’ve provided all the details you need, submit your request by pressing Continue. Once submitted, you will see your ticket.
Step7. Wait for an Answer
Now, the Steam support team will review your request and contact you quickly with a reply via email. If you are eligible for a refund, they will issue you a Steam Wallet code which you can redeem on your account.
Note: You cannot get a refund to your credit card or PayPal. You will need to use the Steam Wallet for the refund.
How to Choose an Appropriate Resolution
It is important to note that some refund requests may get rejected if you don’t meet the requirements described on the Steam policy support page. You will receive an automated reply in your email that explains why your request was rejected.
Before you buy a game, make sure to take time to think if you need to invest here or not. When requesting a refund, make sure that you have played the game for less than two hours and that you have a reason that aligns with the Steam refund policy.
Please consider the following before requesting a refund
Steam is not obligated to give you a refund. However, if you believe that your request has been denied in error, please contact Steam Support for further assistance.
The best way for a successful refund is to give proper reasons for the refund, like:
- I purchased the game by accident.
- The game has a serious bug that makes it unplayable.
- The game has missing features that were advertised on the Steam store product page. I was looking for this xyz feature in the game but found out it wasn’t included in the game.
- I purchased this game with a discount originally, but now it is not on discount anymore. So I demand a refund.
- The game is not as described (the gameplay is bad; the multiplayer is bad, or whatever).
Steam Refund over 2 hours of gameplay
You can request a refund for games that you have played for 2 hours or more. If the game has a “DLC” associated with it that you have not used, the whole game may also be refunded (for example, if you pay $20 for a base game and $5 for a DLC, and used the base game but not the DLC, you can get a refund on both).
You can submit refund requests for games that you have played for over 2 hours; you will not receive a refund automatically, but Valve will review your request and reply to you with approval or rejection.
You must present solid reasons for your refund request. The rule of thumb is the more detailed your explanation, the higher the chance that you’ll get a positive outcome.
Wrapping up!
Steam has a great refund policy, which allows you to get your money back for any reason at all. It’s quick and easy, so don’t hesitate to take advantage of it!
Even if you don’t meet the refund requirements, you can still seek help from Steam support, and you might get lucky. Good Luck!
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