Steam refunds you within 14 days if you ask, as long as you have played for less than two hours

Steam (the game distribution platform owned by Valve) will refund the full purchase price of a game, DLC, or in-game content if you request it within 14 calendar days of purchase and have not played for more than two hours total. The refund goes back to your original payment method — the same card, PayPal account, or Steam Wallet you used to buy it. You do not need to explain why you want the refund, and Valve does not ask.

The 14-day window and two-hour playtime limit are firm. If you bought a game 15 days ago or have played it for two hours and one minute, Steam's automated system will deny the request. You can still try to contact Steam Support to ask for an exception, but most exceptions are only granted in cases of technical problems that prevent the game from running at all.

Refunds for games typically process within a week, though they can take up to 30 days depending on your bank or payment provider. If you bought something with Steam Wallet credit (money you loaded into your account), the refund returns to your Wallet balance when ready and you can spend it on another game right away.

Key Takeaways

  • You have 14 days from purchase to request a refund, and you must have played the game for fewer than two hours total.
  • The refund goes back to your original payment method — your card, PayPal, or Steam Wallet — not as a gift card or store credit.
  • You do not need to provide a reason, and Steam's system approves most requests automatically if you meet the time and playtime limits.
  • DLC, cosmetics, and in-game currency follow the same 14-day, two-hour rule, but some items cannot be refunded if they have been consumed or used.
  • Steam Support can grant exceptions for games that crash or will not launch, but these are rare and require you to contact them directly.

How the two-hour playtime limit is measured

Steam tracks the time you spend in a game from the moment you launch it until you close it. This includes time spent in menus, loading screens, cutscenes, and idle time — anything that happens while the game window is open counts toward your two hours. If you launch a game, walk away for 30 minutes, and come back, that 30 minutes still counts.

The clock resets when you close the game completely. If you play for one hour, close it, and play again later for another hour, you have used two hours total and are at the limit. Some games have a "pause" feature that stops the in-game timer, but Steam's playtime counter keeps running regardless.

You can check your playtime before requesting a refund. On the Steam store page for the game, scroll down to the "Play Time" section under your account information. If it shows two hours or less, you are within the window. If it shows more, the automated refund will be denied.

What counts as a refundable purchase

Games, expansions, and season passes can all be refunded within 14 days and two hours of playtime. Cosmetic items like skins, emotes, and battle pass tiers follow the same rule — if you have not "consumed" them (used them in a way that cannot be undone), you can refund them. In-game currency like V-Bucks in Fortnite or Robux in Roblox can be refunded if you have not spent it.

Some items cannot be refunded even if you are within the window. If you have opened a loot box, used a consumable item, or traded something away, Steam will not refund it. Pre-orders are refundable up until the game releases, at which point the two-hour playtime rule takes over. Bundles (multiple games sold together) are refundable as a whole, but you cannot refund individual games from a bundle you purchased.

Free-to-play games with in-game purchases follow the same rules for the purchases themselves, not the game. You cannot refund the game because it cost nothing, but you can refund cosmetics or battle passes you bought within it.

How to request a refund on Steam

Go to your Steam account on a web browser and click on your profile name in the top right. Select "Account" and then "Purchase History." Find the item you want to refund, click on it, and select "I would like a refund for this product." Steam will ask you to choose a reason from a dropdown menu — the options include "It's not what I expected," "It doesn't run well on my computer," and "I accidentally purchased this." Your choice does not affect whether you get the refund if you meet the time limits.

After you submit the request, Steam's system checks your playtime and purchase date automatically. If both are within the limits, you will see a message saying your refund has been approved. The money will return to your original payment method within seven days, though banks sometimes take longer to process it.

If the system denies your request because you are over the two-hour limit or outside the 14-day window, you can still contact Steam Support directly. Click "I would still like to contact Steam Support about this purchase" at the bottom of the refund page. A support agent will review your case, but they rarely override the policy unless the game has a serious technical problem.

Refunds for games with technical problems

If a game crashes on launch, will not run on your computer, or has a game-breaking bug, Steam Support may refund it even if you are over the two-hour limit or outside the 14-day window. You need to explain the problem clearly — include your computer's operating system, graphics card, and processor, and describe exactly what happens when you try to play.

Attach a screenshot or video if possible. Support agents see many claims of technical problems and will ask for details if your description is vague. "The game doesn't work" is less likely to be approved than "The game crashes to desktop after the opening cutscene on Windows 11 with an RTX 3060."

Performance issues — the game runs slowly or has low frame rates — are usually not grounds for a refund unless the game is completely unplayable. If your computer barely meets the minimum requirements listed on the store page, Steam Support will likely deny the request because the problem is a mismatch between your hardware and the game's demands, not a defect in the game itself.

What happens after you get a refund

Once a refund is approved, you lose access to the game when ready. If you own DLC for that game, the DLC is also removed from your library. You cannot play it, and you cannot transfer your save files or progress to another account. If you buy the game again later, you start from the beginning.

If you refunded a game because of a technical problem and then buy it again, the same problem may still exist. Before you repurchase, check the Steam community forums or recent reviews to see if other players have found a fix. Sometimes a driver update or a change to your graphics settings will solve the issue.

Refunds to your Steam Wallet are when ready and can be spent when ready on any other game or item. Refunds to a credit card, debit card, or PayPal account depend on your bank or payment provider. Most process within three to five business days, but some take up to 30 days. If you do not see the refund after 30 days, contact your bank or payment provider, not Steam.

Refunds for games purchased as gifts

If someone gave you a game as a gift through Steam, you can still request a refund within 14 days and two hours of playtime. The refund goes back to the person who bought it, not to you. If the gift giver used a credit card, the refund returns to that card. If they used Steam Wallet credit, it goes back to their Wallet.

The person who received the gift cannot choose where the refund goes — Steam handles it automatically. If you and the gift giver are in different countries, there may be additional delays because of currency conversion or payment processing rules in each country.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I refund a game if I have played it for exactly two hours?

No. The limit is less than two hours, not two hours or less. If your playtime shows 2:00 or higher, the automated refund will be denied. Steam Support rarely makes exceptions for playtime that is this close to the limit.

What if I bought a game on sale and the price dropped further?

You get back the price you paid, not the current price. If you bought a game for $20 on sale and it is now $10, your refund is $20. You cannot use a refund to price-match a lower sale.

Do I lose my achievements and trading cards if I refund a game?

Yes. When you refund a game, everything tied to it is removed — achievements, cards, and any progress. If you buy the game again, you start with a blank slate.

Can I refund a game if my account was hacked and someone else played it?

Contact Steam Support directly and explain what happened. They may refund the game even if playtime is over two hours if they can confirm unauthorized access. You will also need to find your account by changing your password and enabling Steam Guard authentication.

What if Steam's website shows my refund as approved but the money has not arrived?

Approved refunds to cards and PayPal can take up to 30 days to appear, depending on your bank or payment provider. Check your bank's transaction history to see if the refund is pending. If more than 30 days have passed, contact your bank or payment provider, as the delay is on their end, not Steam's.