Steam's refund policy lets you return most games within 14 days of purchase if you've played for less than two hours

Steam allows refunds on games you buy through their platform under specific conditions. You have 14 calendar days from the date of purchase to request a refund, and you must have played the game for fewer than two hours total. If both conditions are met, Steam will process the refund to your original payment method — usually your credit card, debit card, or Steam Wallet — within 5 to 10 business days.

The refund covers the full purchase price. DLC (downloadable content), in-game items, and season passes follow the same rules as games: 14 days and under two hours of playtime. If you've exceeded either limit, Steam will deny the refund request automatically.

Key Takeaways

  • You can request a refund within 14 days of purchase if you've played the game for less than two hours total.
  • Refunds go back to your original payment method and take 5 to 10 business days to appear.
  • Pre-ordered games can be refunded up until two weeks after release, even if you've downloaded them.
  • Steam will reject refund requests that exceed the 14-day window or two-hour playtime limit, and you cannot appeal a denial.

How to submit a refund request on Steam

Go to your Steam account and select "Purchase History" from the account menu. Find the game you want to refund and click "Request a refund" next to it. Steam will ask you to choose a reason — common options include "It's not what I expected," "I have a bug or performance issue," or "I no longer want this product." Your reason doesn't affect whether you get approved; Steam checks only the 14-day and two-hour limits.

After you submit the request, Steam sends it to their support team for review. Most refunds are approved within 24 hours. You'll receive an email confirming approval or denial. If approved, the money returns to your original payment method within 5 to 10 business days. If you paid with a credit card, your card issuer may take an additional 1 to 3 days to post the credit.

What counts toward your two-hour playtime limit

Steam tracks playtime from the moment you launch the game until you close it. This includes time spent in menus, cutscenes, loading screens, and paused gameplay — all of it counts. If you launch a game and leave it running in the background for an hour without playing, that hour still counts against your two-hour limit.

Some games show playtime differently. Multiplayer games, roguelikes, and games that save progress frequently may display playtime that doesn't match your actual time spent. If you're close to the two-hour limit and unsure, check your playtime in your Steam library before requesting a refund. Click on the game, select "View stats," and look at "Total playtime."

Games and content that cannot be refunded

Certain purchases fall outside Steam's refund policy. Games you received as a gift cannot be refunded by the person who received them — only the original purchaser can request a refund, and only within 14 days of their own purchase. If a friend bought you a game and you want to return it, they must request the refund themselves.

Games purchased with Steam Wallet funds follow the same rules as any other purchase, but the refund goes back into your Wallet, not to a payment method. Some games with special licensing agreements — particularly older titles or games from certain publishers — may not be refundable. Steam will tell you during checkout whether a game is refundable.

Pre-orders and early access games

Pre-ordered games can be refunded up until two weeks after the official release date, regardless of whether you've downloaded them. The 14-day window resets on release day, not on the day you pre-ordered. This means you can pre-order a game months in advance, download it on release day, play it for an hour, and still have 13 days left to request a refund.

Early access games follow the standard 14-day, two-hour rule from the date of purchase. Because early access titles are still in development, refunds are allowed even if the game changes significantly after you buy it. If an early access game leaves early access and becomes a full release, the refund window does not extend — you still have 14 days from your original purchase date.

What happens if your refund request is denied

If Steam denies your refund request, it's because you exceeded either the 14-day window or the two-hour playtime limit. Steam does not make exceptions to this policy, and you cannot appeal a denial. There is no customer service process to override the automatic decision.

If you believe Steam made an error — for example, if you think your playtime was recorded incorrectly — you can contact Steam Support through the Help section of your account. Explain the issue clearly and provide any details you remember about your purchase or playtime. Steam Support can review your account, but they rarely overturn denials unless there's a technical error on Steam's side.

Refunds for games with performance problems

If a game runs poorly on your system or has bugs that prevent you from playing, you can still request a refund using the standard 14-day, two-hour policy. You don't need to prove the game is broken — Steam doesn't investigate the reason you give. However, if you've played for more than two hours, Steam will deny the refund regardless of performance issues.

Before requesting a refund for performance problems, try basic troubleshooting: update your graphics drivers, lower graphics settings, verify the game files through Steam, and check the game's community forums for known issues. Many performance problems can be solved without a refund. If you've already spent significant time troubleshooting, that time counts toward your two-hour limit.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

No. The limit is under two hours, not two hours or less. If your playtime shows 2:00 or higher, Steam will deny the refund. Check your exact playtime before requesting — even 2 minutes over the limit will disqualify you.

Do I lose my game permanently after a refund?

Yes. After a refund is processed, the game is removed from your library and you lose access to it. You cannot play it again unless you purchase it again. Any progress, achievements, or items you earned in the game are gone.

What if I bought a game on sale — do I get back the sale price or the full price?

You get back the exact amount you paid, whether it was on sale or full price. If you bought a game for $10 on a 50% discount, your refund is $10, not $20.

Can I refund a game if I bought it more than 14 days ago but haven't played it yet?

No. The 14-day window starts from the purchase date, not from when you first launch the game. If 14 days have passed since you bought it, Steam will deny the refund even if your playtime is zero.

Do refunds work the same way for games on Steam Deck?

Yes. Playtime is tracked across all devices — PC, Mac, Linux, and Steam Deck. If you play a game for one hour on your PC and one hour on your Steam Deck, your total playtime is two hours, and you're at the refund limit.