Steam will not refund a gifted game to the person who received it, but the original buyer may be able to get their money back under certain conditions
When someone gifts you a game on Steam, the purchase belongs to them, not to you. If you want a refund, Steam's policy does not allow the recipient to request one. The person who bought and sent the gift is the only one who can request a refund — and only if they do so within 14 days of purchase and the game has been played for fewer than 2 hours on the account that received it.
This creates a real problem if you receive a game you do not want: you cannot sell it, trade it, or return it for store credit. Your only option is to contact Steam Support and explain the situation, though they rarely override the policy. The game stays in your library unless Steam removes it for other reasons, like licensing issues in your region.
Key Takeaways
- The person who purchased and gifted the game can request a refund within 14 days of buying it, but only if the recipient account has played it for less than 2 hours total.
- The person who received the gift cannot request a refund themselves under any circumstance, even if they have never opened the game.
- Playing the game for more than 2 hours on the account that received it makes the gift non-refundable, even if the original buyer requests the refund.
- Steam Support may make exceptions in rare cases, but they do not have a standard process for refunding gifts and usually deny requests.
- Gifted games cannot be resold, traded, or converted to store credit — they remain in your library or disappear if licensing changes.
How the 2-hour and 14-day rule works for gifted games
Steam's refund window is 14 days from the date of purchase. For a gifted game, this clock starts when the gift was bought, not when it was opened or redeemed. If the original buyer waits more than 14 days, Steam will not process a refund no matter what.
The 2-hour play limit applies to the account that received the gift. If you receive a game and play it for 3 hours, the original buyer cannot get a refund even if they ask within the 14-day window. The play time is tracked from the moment the game launches on that account, and there is no way to reset or hide it.
Both conditions must be met: the refund request must come within 14 days of purchase, and the recipient account must have fewer than 2 hours of play time. If either condition fails, Steam will deny the refund.
What happens when you request a refund as the gift recipient
If you try to request a refund for a game that was gifted to you, Steam's system will reject it automatically. You will see a message stating that the game was purchased as a gift and that only the original purchaser can request a refund.
You can contact Steam Support to explain your situation, but they have no policy that requires them to make an exception. Some users report that Steam Support has refunded gifted games in unusual cases — for example, if the game is unplayable due to a technical issue, or if it was sent by mistake. However, these are rare, and Steam does not may provide any outcome.
Do not expect a refund simply because you do not like the game or changed your mind. Steam treats gifted games as final sales from the recipient's perspective.
How the original buyer can request a refund
The person who purchased the gift must log into their own Steam account and go to their purchase history. They will find the gifted game listed there with a "Request a Refund" button, as long as the 14-day window has not closed.
When they click the button, Steam will ask them to select a reason. The options include "I would like a refund for this gift" or similar wording. Steam will then check whether the recipient account has played the game for more than 2 hours. If the play time is under 2 hours and the purchase was within 14 days, the refund will be approved automatically and the money will return to the original payment method within a few days.
If the recipient has played the game for more than 2 hours, Steam will deny the refund request immediately, and the original buyer will see a message explaining why.
What you cannot do with a gifted game you do not want
Gifted games cannot be sold, traded, or transferred to another account. Steam does not have a marketplace for used games, and the gift system does not allow you to pass the game to someone else. Once it is in your library, it stays there under your account only.
You also cannot convert it to store credit or exchange it for a different game. Steam does not offer game swaps or exchanges. Your only paths are to keep the game, play it, or wait for the original buyer to request a refund within the 14-day window.
If you want to get rid of the game without playing it, your best option is to ask the person who sent it to request a refund themselves. Explain that you do not want it, and ask them to submit the refund request before 14 days have passed and before you play it.
Regional restrictions and licensing issues
Some games are region-locked, meaning they can only be played in certain countries. If you receive a gift in a region where the game is not licensed to be sold, Steam may remove it from your library without refunding anyone. This happens automatically and is not something the original buyer or you can prevent.
If a game is removed from your library due to regional licensing, the original buyer should contact Steam Support to request a refund. Provide them with the game title and the date of purchase. Steam may honor the refund in this case because the removal was not the buyer's fault.
Before accepting a gift from someone in another country, check whether the game is available in your region. You can do this by searching for the game on Steam while logged in — if it shows as unavailable, you may not be able to play it.
Contacting Steam Support about a gifted game
If you believe your situation is unusual enough to warrant an exception, you can contact Steam Support through the Help section of your account. Go to your library, find the game, and select "Support" or "Report a Problem." This will open a ticket with Steam Support.
Explain your situation clearly: whether you received the game as a gift, whether you have played it, and why you believe a refund should be made. Be specific about dates and any technical issues if they apply. Steam Support may take several days to respond.
Keep in mind that Steam Support rarely overrides the refund policy for gifted games. They are more likely to help if the game is unplayable, if it was sent by mistake, or if there is a technical reason the recipient cannot play it. Simply not wanting the game is not usually considered a valid reason.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I refund a game someone gifted me if I have not played it at all?
No. Only the original buyer can request a refund, and only within 14 days of purchase. The recipient cannot request a refund under any circumstance. If you have not played the game, ask the person who sent it to request the refund themselves before the 14-day window closes.
What if the person who gifted me the game is no longer my friend?
That does not change the policy. Only the original buyer can request a refund, and they can do so whether or not they are still in contact with you. If you want the refund, you will need to reach out to them and ask them to submit the request through their Steam account.
Can I get store credit instead of a refund for a gifted game?
No. Steam refunds go back to the original payment method — credit card, PayPal, or Steam Wallet, depending on how the gift was purchased. There is no option to convert a refund to store credit, and you cannot request store credit in place of a refund.
What happens if I play the game for 1 hour and 59 minutes — can it still be refunded?
Yes. The limit is 2 hours, so anything under that qualifies. However, once you hit 2 hours of play time, the refund window closes permanently, even if you are only a few minutes over. The original buyer should request the refund before you play the game at all to be safe.
If a game is removed from my library, can the original buyer get their money back?
Possibly. If Steam removes a game due to regional licensing or a delisting, the original buyer should contact Steam Support with the purchase date and game title. Steam may process a refund in these cases because the removal was not the buyer's choice, but there is no may provide.