Steam Refund Policy in 2026: 14 Days, 2 Hours, All Edge Cases
Steam refund policy in 2026 operates on the same core rules as since 2015, with edge cases clarified by Valve in 2024–2025. The main rule remains: refundable within 14 days of purchase if playtime is under 2 hours. Here's the complete guide including all exceptions and a step-by-step request walkthrough.
Core Steam Refund Rule
Valve refunds automatically if both conditions are met:
- Less than 14 days since purchase
- Less than 2 hours total playtime (cumulative, not per session)
When both apply, refund is approved automatically with no questions asked. Funds return to the original payment method (bank, wallet) within 7 business days or instantly to Steam Wallet.
Exceptions and 2026 Nuances
Preorders
Refundable any time before release. After release, the standard 14-day countdown begins.
DLC
Refundable within 14 days if playtime in the base game after the DLC purchase is under 2 hours. DLC that's "consumable" (cosmetics, currency) that's been spent cannot be refunded.
Gifted Games
Gifts can be refunded within 14 days if the recipient hasn't activated the gift on their account.
Bundles
Bundle refunds work as a whole. Partial refund of individual bundle items isn't possible if the bundle was purchased as a unit (only some bundles support per-item).
Steam Wallet Top-Ups
Wallet top-ups can be refunded within 14 days only if the funds are untouched. Any purchase using the topped-up balance invalidates the refund.
Hardware (Steam Deck, controllers)
Refundable within 14 days of delivery, in original packaging.
Edge Case Lookup Table
| Situation | Refundable? |
|---|---|
| Game, 1.5 hours over 5 days | Yes, automatic |
| Game, 2.5 hours in 1 day | No (over 2 hours) |
| Game, 1 hour over 15 days | No (over 14 days) |
| Preorder, canceled before release | Yes, 100% |
| DLC with 5+ hours in base game after purchase | Often denied |
| Gift, already activated by recipient | No |
| Steam Wallet, untouched | Yes |
| Steam Wallet, $5 of $50 spent | No |
| In-game purchases (CS2, Dota 2 items) | No |
| F2P microtransactions | No |
How to Request a Refund Step-by-Step
- Open help.steampowered.com and sign in.
- Select Purchases → relevant transaction → I would like to request a refund.
- Pick a reason (doesn't affect approval but Valve uses for statistics).
- Choose refund destination: original card or Steam Wallet.
- Wait anywhere from 30 minutes to 7 business days.
Steam Wallet refunds are instant. Bank card refunds take 1–7 days depending on your bank.
When Valve May Deny
- Account has a history of frequent refunds (more than 8–10 per year).
- Purchase came through a third-party key marketplace (G2A, Kinguin) — Steam doesn't refund these; contact the seller.
- Promotional code or gift card from a third-party source — refund to original payment isn't supported.
- Account received a VAC ban after the purchase.
- Manipulation pattern detected (buying expensive games, finishing them, refunding).
Special Cases by Country
- EU customers have additional consumer-protection rights under the Consumer Rights Directive. Valve adheres to EU rules, which often align with their global 14-day policy.
- California / US states with stricter laws — minor variations possible but practically identical.
- Russia, Turkey, other regions — same global 14-day / 2-hour policy applies.
Refunds and Marketplace Purchases (Marix, Resellers)
Steam Wallet codes from resellers are top-ups, not Valve products. After activation, funds land on the wallet and aren't refundable through Steam (you'd contact the reseller for the code itself if there's an issue). However, games purchased with that balance follow normal Steam refund rules — and refund returns to Steam Wallet, where you can spend it on something else.
This makes wallet codes effectively safer than direct card purchases for the refund flow: you maintain spending power within Steam regardless of how many games you refund.
Where to Buy Steam Wallet
Buy Steam Wallet codes via Marix — pay in rubles via SBP or RF card, code delivered to email in minutes, activates on accounts of any region. Works seamlessly with Valve's refund system.