What is the Steam Community Market 15-day hold
When you sell items on the Steam Community Market or send trade offers, Steam holds the resulting funds for 15 days before crediting them to your wallet. This is a security measure: it slows down item theft in the event that your account is compromised.
The hold applies to all accounts that do not have the Steam Mobile Authenticator set up (two-factor authentication via the Steam phone app).
Once the Mobile Authenticator has been active for at least 15 days, the hold is lifted completely — funds and items transfer instantly.
Why 15 days specifically
Valve's reasoning: if a scammer hijacks an unprotected account, the 15-day hold gives the real owner time to notice and contact support. With the Mobile Authenticator, Valve knows that you personally are confirming every trade from your phone, so the buffer delay is no longer needed.
Step-by-step guide: remove the hold permanently
Step 1. Install the Steam app
If Steam isn't already on your phone, download it:
- Android: Google Play → Steam
- iOS: App Store → Steam
Step 2. Sign in to your account
Open the Steam app and sign in with the same account you use on your PC.
Step 3. Enable the Mobile Authenticator
- In the app, tap Steam Guard (the shield icon).
- Tap Add Authenticator.
- Follow the prompts: confirm your phone number and enter the SMS code.
- Write down the recovery code and store it somewhere safe — you'll need it if you ever lose your phone.
Step 4. Wait 15 days
After enabling the authenticator, a 15-day countdown begins. During this period the hold is still active. After 15 days it lifts automatically — no further action required.
Step 5. Confirm it worked
Once 15 days have passed, try listing an item on the market. Funds should appear in your wallet immediately after the sale.
Important things to keep in mind
- Do not switch phones within the first 15 days after adding the authenticator — this can reset the countdown.
- Do not remove the authenticator: re-enabling it restarts the 15-day waiting period.
- Your recovery code matters: without it, recovering your account if you lose your phone can take up to 15 days and requires contacting Steam Support.
Frequently asked questions
Does the hold lift automatically after 15 days or do I need to do something? It lifts automatically exactly 15 days after you enable the Mobile Authenticator. No action needed.
What if I don't have a smartphone — is there another way to remove the hold? No. Steam Email Guard (email-based protection) does not remove the 15-day hold. The Mobile Authenticator on Android or iOS is the only solution.
Does the hold affect purchases in the Steam Store? The hold applies only to Community Market sales and trade offers. Buying games from the Steam Store using your wallet balance is generally unaffected.
While you're setting up Steam Guard, top up your Steam balance through Marix — instant activation and region-matched codes.