Steam Refund FAQ
Ten repeat questions we see on r/Steam, Inven, and DC-Inside — answered to match the 2026 refund policy.
I bought a game 13 days ago and played 1h 55m. Will Steam actually refund it?
Yes — both conditions are met (under 14 days, under 2 hours) so automatic approval is virtually guaranteed. Just submit before the 14-day window closes.
Does the 2 hours include time across multiple sessions?
Yes. Steam adds up the total playtime reported on the product's library page, not a single session.
I'm 20 minutes over 2 hours — is there any chance?
Possibly. Valve has discretion. Cite a specific reason (game-breaking bug, hardware incompatibility, promised feature missing) and keep the tone polite.
How does DLC playtime work?
DLC uses base-game playtime accrued since the DLC was bought. The DLC content itself must not have been consumed or permanently modified the base game.
Can I refund a season pass after trying one DLC?
Usually no. Season passes are refundable only if none of the included DLC has been launched or transferred.
Pre-order was placed 30 days ago but the game is not out yet.
Pre-orders are refundable any time before release, regardless of how long ago you ordered. After release, the 14-day / 2-hour window begins.
How fast does the refund arrive?
Valve reviews within ~7 days, then your bank/payment processor can take another 7 business days. International cards sometimes stretch to two weeks.
Does a VPN / gifted game qualify?
Steam explicitly disallows refunds on gifts received, if the recipient has redeemed it. Gifted purchases can be cancelled before the recipient accepts.
I got VAC-banned — can I still refund?
No. Valve explicitly states that VAC-banned accounts are not eligible for refunds on that title.
Is there a limit on how many refunds I can request?
No hard cap, but repeated abuse (many refunds in a short period) can trigger a manual block. Valve officially says the policy is a "right, not a way of evaluating games".