Steam: Return the game – it’s that easy

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Have you bought a game on Steam but want to return it? We provide you with simple instructions on how to get your money back or get Steam credit. Here you will also find out what requirements you have to meet for the return, what the return period is and what you can do if you have problems.

This article originally appeared in November 2022. We have checked whether the information is up to date and added information about what you can do if all the requirements for returning the game are not met. (as of May 8, 2024)

Here’s how you can return a game on Steam

How do I return a game on Steam? If you decide you no longer want a game, you can return it. You have to proceed as follows:

  • Step 1: Open Steam and click on “Help” in the top right corner of the homepage and select “Steam Support”.
  • Step 2: You will now see your latest products and the “Games, Software, etc.” tab underneath. If the game you want to return is listed under “New Products”, select it. If it’s not under “New Products,” click “Games, Software, etc.”
  • Step 3: You can then enter the name of the game in the search bar and click on the corresponding title
  • Step 4: You will be given options to choose what problems you have with the title; selects the relevant problem (for example: “It’s not how I imagined it would be”)
  • Step 5: Click on “I would like to request a refund”
  • Step 6: Choose whether you would like the refund as Steam credit or via the payment method of the purchase
  • Optional step 7: You can indicate the reason for your return by clicking on an answer under “Reason” or by writing your own text under “My problem is not listed”.
  • Step 8: Click on “Submit application”.

    • Here in the gallery we have added a few screenshots to help you:

    Step 1
    step 3
    Step 5

    Steam Support will then process the application and you will be notified by email as soon as it has been rejected or accepted.

    You will receive a full refund within one week of the application being approved.

    If for some reason the gaming platform is unable to refund the money via the original payment method, you will receive it as Steam credit. This happens, for example, if the payment method selected when purchasing does not support a refund.

    Alternatively, you can go directly to step 1 via “Support” and then “Purchases”. There you select the game title and can choose a refund. The rest then works as described from step 4.

    If you’re always looking for new games, you’ll find cheap titles that cost less than 5 euros on Steam here:

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    You have to keep this in mind when returning the item – requirements, duration and problems

    How long is the return period? You can return the title within 2 weeks from the day you purchase a game.

    Important: To be able to return the game, you should not have played it for longer than 2 hours.

    Which games can I return on Steam? You can return almost any game on the platform. The reason doesn’t matter: be it that you bought the game by mistake or you don’t like the game.

    However, it is important that you return the game within the specified return period and that you have not exceeded a certain playing time.

    In the case of additional content, it can be returned “as long as the main game to which the additional content belongs has not been played for more than two hours since purchase and the additional content has not been consumed, modified or transferred” (via Steam).

    What can I do if the return period has expired? If you do not meet a requirement for returning the game, you can still submit a return request to Steam. This will be checked and you still have the chance of a successful refund, even if it is lower.

    But there was also, for example, a special case with Helldivers 2 as part of the PSN obligation, where you could still return the game even though the 2-hour mark had already been exceeded.

    What do I do if my return is rejected? If your return request was rejected and you think there was a mistake, you can submit a request again via Steam Support. This is then checked by another employee.

    Information about Steam credit – payout and Paypal

    Can I withdraw my Steam credit? No! On Steam, the Steam credit you receive cannot be given away, transferred to another account or paid out. The credited amount is linked to the corresponding account.

    Can I have the credit credited to me via Paypal? When choosing how you would like to receive the credit when you return it, you can have the money refunded via Paypal if you purchased it through that method.

    However, the Steam credit itself can no longer be paid out via Paypal.

    Here you will find 5 more games like Palworld that you can already play on Steam today

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