Steam is a popular video game digital distribution storefront and platform. Created by Valve and initially released in 2003, Steam is available on a variety of platforms, such as Windows, Mac OS, and Linux.
The gaming platform was originally launched to provide automatic updates for the video games developed and published by Valve, such as Half-Life and Counter-Strike. However, since the PC market in the early 2000s lacked a universal storefront for game developers and publishers to sell their video games, Valve decided to open up the platform to host third-party game developers and publishers in 2005.
Apart from being a digital storefront, Steam also offers features such as DRM (Digital Rights Management), game streaming services, social networking, anti-cheat measures, saved game cloud services, and a robust community market for buying and selling digital items for specific video game titles.
Users can purchase video games from a variety of genres, such as action, adventure, role-playing, strategy, simulation, racing, indie, horror, etc. Additionally, Steam also sells its handheld console, known as the Steam Deck, and its VR (Virtual Reality) headset, known as the Valve Index.
The supported payment methods include debit and credit cards from major vendors (Visa and MasterCard), Skrill, bank transfers, PayPal, prepaid wallets, and Steam gift cards.
What is Steam’s Cancellation and Refund Policy
Steam allows refunds for any product or video game that you purchase on the platform. Generally, software titles (including pre-orders) purchased within 14 days and with less than 2 hours of recorded use time are eligible for refunds. However, for in-game purchases or renewable subscriptions, the refund time limit is 48 hours from the time of purchase.
On the other hand, for hardware purchase cancellations and refunds, the maximum time limit provided is 14 days from the date of purchase. Also, refund requests are usually processed within 24 hours of approval, but sometimes it can take up to a week to be processed.
Lastly, refunds are either credited to your Steam Wallet or the original payment method that was used for making the purchase.
How to Cancel & Get Refund For Steam Order via Web
If you are looking to cancel your Steam order and get a refund via your trusted web browser, then you can do so by following the below-mentioned steps carefully.
- Start the refund process by first heading over to the official Steam support page here. Once done, proceed to log in to your Steam account.
- After logging in, navigate to “Purchases.”
- Look for the recent purchase that you want to cancel and refund. If your purchase is not listed within the options suggested by the Steam website, then it means that the product/order is beyond the refund window and will be ineligible for the same.
- Once selected, choose the type of issue you are facing with the product/game. Then, on the next page, choose “I’d Like To Request A Refund.” Proceed to fill out the refund form and select the type of refund you want (either to the original payment method or to your Steam Wallet).
- After that, you will receive a confirmation message at your registered email address. Within 24 hours of your request submission, your order will be refunded, provided it meets Steam’s refund terms and conditions.
How to Cancel & Get Refund via Steam Launcher
If you want to cancel your Steam order via the Steam launcher and thereby obtain your refund, then you can follow the suggested steps provided below.
- Begin the refund process by first downloading the Steam launcher from the official website here.
- Once downloaded, run and install the program. Then proceed to launch it, and then sign in to your Steam account.
- After signing in, from the provided menus in the top left corner, choose “Help.” Under help, you will find the option to select “Steam Support.” A new page will open within the launcher, and from there, head over to your “Purchases.”
- From your recent purchases, choose the game/product that you want to be refunded. You also have to select the reason for your refund and then choose whether you want your refund to be added to your Steam Wallet or credited to your original payment method.
- Once done, submit your request. You will receive a confirmation email shortly, and within the next 24 hours, your request will be processed, provided it is within Steam’s refund policies.
How to Cancel & Get Refund via Email
If you are planning to cancel your Steam order via email and get a refund, then you can follow the below-mentioned steps for a seamless process.
- Start the refund process by first drafting an email to support@steampowered.com. It is recommended that you use your registered email address to register the refund request.
- The subject line of the email should contain the word “Refund.” Along with that, you also have to provide your order ID in the subject line. In the email body, provide your name, order ID, registered email address, the name of the game, the reason you want a refund, and your preferred refund method.
- After sending the email, wait for the Steam customer care team to get back to you within the next 24 hours.
- Once the Steam customer care team verifies your refund request and considers it eligible, you will receive a confirmation email.
- Additionally, once you receive your confirmation, the refund amount will be credited to your chosen refund method.
