How to Refund a Gift on Steam for Yourself or a Friend

Get your money back for a gifted game on Steam

Co-authored by Rain Kengly Reviewed by Stan Kats

Last Updated: December 11, 2025 Fact Checked

• Refund a Gift You Sent
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• Refund a Gift You Received
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• FAQ
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• Video

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Want to refund a game you gifted someone on Steam? Or did you get a game you don't really want? Whether you're the original purchaser or the recipient, you can easily refund a gifted game in Steam using the Help center. If the gift has already been redeemed, you'll need both parties to send in a request. Here's how to refund a gift on Steam and get your money back.

Returning a Steam Gift

To refund a gift you sent on Steam, click the Help header and select Steam Support. Click Purchases, select the game, and then select I would like a refund. If the recipient already claimed the gift, they'll need to complete this same refund process first.

Steps

Section 1 of 3:

Refund a Gift You Gave on Steam

1. 
   1
   Launch Steam. If you need to refund a gift you sent someone on Steam, it must be within 14 days of the purchase and played for less than 2 hours by the recipient.

   • If the recipient has not yet redeemed the gift, continue with the next steps.
   • If the recipient has redeemed the gift, they'll need to complete the steps in the next section on their end first. Then, you'll need to return to complete these steps.
   • Keep in mind that gifts will also be refunded if the recipient does not accept the gift within 30 days.
2. 
   2
   Click Help and select Steam Support. This is in the top toolbar of Steam.

   • You can also go directly to help.steampowered.com and sign into your Steam account.
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3. 
   3
   Select Purchases. This will be underneath the list of recent products. You should see a list of all your purchases.
4. 
   4
   Click the game or content you want to refund. You should see a present icon next to any gifted games.
5. 
   5
   Click I would like a refund. This is typically the first option.
6. 
   6
   Fill out the form. When you request a refund, you'll need to specify whether you want the refund to your Steam wallet or payment method. You can also add additional details in the Notes box if you'd like.

   • If you don't see this option, the recipient has already redeemed the gift and must follow these steps before you can request a refund.
7. 
   7
   Click Submit request. You'll receive a confirmation email when the request is successfully sent and another when your refund has been processed.

   • Refunds can take up to 7 days to appear in your account.
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Section 2 of 3:

Refund a Gift You Received on Steam

1. 
   1
   Launch Steam. If you need to refund a gift you received from someone on Steam, it must be within 14 days of the purchase and have been played for less than 2 hours.

   • Gifts will also be refunded if they are not redeemed within 30 days.
2. 
   2
   Click Help and select Steam Support. This is in the top toolbar of Steam.

   • You can also go directly to help.steampowered.com and sign in to your Steam account.
3. 
   3
   Select Games, Software, etc.. This will be underneath the list of recent products. You should see a list of your recent products. If you don't see it, you can enter the title in the search bar at the bottom of the page.
4. 
   4
   Click the gifted game. This will have a present icon next to it.
5. 
   5
   Select a reason for refunding the gift. This can be any of the options.
6. 
   6
   Click I'd like to request a refund. This is one of the options.
7. 
   7
   Check the box for "Allow the original purchaser of this gift to request a refund". Make sure this is checked off; if you don't check it, the purchaser won't be able to get a refund.
8. 
   8
   Click Submit request. You'll receive a confirmation email when the request is successfully sent.
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Section 3 of 3:

Frequently Asked Questions

1. 1
   What is a gift on Steam? A gift on Steam is any game or content purchased by another user and sent to someone else. You must be friends on Steam for at least 3 days before you can send or receive gifts from them.
2. 2
   How do I buy games for others? To purchase a gift on Steam, add a game to your cart as you'd normally do when buying a game for yourself. When you view your cart, click the drop-down menu that says For my account and select This is a gift instead. Select the recipient, enter a message if you'd like, and then complete the check-out process.
3. 3
   Why can't I send a gift to my friend? If you can't send a gift to your friend, make sure you've been Steam friends for at least 3 days. Otherwise, you may be unable to gift due to your friend's region restrictions, select title restrictions, or they may already own the content.
4. 4
   Do gifts expire? If a gift isn't accepted within 30 days, it will be refunded to the original purchaser.
5. 5
   Why was my Steam gift refunded? If your gift was refunded, either 30 days have passed without redemption, or the recipient refused it.
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