how to refund steam gift（Steps to Request a Refund for a Steam Gift）

How to Refund Steam Gift: A Complete, No-Stress Guide for Gamers

You just received a Steam gift — maybe it’s from a well-meaning friend, a holiday surprise, or even a mistaken purchase. But now you’re staring at your library, realizing this isn’t the game you wanted. Or perhaps you gifted the wrong title to someone else and need to fix it. How to refund Steam gift becomes the urgent question on your mind — and rightly so. Steam’s refund policy is famously gamer-friendly, but gifts add a layer of complexity. Don’t panic. This guide cuts through the confusion, giving you clear, step-by-step instructions — whether you’re the recipient or the sender — to get your money back without headaches.

Understanding Steam’s Refund Policy for Gifts

Before diving into the “how,” let’s clarify the “what.” Valve’s official refund policy allows most purchases to be refunded within 14 days of purchase and with less than 2 hours of playtime. This applies to games, DLC, in-game purchases, and pre-purchases — and yes, gifts are included, but with important conditions.

The key distinction? Who initiates the refund depends on who currently owns the item.

• If the gift is still unclaimed (sitting in the recipient’s inbox), the sender can request a refund.
• If the gift has been redeemed and added to the recipient’s library, the recipient must request the refund — even if they didn’t pay for it.

This structure ensures fairness: once a gift is accepted, control transfers to the recipient. Steam doesn’t want someone refunding a game out from under a friend who’s already playing it.

Step-by-Step: How to Refund an Unclaimed Steam Gift

Let’s say you bought Cyberpunk 2077 for your cousin, but they already own it — and the gift is still sitting unopened in their Steam inventory. Here’s what you do:

1. Log into your Steam account — the one that purchased the gift.
2. Go to Help > Steam Support > Purchases.
3. Locate the gifted game in your purchase history.
4. Click “I have a question about this purchase.”
5. Select “I’d like to request a refund.”
6. Steam will detect that the gift is unclaimed and allow you to proceed.
7. Choose your reason (e.g., “Bought by mistake”) and submit.

✅ Boom. Refund approved almost instantly in most cases. Funds return to your original payment method or as Steam Wallet credit, depending on your settings.

Pro Tip: You can check gift status anytime. If the recipient hasn’t clicked “Add to Library,” it’s still unclaimed — and refundable by you.

What If the Gift Was Already Redeemed?

Now, imagine your friend opened that Hades gift you sent — but they’re not into roguelikes. They want a refund. In this case, only they can request it. Here’s how they should proceed:

1. They log into their own Steam account.
2. Navigate to Help > Steam Support > Games, Software, etc.
3. Find the gifted title in their library list.
4. Click “I have a question about this product.”
5. Choose “I’d like to request a refund.”
6. Steam will verify playtime (<2 hours) and purchase date (<14 days).
7. If eligible, the refund is processed — usually to your original payment method (the sender’s), unless it was a Steam Wallet gift.

⚠️ Important: If the sender used Steam Wallet funds, the refund goes back to their Wallet — not the recipient’s. If a credit card or PayPal was used, the money returns there. Recipients cannot redirect refund destinations.

Real-World Case: When Refunds Get Tricky

Case Study #1: The Overplayed Gift

Sarah gifted her brother Elden Ring for his birthday. He played it for 3 hours before deciding it was “too hard.” He requests a refund — but Steam denies it. Why? Playtime exceeded 2 hours. Even though he didn’t buy it, the eligibility rules still apply. Moral: Encourage recipients to try games quickly if they’re unsure.

Case Study #2: The Expired Window

Mark sent his coworker Baldur’s Gate 3 as a thank-you gift. Three weeks later, the coworker realizes their PC can’t run it. Too late. The 14-day window closed. No refund. Steam’s cutoff is strict — no exceptions for “I forgot” or “My PC broke.”

Case Study #3: The Regional Gift Glitch

Jenny bought a gift for her friend in Brazil — but didn’t realize regional pricing differences. The game cost 10 less in her friend’s region. When refunded, Steam issued only the *regional amount* back to Jenny — not the full 59.99 she paid. Always check regional pricing before gifting internationally.

What If Steam Denies Your Gift Refund?

Sometimes, you’ll see “You are not eligible for a refund” — even if you swear you meet the criteria. Don’t give up. Here’s what to do:

• Double-check dates and playtime. Go to your account details > “View purchase history” for exact timestamps.
• Contact Steam Support directly. Use the “This is not my issue” option to escalate. Explain politely — agents can sometimes override automated denials for edge cases (e.g., technical errors, accidental family sharing use).
• Provide evidence. If