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Yes. The original purchaser can request a refund for an unredeemed Steam game gift. If the recipient has redeemed it, they must first approve its removal and refund; then the purchaser submits a separate request. Steam’s usual rule is that the gift was bought within 14 days and the recipient played it for less than two hours, but Steam says it may review requests outside those limits.
Who has to request the refund?
| Gift situation | Who acts | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Not redeemed | Purchaser | The purchaser requests the refund through Steam Help. |
| Already redeemed | Recipient, then purchaser | The recipient approves removal and the refund; the purchaser then requests a refund for the purchase. |
| Recipient declines | Recipient declines the gift | Steam says the purchase is automatically refunded to the purchaser. |
| No response after delivery | No action required | Steam says it automatically cancels the gift and refunds the purchaser if the recipient takes no action within 30 days. |
Steam Support says, “Once the gift has been accepted, the game is permanently added to the Steam account that it was redeemed on.” That is why a redeemed gift requires the recipient’s approval before the purchaser can request its refund. See Steam’s Steam Gifts FAQ.
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How to request a refund for an unredeemed gift
- Sign in to Steam Help as the purchaser.
- Open Purchases and select the gifted game purchase.
- Choose I would like a refund, select a reason, and submit the request.
Steam says an approved refund goes to the original payment method when that method supports refunds; otherwise, the amount is credited to the Steam Wallet. The purchaser, not the intended recipient, requests the refund.
How to refund a gift that was redeemed
- The recipient signs in to Steam Help and selects the gifted game.
- The recipient chooses I’d like to request a refund and checks the option allowing the original purchaser to request a refund.
- After the recipient approves, the purchaser signs in and submits a separate refund request for the gift purchase through Purchases.
Do not have the purchaser submit the request before the recipient’s approval: Steam says an early request will be declined. The recipient’s playtime counts toward the usual gift eligibility rule. Details are in Steam’s gift FAQ and Steam’s pre-order refund FAQ.
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#1 Best Overall
- Visa Virtual eGift Cards are designed for online use only. Gift Cards are subject to Terms and Conditions: a.co/5bw3qXJ
- When you access your Visa Virtual eGift Card for the first time, you’ll need to register your name, address, phone number, and email address via activationspot.com. These details should also be used as your billing address for online purchases, as many merchants require address verification for purchase authorization.
- This Visa Virtual eGift Card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Visa Virtual eGift Cards are emailed active.
- Funds do not expire but your Visa Virtual eGift Card has a ‘valid thru’ date (9 years from date of purchase). If funds remain after this date has passed, please call the Toll Free number found on your Visa Virtual eGift Card for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout.
- This item is not eligible for refund, resale, or return. Available for sale within the United States only. Not available to residents of Puerto Rico, Hawaii, New Mexico, South Dakota, West Virginia and the US Virgin Islands.
Steam’s usual eligibility and timing rules
Steam’s gift FAQ states the usual eligibility rule as purchase within 14 days and less than two hours of play by the recipient. Steam’s general refund policy also describes a 14-day and under-two-hour standard, but says requests outside its stated rules may still be submitted for review. That means the limits are not an absolute bar to making a request; it does not mean Steam will approve an exception. Check Steam’s Common Refund Questions for the general policy.
For an approved refund, Steam gives a general estimate of up to seven days for the money to appear; an approved Steam Wallet credit may appear within 24–48 hours. These are support estimates, not guaranteed processing times for every payment method.
Rank #2
- Visa Virtual eGift Cards are designed for online use only. Gift Cards are subject to Terms and Conditions: a.co/5bw3qXJ
- When you access your Visa Virtual eGift Card for the first time, you’ll need to register your name, address, phone number, and email address via activationspot.com. These details should also be used as your billing address for online purchases, as many merchants require address verification for purchase authorization.
- This Visa Virtual eGift Card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Visa Virtual eGift Cards are emailed active.
- Funds do not expire but your Visa Virtual eGift Card has a ‘valid thru’ date (9 years from date of purchase). If funds remain after this date has passed, please call the Toll Free number found on your Visa Virtual eGift Card for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout.
- This item is not eligible for refund, resale, or return. Available for sale within the United States only. Not available to residents of Puerto Rico, Hawaii, New Mexico, South Dakota, West Virginia and the US Virgin Islands.
When Steam removes or does not support a gift
If a gift is removed because of fraud or a payment dispute, Steam says it is revoked from the recipient’s library. Steam also says it does not support third-party sales of Steam gifts; if you bought a gift from a third-party seller, contact that seller about a refund. See Steam’s Revoked Gifts FAQ.
Gift availability can also depend on regional restrictions, which Steam says are shown during purchase and in the gift description. Some games or add-ons cannot be gifted because of developer restrictions, regional restrictions, or compatibility issues. Steam suggests a Steam Gift Card for a future purchase in those cases, but a gift card is not a way to refund a gift already purchased. See Steam’s region restrictions FAQ and Steam’s purchasing and billing FAQ.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Visa Virtual eGift Cards are designed for online use only. Gift Cards are subject to Terms and Conditions: a.co/5bw3qXJ
- When you access your Visa Virtual eGift Card for the first time, you’ll need to register your name, address, phone number, and email address via activationspot.com. These details should also be used as your billing address for online purchases, as many merchants require address verification for purchase authorization.
- This Visa Virtual eGift Card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Visa Virtual eGift Cards are emailed active.
- Funds do not expire but your Visa Virtual eGift Card has a ‘valid thru’ date (9 years from date of purchase). If funds remain after this date has passed, please call the Toll Free number found on your Visa Virtual eGift Card for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout.
- This item is not eligible for refund, resale, or return. Available for sale within the United States only. Not available to residents of Puerto Rico, Hawaii, New Mexico, South Dakota, West Virginia and the US Virgin Islands.
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Rank #3
- Visa Virtual eGift Cards are designed for online use only. Gift Cards are subject to Terms and Conditions: a.co/5bw3qXJ
- When you access your Visa Virtual eGift Card for the first time, you’ll need to register your name, address, phone number, and email address via activationspot.com. These details should also be used as your billing address for online purchases, as many merchants require address verification for purchase authorization.
- This Visa Virtual eGift Card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Visa Virtual eGift Cards are emailed active.
- Funds do not expire but your Visa Virtual eGift Card has a ‘valid thru’ date (9 years from date of purchase). If funds remain after this date has passed, please call the Toll Free number found on your Visa Virtual eGift Card for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout.
- This item is not eligible for refund, resale, or return. Available for sale within the United States only. Not available to residents of Puerto Rico, Hawaii, New Mexico, South Dakota, West Virginia and the US Virgin Islands.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
