Case 1
- When did you buy the game?
- 20617
- How long have you played it?
- 0.5h
- Counting from which day?
- 20620
11days
Open with these valuesSteam Refund Calculator
14days
Result: 14 daysValve refunds a game bought within fourteen days and played for less than two hours. Bought five days ago with one hour on the clock, nine days are left. Two hours of playtime closes the window straight away, whatever the date says.
Worked examples
Case 2
- When did you buy the game?
- 20615
- How long have you played it?
- 1h
- Counting from which day?
- 20620
9days
Open with these valuesCase 3
- When did you buy the game?
- 20606
- How long have you played it?
- 0.5h
- Counting from which day?
- 20620
0days
Open with these valuesHow it's calculated
Days left = purchase date + 14 − counting date
- StepEnter the date on your Steam purchase receipt.
- StepEnter the playtime Steam shows on the game's library page.
- ResultTwo hours or more leaves nothing; below that, count 14 days on from the purchase.
What this number means
Both conditions have to hold at once
Fourteen days since purchase and under two hours of playtime are not alternatives; miss either one and the automatic window is shut. Two hours on the clock leaves nothing even on the day you bought the game (policy as checked 2026-08-25).
The limits exclude their own edge
The policy reads within fourteen days and less than two hours, so day fourteen and exactly two hours are already outside. Bought thirteen days ago you still have one day; a day later you have none.
Every running minute counts as playtime
Steam records menus, loading screens and time away from the keyboard. The figure on the game's library page is the one Valve goes by.
Pre-orders count from release day
For a pre-order the fourteen days start at the release date rather than the day you paid, so the purchase date is the wrong input here. Both limits come from the refund policy linked below, checked on 2026-08-25, and Valve can revise them.
Commonly misread
I have only played an hour, so I can still refund it.
The fourteen days have to hold as well. Past them only a case-by-case request is left.
I bought it exactly fourteen days ago, so I have one day left.
Day fourteen is already outside the window. Thirteen days ago is the last purchase date with a day to spare.
I left the game idling in the menu, so that does not count as playtime.
Every minute the game is running counts, menus and idle time included.
Reference table
| Bought | Playtime | Days left to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Today | under 2 hours | 14 |
| Three days ago | under 2 hours | 11 |
| Five days ago | under 2 hours | 9 |
| Thirteen days ago | under 2 hours | 1 |
| Fourteen days ago | under 2 hours | 0 |
| Any date | 2 hours or more | 0 |
Questions
What is Steam's refund policy?
Valve refunds a purchase made within fourteen days that has been played for less than two hours. Both conditions have to hold. The money goes back to your payment method or to your Steam Wallet, whichever you pick.
How do I request a Steam refund?
Open help.steampowered.com, pick the game, choose the option to request a refund and give a reason. The same route is inside the client under Help, Steam Support, Purchases.
What counts towards the two-hour limit?
Every minute the game is running, including menus, loading screens and time away from the keyboard. Steam records it automatically, and the figure on the library page is the one that counts.
Can I refund a pre-ordered game?
Yes, at any time before release. After release the fourteen days start on the release date, not on the day you paid, so this calculator's purchase date is the wrong input for a pre-order.
Can I refund DLC?
DLC follows the same fourteen days and two hours, counted on the underlying game since the DLC was bought. DLC that has been consumed, modified or transferred is excluded, so in-game currency and unlocks usually are not refundable.
Can I still ask after the window closes?
Valve looks at requests outside the window case by case, so nothing is refused automatically. A broken game or a store page that promised something else are the usual grounds. This calculator shows the automatic window only.
Sources and last check
Information, not professional advice.