Sometimes we make mistakes or decisions we regret. On Steam, the online store for PC gamers, it's easy to backtrack when a player buys a game they don't want to keep. Valve has always been known for its fairly flexible refund policy, but there are certain limits beyond which players can't go.
Currently, it's possible to get a no questions asked refund for a game if you've played it for less than 2 hours and the request is made within 14 days of the title's release - except for early access where the previous period is also taken into account in the play time. But what happens if you purchase with the wrong Steam account? Can you request a refund or can you transfer the game to another account than your own? The answer below depends on the scenario.
Wrong account for purchase
If you share a computer with other members of your household, or a guest forgets to log out after their session, it is possible that you have already made a payment for a game on the wrong Steam account and have claimed your due. If this is the case, know that it is still possible to get out of it. However, it is good to note that it is absolutely not possible to transfer from one account to another. Valve simply prevents an individual from being able to share access to a game with multiple people via a single purchase on its platform.
However, any purchase like this is subject to the same regulations for refunds. So you just have to request it on the Steam support site. You will then receive the amount spent, which you can reinvest in the same game, but in the correct account.
Another solution is available to you if you have made an account mistake, but both belong to you. You just need to do a family share in order to group the libraries of the two accounts and take full advantage of the game's features.
Buy a game for a friend
If you wanted to transfer a game to offer it to a friend, this will therefore be impossible. To make a gift, it is just before payment that the decision must be made. During the order summary, you will then have the option to buy the game for a friend, enter their Steam account and leave a note for them. It will not be possible to do this after payment.
What about Instant Gaming codes?
The procedure is different if you go through a third-party site to get a PC game. On Instant Gaming, and other competing sites, you can get your hands on game keys at a lower price, for all platforms, including Steam. You then place an order on the site, then enter the code on Valve's platform.
If you want to give it to a friend, you will have to go through a messaging system to provide them with the code directly. If you ever redeem the code on the wrong Steam account, you can kiss your money goodbye. Indeed, it is unlikely that key resellers will grant you a refund, and Steam does not take into account external purchases in its refund policy. The only viable solution is to share a family account if both accounts belong to you.
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