What happens if you redeem a game you already have on Steam?

If you redeem a game you already have on Steam, the steam key won’t be used, and it will say that you already own the game, with the exception being when the game is included with other games in a bundle, in which case the key would be lost. The Steam platform stores records of all purchases in your account, and if you try to redeem a game you already own, you will receive a notification that the game is already in your Library, and you will not be able to add it.

Understanding Steam’s Game Redemption Policy

The Steam platform has a clear policy regarding game redemption, and it’s essential to understand the process to avoid any issues or losses. If you enter a steam key of a different copy of the same game you already own, your steam key won’t be used, and you will be notified that you already own the game.

Related FAQs

General Questions

1. Can you redeem a game twice on Steam?: No, as long as you’re using the same account both times, it can’t happen, because Steam stores records of all purchases in your account.
2. What happens if 2 people gift the same game on Steam?: You can’t add the same game twice, and since gifts cannot be stored in the inventory anymore, you can only reject it, and the friend who gifted the game will get a refund.
3. Can you own 2 copies of the same game on Steam?: No, owning two copies of the same game in one account is not possible, as you can only have one instance of a game on your account.

Refund and Purchase Policies

4. Can I refund a game on Steam?: Yes, Valve will, upon request via help.steampowered.com, issue a refund for any title that is requested within 14 days of purchase and has been played for less than 2 hours.
5. What happens to Steam games after a refund?: Refunded purchases will be removed from your account, but the files will still be on your computer, and you cannot play that game anymore.
6. Can I rebuy a game after refunding it?: Yes, you should still be able to purchase a game after refunding, but if the refund hasn’t been approved yet, that could mess up the approval.

Gifting and Account Management

7. Can I gift a game I already own on Steam?: No, Steam doesn’t give you the option to gift a game to a friend if they already own it.
8. Can I merge two Steam accounts?: No, Steam accounts cannot be merged together, as per the Steam Subscriber Agreement.
9. Can I refund gifted games on Steam?: Yes, unredeemed gifts may be refunded within the standard 14-day/two-hour refund period, and redeemed gifts may be refunded under the same conditions if the gift recipient initiates the refund.

Steam Keys and Codes

10. Can a steam key be used more than once?: No, Steam Keys are single-use, unique, alphanumeric codes that customers can activate on Steam to add a product license to their account.
11. Do Steam codes expire?: No, Steam Keys bought from Steam never expire, and you can wait as long as you want to redeem them.
12. How many games can you redeem on Steam at a time?: While Valve itself doesn’t give users proper documentation regarding the Too Many Activation Attempts error, according to the community and Fanatical, Steam has a 20-25 key redemption limit per short time period.

Account and Security

13. Is it legal to sell a Steam account?: No, Steam accounts cannot be bought or sold, as an account is for the personal use of its creator only.
14. Can two Steam accounts have the same phone number?: Yes, you may use the same phone number on multiple accounts, and accounts with the same phone number may be treated as the same identity with respect to the Steam Subscriber Agreement, policies, or restrictions.

Miscellaneous

15. What is the $5 limit on Steam?: The $5 limit is a restriction imposed by Steam to prevent malicious users from spamming, scamming, and phishing other users, by requiring accounts to have spent at least $5.00 USD in Steam to access certain community features.