Can you buy a Steam game for a non-friend?
You can buy a Steam game for a non-friend by using the “Purchase as a gift” feature, which allows you to send a game to anyone with a Steam account, although they must be on your friends list for at least 3 days to be eligible to receive the gift. To do this, simply click the “Purchase as a gift” button on the game’s store page, select the recipient from your friends list, and follow the prompts to complete the purchase.
Understanding Steam Gifting
To gift a game to someone on Steam, you need to have them on your friends list for a certain period, and their account must be in good standing. The process is straightforward, but there are some regional restrictions and price differences that might affect your ability to gift games to users in other regions.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I gift a Steam game to someone who is not on my friends list?
To gift a Steam game to someone, they must be on your friends list for at least 3 days.
2. How do I send a Steam game as a gift?
To send a Steam game as a gift, click the “Purchase as a gift” button on the game’s store page, select the recipient from your friends list, and follow the prompts.
3. Can I buy a Steam game for someone without them knowing?
No, you cannot buy a Steam game anonymously, as the recipient will see your Steam profile name and/or the e-mail address associated with your account.
4. How do I hide a Steam game from my library?
To hide a Steam game, click the game in your Steam Library, then click the gear icon and select Manage > Hide this game.
5. Can I download Steam games for a friend?
Yes, you can authorize Family Library Sharing on up to 10 devices and for up to 5 accounts, allowing them to access your game library.
6. Why can’t I gift a Steam game to a particular friend?
Your friend may be ineligible due to regional restrictions, their account not being in good standing, or if you haven’t been in-game friends for at least 2 weeks.
7. How long do I have to be friends with someone on Steam to gift them a game?
You must be in-game friends with someone for at least 3 days to gift them a Steam game.
8. Can I send an extra copy of a Steam game to a friend?
Yes, you can gift an extra copy of a Steam game to a friend by selecting Manage Gifts and Guest Passes under the Games tab.
9. How do I buy a game on Steam?
To buy a game on Steam, open the Steam client, go to the Store, find the game, click Add to Cart, and then Purchase for Myself or Purchase as a Gift.
10. Does Steam notify my friends when I buy a game?
Yes, Steam will notify your friends when you buy a game if your profile is set to public, but you can set your inventory to be viewed by friends only or private.
11. Can my friends see non-Steam games in my library?
If you add a non-Steam game to your library and run it from the Steam shortcut, your friends will see that you are playing a non-Steam game.
12. Can I view someone else’s purchase history on Steam?
No, you cannot view someone else’s purchase history on Steam, but you can see their activity, including new game purchases, if their profile is public.
13. Why should I buy games on Steam?
Steam offers a vast library of games, including classic games, and has a user-friendly interface, making it a popular choice for gamers.
14. Can I share Steam games with other users?
Yes, you can share Steam games with other users through Family Library Sharing, which allows you to authorize up to 5 accounts and 10 devices to access your library.
15. Can I refund a Steam game?
Yes, Valve will issue a refund for any game requested within 14 days of purchase and played for less than 2 hours, as long as you submit a request through Steam Support.