Table of Contents

How Do I Remove Steam Market Restrictions 15 Days?

Quick answer

This page answers How do I remove Steam market restrictions 15 days? quickly.

Fast answer first. Then use the tabs or video for more detail.

Watch the video explanation below for a faster overview.
Game mechanics may change with updates or patches.
Use this block to get the short answer without scrolling the whole page.

Read the FAQ section if the article has one.
Use the table of contents to jump straight to the detailed section you need.
Watch the video first, then skim the article for specifics.

▶

The short, but unfortunately disappointing, answer is: you can’t immediately remove a 15-day Steam market restriction. These restrictions are implemented by Steam to safeguard users and their accounts, and there are no official shortcuts or workarounds. The 15-day hold is a security measure designed to protect your items if your account has had Steam Guard recently enabled, or if you haven’t used the mobile authenticator. This means that if you’ve just enabled Steam Guard or if you haven’t used a Mobile Authenticator for at least 7 days, you’ll have to wait it out. There is no way to circumvent this security measure.

This article will explain why these restrictions exist, the scenarios that trigger them, and what you can do to avoid them in the future. We will also explore other related Steam restrictions and answer common questions users have.

Why Does Steam Impose a 15-Day Restriction?

Steam implements a 15-day restriction as a critical security precaution, particularly when changes occur to your account’s security settings. The most common reason for a 15-day hold is due to newly enabled Steam Guard. Additionally, if you are not using the Steam Guard Mobile Authenticator, trades and market listings will be held for 15 days, even if Steam Guard is enabled via email.

This waiting period serves several important purposes:

Prevent Unauthorized Transactions: If a malicious actor gains access to your account, the 15-day hold gives you time to notice any suspicious trade or market activity you did not initiate. You can then cancel these actions, preventing your items from being transferred to the intruder.
Protect Against Hijackers: By placing a hold on items, Steam prevents hijackers from quickly draining an account’s inventory.
Verify Ownership: The delay acts as an additional verification layer, giving users time to confirm if trades or listings were indeed initiated by them, and not by someone else. This helps protect your items even when someone has access to your account credentials.

Key Factors Triggering 15-Day Restrictions

Here are the primary triggers for a 15-day trade or market hold:

Newly Enabled Steam Guard: If you just enabled Steam Guard on your account, you’ll encounter the 15-day hold. This is because Steam needs to verify your setup.
No Active Steam Guard Mobile Authenticator for 7 Days: If you have not had the mobile authenticator enabled for at least 7 days, any trade involving items leaving your account will be held for up to 15 days. This is to help verify that the trade was legitimate and not done by another party using your account information.
Switching Devices: Changing the device you log in from or reinstalling Steam might trigger a 15-day hold as the system needs to re-verify your identity.

How to Avoid Future 15-Day Restrictions

While you can’t bypass an existing 15-day restriction, you can certainly take steps to avoid similar issues in the future:

Enable Steam Guard Mobile Authenticator: The most effective way to avoid 15-day holds is to use the Steam Guard Mobile Authenticator. This provides the best balance of security and convenience. Make sure to have it enabled for at least 7 days to get faster trades.
Avoid Frequent Security Changes: Try to avoid constantly disabling and re-enabling Steam Guard, or switching devices frequently. Keep your security setup consistent to minimize the risk of triggering these holds.
Keep Your Account Secure: Use a strong, unique password for your Steam account and keep your associated email address secure as well. Do not share your account information with anyone.
Be Aware of Phishing Attempts: Never click on suspicious links or enter your Steam credentials on unknown websites. Be vigilant about phishing attacks and other social engineering scams that can compromise your account security.
Stay Up-to-Date: Regularly update your Steam client to ensure you have the latest security patches and features.
Act Fast If You Suspect Unauthorized Activity: Check your pending trades often. If you notice something unusual, immediately cancel the trade and change your password. Also, check your login history often to be certain that there is no strange activity taking place on your account.

Other Common Steam Restrictions

Besides the 15-day hold, there are other restrictions you might encounter. Here are a few common ones:

Limited Accounts: If your account is limited, you will have restrictions on accessing the Community Market. To lift these restrictions, you need to spend at least $5 USD in the Steam Store (or equivalent), either through a direct purchase, wallet funding or a Steam gift card. You don’t necessarily have to spend the funds, they can just be added to your Steam Wallet.
30-Day Market Restriction: Sometimes, Steam might require a validated purchase to be older than 30 days to access the market. It’s important to ensure that you have a valid Steam purchase between 30 days and 1 year old with no recent chargebacks or payment disputes to be able to use the market.
7-Day Cooldown: When you cancel a trade that is being held by Steam, you’ll get a 7-day trading cooldown. This is a security measure meant to prevent further unauthorized trade attempts. This cooldown cannot be removed by Steam Support.
VAC Bans: If you have been caught cheating and been issued a VAC (Valve Anti-Cheat) ban, this ban is permanent and prevents you from trading, selling, or sharing items gained while cheating.
Temporary Trade Bans: While most trade bans are permanent, you might encounter temporary trade bans. These temporary bans put your account into trade probation when they are automatically lifted.
New Purchase Trade Restrictions: Recently purchased items are often restricted from trading to prevent fraud. If you purchase something, it may have a cooldown before it can be traded.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions related to Steam market restrictions:

1. Can Steam Support remove a 15-day market restriction?

No, Steam Support cannot remove a 15-day market restriction. These are automatic security measures implemented by the system and are not manually adjustable.

2. Does a VPN help bypass Steam restrictions?

No, **a VPN cannot bypass Steam restrictions.** In some cases, using a VPN might even cause more restrictions due to suspicious activity detection. It's best to avoid VPN use when accessing your Steam account.

3. What happens if I cancel a trade that’s on hold?

Cancelling a trade that’s on hold will result in a 7-day trade cooldown to prevent further unauthorized trade attempts. This cooldown is separate from the 15-day hold.

4. How long do VAC bans last?

VAC bans are permanent and cannot be removed by Steam Support. They affect your ability to trade or sell items gained through cheating.

5. Why am I asked to confirm trades through email even if I have the Mobile Authenticator?

Some high-value trades may require additional confirmation via email, even if you use the mobile authenticator. This is a further layer of security that Steam implements to protect users from scams and exploits.

6. Can I still trade gifts with a market restriction?

The ability to trade gifts may also be affected by restrictions. It’s important to have the Mobile Authenticator active for at least 7 days to have the easiest access to trading.

7. Is there a workaround for the 30-day market restriction?

No, **there is no workaround** for the 30-day market restriction. This requires having a valid Steam purchase with no disputes between 30 days and 1 year old to remove.

8. Do temporary trade bans have a set duration?

**Temporary trade bans do not have a set duration** and will typically be lifted automatically by the Steam system when the issues are resolved, which could take from a few days up to several weeks or months.

9. Can I trade with someone who has a VAC ban?

No, you cannot trade with someone who has a VAC ban. The VAC-banned account will have an inventory lock which prevents them from trading or selling their items.

10. Does changing my password remove a trade hold?

No, changing your password does not remove a trade hold. The 15-day hold is primarily triggered by security setup changes and is not related to password changes.

11. Does using a different payment method speed up market access?

No, **using a different payment method doesn't speed up market access.** The cooldowns and requirements are account-based and payment method is not a factor.

12. Can someone else remove my trade restriction?

No, **only you can remove the restriction by adhering to Steam’s security policy.** No one else, not even Steam Support, can bypass the restriction.

13. What if my trade is still held after the 15 days?

If your trade is still held after 15 days, it is likely due to another reason, such as the Mobile Authenticator not being active for 7 days or due to a new purchase restriction. Check your account to see what restrictions are active.

14. How can I verify if my account has any restrictions?

You can verify if your account has restrictions by going to the Steam Support page while logged into your account. This page will display what restrictions, if any, are currently active.

15. Is it possible to get a refund for items that get held up during a trade restriction?

No, it’s not possible to get a refund for items held up during a trade restriction. Once the trade is accepted and the hold is placed, you’ll need to wait out the hold time for the trade to complete.

Final Thoughts

While the 15-day market restriction can be frustrating, it is an important safeguard that protects the Steam community. By understanding the reasons behind these restrictions and proactively taking steps to protect your account, you can minimize these interruptions. Always prioritize your account’s security, and make sure to familiarize yourself with Steam’s guidelines to have the smoothest possible experience on the platform. Remember, patience is key when dealing with Steam’s security measures, as they are implemented for everyone’s benefit.