What happens if Steam bans you?
If Steam bans you, you essentially lose access to the multiplayer features of the games you’ve purchased, and in severe cases, you may permanently lose your entire game library. The severity of the ban depends on the reason for the ban, with VAC bans being permanent and non-negotiable, while Community Bans may expire after a certain period, unless the prohibited activity continues or is deemed egregious.
Understanding Steam Bans
Steam bans are issued when a user violates Steam’s Community Guidelines or is caught cheating using the Valve Anti-Cheat (VAC) system. The VAC system reliably detects cheats using their cheat signatures, and any third-party modifications to a game designed to give one player an advantage over another is classified as a cheat or hack and will trigger a VAC ban.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Do I lose my games if Steam bans me?
If Valve bans your Steam account, all the games you purchased will be gone.
Q2: How long do Steam bans last?
VAC bans are permanent, non-negotiable, and cannot be removed by Steam Support.
Q3: Do Steam bans go away after 7 years?
VAC bans become hidden to other users after seven years of not getting another VAC ban, but the ban itself remains in effect.
Q4: Are Steam bans permanent?
Community Bans may expire, but extended or even permanent bans may be issued if the prohibited activity continues or if the moderation team finds the activity egregious.
Q5: Can Steam ban my IP?
Steam doesn’t ban IP addresses because most users have dynamic addresses, so the ban is applied to the account instead.
Q6: Will Steam ban you for cheating?
Yes, Steam will ban you for cheating, as the VAC system detects cheats and triggers a VAC ban.
Q7: What is the oldest game ban on Steam?
The oldest VAC ban account is nearly 15 years old, dating back to when permanent bans were first used in 2005.
Q8: Is Valve Anti-Cheat good?
The effectiveness of VAC can be measured by the number of banned accounts, but it’s not foolproof, as cheaters can still play for a period before being detected.
Q9: Can you get VAC banned without cheating?
No, VAC and Game bans should only prevent the user from playing on VAC secured servers in the game they received a ban in.
Q10: Can you refund a Steam game if you get banned?
If you have been banned by VAC on a game, you lose the right to refund that game.
Q11: How many reports do you need for Steam ban?
You will need to submit at least three reports before you are banned from Steam for most offenses, but this can vary depending on the severity of the infraction.
Q12: Will Steam ban you for too many refunds?
While there is no real limit to how many times you can refund a game, abusing the refund system can result in being locked out of refunding after some warnings.
Q13: How do I recover a suspended Steam account?
You can try to self-recover your account or contact Steam Support, who will verify the account is yours and recover it for you if necessary.
Q14: Is Steam community ban until 2038?
The 2038 date is a placeholder, indicating that the ban is permanent.
Q15: How do Steam bans work?
When a user is VAC or Game Banned, their Steam account is banned from playing multiplayer on secured servers, creating an incentive for cheaters to find ways to continue cheating using alternative accounts.