To gift a game on Steam, locate the game in the Steam Store, add it to your cart, and select "This is a gift" from the dropdown menu under the game's title. Then, click "Continue to gift options" to choose your recipient and delivery method.
How to Gift a Game on Steam Step by Step
The complete process from finding a game to completing the payment is straightforward. Follow these verified steps to send a digital game to a friend.
- Navigate to the Steam Store and find the game you want to gift.
- Add the game to your cart.
- In your cart, locate the dropdown menu under the game's title and select "This is a gift."
- Click "Continue to gift options" to proceed to the recipient selection screen.
- Select a gift recipient from your Steam Friends List or send the gift directly to an email address.
- Add an optional personal message to the gift.
- Choose a delivery option: "As soon as possible" for immediate delivery or "Schedule delivery" for a future date up to 12 months from purchase.
- Click "Continue to payment" and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the purchase using your preferred payment method.
New Ways to Send a Steam Gift
Recent updates have expanded how you can send gifts. You can now purchase Steam gifts without needing a Steam account yourself, using a guest checkout option. This means you don't need to be a Steam user to surprise someone with a game. Additionally, recipients no longer need to be on your Steam friends list at the time of purchase; gifts can be sent directly to their email, making it easier to gift games to people who haven't yet joined the platform. If the recipient already owns the game or simply doesn't want it, they can refund a game on Steam for the purchase value.
How to Send Digital Steam Gift Cards
If you're unsure which game your friend would like, you can send a digital Steam Gift Card instead. This alternative method of gifting funds directly through a digital Steam Gift Card allows the recipient to choose their own game. To do this, go to the Steam Store, search for Steam Gift Cards, select the amount you want to send, choose the recipient from your friends list or enter their email, add a gift note, review the payment info, and complete the purchase.
Key Restrictions When Gifting on Steam
Understanding the limitations ensures a smooth gifting experience. Here are the verified restrictions you need to know:
- Ownership check: You cannot gift a game to someone who already owns it; their name will appear grayed out in the recipient selection list.
- DLC requirements: Downloadable Content (DLC) can only be gifted if the recipient already owns the base game.
- Bundle restrictions: Some game bundles are customized for individual accounts and cannot be gifted.
- Multipack rules: Multipacks (e.g., 2-, 3-, or 4-packs) cannot be gifted directly, but extra copies from a multipack purchased for your own account can be gifted to friends.
- Acceptance window: The recipient has 30 days to accept a gift; if not accepted within this period, the purchase is automatically canceled, and a refund is issued to the sender.
- Regional price differences: Gifting across regions with significant price differences may be blocked by Steam to prevent abuse.
- Fraud and disputes: If a gift is revoked due to fraud or a payment dispute, the game is removed from the recipient's library, and Steam Support will not restore any items traded for it.
- VAC and game bans: Gifting VAC or Game Ban enabled games to players who subsequently receive a ban can result in the gifter losing the ability to gift that specific game again.
