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What do I do if I have a defective card on Steam?

In a nutshell: Are you having trouble redeeming your Steam gift card? If you purchased it from a third-party retailer, it may be best to contact the store directly. You may also be able to get help directly from Steam Support, especially if you purchased the card through them. Before contacting Steam Customer Support, please make sure you entered the correct code. If you still have a physical gift card that's defective or unreadable, we suggest contacting the store where you bought the card or Steam Support. Continue reading for tips on what to do if your Steam gift card is defective.

Jeff Whelpley is the editor / author responsible for this content.
Sep 25, 2026

Introduction

Are you having trouble redeeming your Steam gift card? If you purchased it from a third-party retailer, it may be best to contact the store directly. You may also be able to get help directly from Steam Support, especially if you purchased the card through them. Before contacting Steam Customer Support, please make sure you entered the correct code. If you still have a physical gift card that's defective or unreadable, we suggest contacting the store where you bought the card or Steam Support. Continue reading for tips on what to do if your Steam gift card is defective.

Sign In to Your Account

Before reaching out to Support, we suggest signing in to your account and redeeming the gift card again. This time, please make sure to type in the correct code. To sign in, enter your account name and password. Then, click Sign In.

What do I do if I have a defective card on Steam? (Step 1)

Reenter the Steam Wallet Code

Enter the wallet code carefully and click Continue. Always double-check the code to make sure you don't enter incorrect characters. If you still can't redeem the gift card, consider reaching out to the third-party retailer or Steam directly. If your card was purchased outside Steam, it might be better to contact the store first, especially if you think there's an issue with the purchase.

If you wish to contact Steam Support directly, proceed to the next step.

What do I do if I have a defective card on Steam? (Step 2)

Visit Support and Submit a Ticket

To submit a ticket to Steam directly, visit the Support page and follow the on-screen instructions. Depending on the issue, you may need to submit a receipt or a screenshot of the error message you're getting. If you have a defective physical gift card, we suggest taking a clear photo of the back of the card. As mentioned, if you bought the card at another store, contact them first before reaching out to Steam. Otherwise, contact Steam Support for additional assistance.

Wait for Steam to get back to you regarding your defective card. They may provide additional instructions to help you redeem the code or fix the issue. If Steam can't fix the issue and you purchased the card from a third-party retailer, we suggest contacting the store where you bought it.

Please note that Steam gift cards can only be redeemed on Steam. Always be cautious if someone asks you to purchase a gift card and send them the code. Never share the code with someone you don't trust, as they may redeem the card and you may not be able to recover the funds. If you believe you've been the victim of a scam, report the incident to the appropriate authorities.

What do I do if I have a defective card on Steam? (Step 3)

Conclusion

Were you able to resolve the issue with your defective card? If you bought the card outside Steam, contact the third-party retailer first. Otherwise, contact Steam Support for additional instructions on fixing the issue with your defective Steam gift card. Before reaching out to Customer Support, make sure that you're redeeming the physical or digital gift card only through Steam and that you entered the code correctly. If you contact Support, include your proof of purchase or a photo of the defective card to help them investigate the issue. Still having problems with your Steam gift card? Contact Support today.

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Jeff truly believes that all customers deserve good service. He’s been building tools, inventing phone tree hacks and helping customers since before his days at GetHuman. He's also a Google GDE and involved in the Angular community.
What do I do if I have a defective card on Steam?

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