If online gaming is your life, you’ve probably heard those sweet, sweet words: “Steam is having a sale!” How sweet indeed.
Jump ahead to these sections:
- How to Delete Your Steam Account
- How to Delete a Steam Account for Someone Who Has Died
- Steam Account Deletion FAQs
That being said, video games do take up time. If you’ve realized that Steam is too big a part of your life, you might consider deleting your account so that you can devote that time to other things. If you’ve recently lost a loved one who was an avid gamer, they may have a Steam account that should be closed down as well.
We can help you as you create a positive digital legacy for your loved one by closing out inactive accounts after their death.
How to Delete Your Steam Account
Steam balances the ability to remove your account with the possibility that you’ll regret your account deletion and want to come back.
They make the process easy, but—you know—not too easy. Here are the steps to make it happen.
Tip: Ensure that your digital assets are taken care of according to your wishes by making a will. You can easily create one from home with an online will maker like Trust & Will.
Request any qualifying refunds
There are times when it's possible to return an unused “copy” of a Steam game. If you delete your account too quickly, you can’t make those requests.
Blizzard will keep your money. Start your process by requesting any refunds you qualify for. When you delete your account, you may be throwing away free cash.
Provide proof of ownership for the account
One thing Steam does differently than many other online accounts is request proof of ownership. It does this by confirming your payment information. You can also pull your retail product codes from past games activated through Steam.
Save yourself some time and hassle by pulling this information early. Don't wait to find it until you’re already requesting the deletion.
Request that Steam Support delete your account
To delete your account, make a request to the Steam Support staff.
They’ll review the request and confirm that they’ve scheduled your account for deletion.
Wait 30 days without reopening Steam or canceling your request
Steam waits 30 days (at least) to delete your account, just in case you change your mind. If you do, send a second Steam Support request alerting them you do not want your account deleted. This must happen enough that Steam wanted to create this failsafe option.
If you’re certain you’re done with Steam, your account will be deleted after 30 days. Keep in mind you lose access to your games. You’ll have to make a new account if you want to return to Steam.
How to Delete a Steam Account for Someone Who Has Died
Steam may have been your loved one’s favorite gaming platform. They may have had some really good times and made some great connections.
Deleting their account after they die can bring closure and tie up loose ends, especially if there's an active subscription on it. This is a common step in recommended post-loss checklist, so make sure you take care of your loved one's gaming accounts along with other important details.
Here is how to get an account closed on Steam for someone who has passed away.
Tip: You can continue a loved one's digital legacy with a virtual memorial on a platform like GatheringUs. They even have specialists who can guide and support you through the planning process.
Send a Steam help request
Steam works hard through their proof of ownership requirement to avoid having accounts deleted for other people. That being said, you can request an exception be made for a deceased loved one.
Send a Steam help request that includes whatever account information you have, such as a username. You should also include a link to an obituary or a scan of the death certificate to prove it is a legitimate inquiry.
Finally, if you have documentation of your relationship to the person, send it. This extra info may strengthen your case and help them process your request quickly.
Follow protocol as outlined for your situation
If you were considering playing some of the Steam games your loved one left behind, it’s unlikely. Even if you wish to use the remaining games or credit in the account, Steam probably won’t give you access.
More likely, you’ll be able to request the deletion of the payment methods on record and deletion of the entire account. If the representative from Steam help needs further details about your loved one, do the research and get back to them promptly.
Keep the conversation going until you receive confirmation that the account has been deleted.
Steam Account Deletion FAQs
Even now that you know the steps to delete your account, you may still have some questions. Here are some frequently asked ones that Steam users want answered about deleting accounts.
How do you delete games from a Steam account?
Remove games by logging in at the Steam support site. Select the option for “Games, Software, etc.”, and click on the menu by the game you wish to delete.
There should be an option listed to permanently delete the game. Once it's removed, you cannot get it back without purchasing it again.
Can you delete your Steam account on mobile?
Using the Steam support ticket system, you can make the request using a mobile browser or a laptop/desktop.
You may find the multi-item form easier to manage with a keyboard than on a mobile device, but it's available in both places.
Steering Clear of Steam In Your Future
Steam has become a major player in the world of online gaming, but that doesn’t mean it’s for everyone all the time. Sometimes, spending too much time online leads people to want to step away from it.
Getting rid of Steam can happen by degrees—maybe you just start with getting rid of a couple of games. For others, it might prompt you to delete your internet presence entirely. Regardless of the motivation behind it, Steam makes it possible to close out this chapter of your gaming life.
Closing down accounts for a loved one can feel complex and make you examine your own behaviors and choices. The experience may motivate you to better organize your accounts with tools such as a password manager.
If you’re thinking more long-term, starting end-of-life planning with Cake is a great way to give yourself and your loved ones peace of mind. Cake makes it easy to start planning today.
Sources
- “Steam Help Request.” Steam Help. Steam. Help.steampowered.com
- “Account Deletion - Common Questions.” Steam Support. Steam. support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=4650-SDKC-0716