How to activate a Steam key

A Steam key is a code made of letters and numbers, usually printed in groups of five, that adds a game or a piece of downloadable content to a Steam account. Once a key has been activated it belongs to that account for good. It cannot be moved to another account afterwards, so the one thing worth checking before you start is that you are signed in to the account you actually want the game on.

Before you start

• Sign in to the right account. If more than one person uses the computer, check the account name in the top-right corner of the Steam window.
• Check the activation requirements. Some products have region-specific activation requirements. The product page shows them next to the price, and our guide to region-specific activation explains how to read them.
• For downloadable content, own the base game first. Steam will not activate DLC for a game that is not already in your library.
• Copy the code rather than typing it. Your code is in the order confirmation email and, if you were signed in when you ordered, under Account, then Orders. The copy button next to each code avoids typing mistakes.

Activating in the Steam app

1. Open Steam on your computer and sign in.
2. Choose Games in the menu bar at the top of the window, then Activate a Product on Steam. You can also click Add a Game in the bottom-left corner of the Library and pick the same option.
3. Read the short introduction and accept the Steam Subscriber Agreement.
4. Paste the code into the product code box and confirm.
5. Steam shows you what it has added to the account and offers to install it. You can install now or come back to it later.

Activating in a web browser

You do not need the Steam app installed to activate a key. Go to Steam's product activation page, sign in, paste the code, tick the box accepting the Subscriber Agreement and press Continue.

The game is added to your library straight away. The next time you open Steam on your own computer it will be there, ready to download. This is useful if you buy a game at work or on your phone and want it waiting for you at home.

Finding the game afterwards

New games appear in your Steam Library. If you cannot see it, check that the filter above the game list is not set to show installed games only.

Downloadable content does not get its own entry in the list. Open the base game's page in your Library and look for the DLC section, where you can see what is installed and what is ready to download.

If Steam shows an error

Steam rewords its messages from time to time, but most errors mean one of the following.

• The code is invalid. Check that the whole code was pasted, with no extra spaces at either end. If you typed it, look for mix-ups between the letter O and zero, or the letter I and the number one.
• The code has already been activated. If you see this the very first time you enter the code, stop there and contact us with a screenshot. Retrying will not help and makes the history harder to follow.
• The product is not available in your region. The key has a region-specific activation requirement that does not match your Steam account.
• The product requires ownership of another product. This is DLC or an expansion. Activate or buy the base game first, then try the code again.
• Too many activation attempts. Steam temporarily blocks activation after several failed attempts from the same account or connection. Wait an hour or so before trying again.

If a code will not activate, take a screenshot of the error and email [email protected] with your order number. Our guide on what to do if a key does not activate explains what we will ask for and what happens next.

Games that need a second launcher

Some games sold on Steam are published by companies that run their own launchers, such as Ubisoft, EA or Rockstar. You still activate the key on Steam, but the first time you start the game it may ask you to sign in to, or create, an account with the publisher. That is expected and does not mean the key was wrong. The guide to other PC launchers covers how those launchers work.

Giving a Steam key to someone else

A key that has not been activated can be passed on simply by sending the code. Once it has been activated, it is tied to that account. If you are buying for someone else, read buying a game key for someone else first, particularly if they live in another country.