What happens to Steam accounts when the owner dies
Valve Corporation accounts are forfeited under the program's terms when the account is closed
Steam Support
No published timeline. Steam's Privacy Policy does not specify a dormancy deletion period; it states data is retained "only as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which the information is collected and processed" or as required by law (up to 10 years for transactional data). Voluntary account deletion has a 30-day recovery window. In practice, long-inactive accounts appear to persist indefinitely. Steam Families shared access persists as long as the original account remains active and in the family.
(General customer service)
Valve Corporation's terms state that accounts are not the property of the account holder and are forfeited at death. The program does not provide a mechanism for transferring accounts to heirs.
There are reports of Valve Corporation making exceptions through customer service, but these accommodations are discretionary and not guaranteed.
What to do
If a Steam account holder has passed away, here is what to do:
- •Steam Wallet funds: non-refundable and non-transferable. Unclaimed funds may eventually be escheated to state government as unclaimed property.
- •Community Market items (CS2 skins, trading cards, etc.): license rights with no ownership interest. While the account is active, items can be traded or sold on the Community Market, but proceeds land in the Steam Wallet, not cash. There is no mechanism for an estate to cash out items outside of Steam.
- •Game library: licensed, not owned; no legal path to transfer the library to another account or the estate.
Required Documents
- No published requirements (no formal bereavement process exists)
- For account recovery: proof of ownership (purchase receipts, payment details, original email on the account)
Timeline
No published timeline. Steam's Privacy Policy does not specify a dormancy deletion period; it states data is retained "only as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which the information is collected and processed" or as required by law (up to 10 years for transactional data). Voluntary account deletion has a 30-day recovery window. In practice, long-inactive accounts appear to persist indefinitely. Steam Families shared access persists as long as the original account remains active and in the family.
Frequently asked questions
No. The Steam Subscriber Agreement states: "Valve does not recognize any transfers of Subscriptions (including transfers by operation of law) that are made outside of Steam," and "You may therefore not sell or charge others for the right to use your Account, or otherwise transfer your Account." All games are licensed, not sold, and users have no ownership interest. This is one of the most explicitly anti-inheritance positions among major digital platforms.
No. Steam has no published bereavement form, support category, or documented process for handling deceased users' accounts. Steam Support is ticket-based only (no phone or live chat). A survivor should not sign in with the deceased person's credentials: the Subscriber Agreement states "You may not reveal, share or otherwise allow others to use your password or Account except as otherwise specifically authorized by Valve." What remains is a signed-out request through Steam Support's "Help, I can't sign in" page, backed by proof of ownership, with any recurring charges stopped at the card issuer or bank instead. If the deceased was in a Steam Family, the other members keep shared-library access through their own accounts while the account stays active and in the family.
Steam Wallet funds are non-refundable and non-transferable. They have no cash value outside Steam under the Subscriber Agreement. Unclaimed funds may be turned over to state government as unclaimed property under escheatment laws.
Steam Families allows up to 6 people in a household to share game libraries. Family members access shared games through their own accounts with their own saves and achievements. If the deceased's account remains active and in the family, other members keep shared library access. This is the only practical workaround, though it is sharing, not transfer, and a vacated family slot is cooldown-locked for up to a year.
No. Deleting the account triggers a 30-day recovery window, after which the account and all its licenses are permanently gone. If the deceased was in a Steam Family, deleting the account also collapses that shared access for other family members. Leaving the account dormant preserves whatever access paths still exist.
Potentially. Most U.S. states have adopted the Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act (RUFADAA), which gives executors the right to access digital assets. However, Steam's Subscriber Agreement explicitly prohibits transfers "by operation of law," creating legal tension. An executor who gains access under RUFADAA would still be in technical violation of Steam's terms, and Valve could revoke access or terminate the account. No court has definitively resolved this conflict for Steam accounts.
Since Steam accounts are forfeited at death under the official terms, accounts can only be used during the account holder's lifetime. Redeeming, transferring, or sharing accounts while the account is active preserves their value.
Sources
Data sourced from Valve Corporation primary sources (10 pages reviewed). How we research.
Steam Support
No published timeline. Steam's Privacy Policy does not specify a dormancy deletion period; it states data is retained "only as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which the information is collected and processed" or as required by law (up to 10 years for transactional data). Voluntary account deletion has a 30-day recovery window. In practice, long-inactive accounts appear to persist indefinitely. Steam Families shared access persists as long as the original account remains active and in the family.
(General customer service)
Is this your situation?
Get a complete guide for your specific circumstances.
More tools for handling this estate
Calculators and checklists for executors and trustees.
How Much Does Probate Cost?
Estimate attorney fees, executor fees, court costs, and timeline for probating an estate in your state. See if the estate qualifies for simplified probate procedures.
How Much Can an Executor Charge?
Calculate how much an executor (personal representative) can charge for administering an estate. See if your state has statutory fees or uses reasonable compensation.
Who Inherits Without a Will?
Find out who inherits your estate and how much they get if you die without a will. Based on your state's intestate succession laws.
What's Fair Trustee Compensation?
Find out what's fair compensation for serving as trustee. Compare family, professional, and corporate trustee rates based on your situation.
How Much Are Estate & Inheritance Taxes?
Calculate federal estate tax, state estate tax (12 states + DC), and inheritance tax (5 states) for an estate or trust.
How Many Death Certificates Do I Need?
Calculate how many certified death certificates you need based on the assets and accounts you need to close. See state-specific ordering information.
