How to Redeem a Steam Gift Card on PC, Phone or Web (Step by Step)
October 18, 2026 · Updated November 2, 2026
To redeem a Steam gift card, sign in to Steam, open your account name menu and choose Account details, then the option to add funds to your wallet, where you'll find the field for gift cards and wallet codes. A direct link to the same page also works in any browser (listed in the sources below). The money is added to your Steam Wallet straight away. Game keys are different: they go under Games, then Activate a Product on Steam.
Key facts
- Wallet codes are entered on the Redeem a Steam Gift Card or Wallet Code page.
- Game keys are activated separately under Games, then Activate a Product on Steam.
- Valve limits wallet code redemption to your wallet's currency.
- Valve suggests trying Q, O or D for a 0, I for a 1, 8 for B and 6 for G when a code won't enter.
- Valve is ending physical Steam cards in shops by the end of 2026; existing cards still redeem.
A Steam gift card (also called a Steam Wallet card or Steam Wallet code) adds money to your Steam Wallet. You can then spend it on games, DLC, in-game items and Community Market purchases. Redeeming it takes under a minute. Here's how on every device.
Before you start, find the code. On a physical card, scratch off the strip on the back. On a digital card, it's in your email or the receipt from the shop. It's a mix of letters and numbers, usually 15 characters split into groups (for example XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX).
In the Steam app on PC or Mac
- Open Steam and sign in.
- Click your account name in the top-right corner.
- Choose Account details.
- Click Add funds to your Steam Wallet.
- Click Redeem a Steam Gift Card or Wallet Code.
- Type in the code and click Continue.
The money appears in your wallet straight away. Your new balance shows next to your account name.
In a web browser
- Go to store.steampowered.com and sign in.
- Click your account name, then Account details.
- Choose Add funds to your Steam Wallet, then Redeem a Steam Gift Card or Wallet Code.
- Enter the code and click Continue.
You can also go straight to the redeem page at store.steampowered.com/. Type that address yourself rather than clicking a link someone sent you. Fake "redeem" pages are a common way to steal Steam logins.
On your phone (Steam Mobile App)
- Open the Steam Mobile App and sign in.
- Tap your avatar.
- Tap Account details. The app opens your account page.
- Tap Add funds to your Steam Wallet, then Redeem a Steam Gift Card or Wallet Code.
- Enter the code and tap Continue.
This is handy when you're away from your computer. The money is already there the next time you open Steam.
Wallet codes vs game keys
These are two different things, and they go in two different places.
- A wallet code adds money. It goes on the wallet redeem page above.
- A game key (also called a product code or CD key) unlocks one specific game. In the Steam app, click Add a Game at the bottom-left of your Library, then Activate a Product on Steam. On the web, use
store.steampowered.com/.account/ registerkey
If you paste a game key into the wallet page, or a wallet code into the product page, Steam says the code is invalid. Nothing is wrong with the code. It's just in the wrong box.
Check your balance
Your wallet balance shows next to your account name at the top of the Steam app and the store website. For the full history, open Account details and select View purchase history. Our guide to checking your Steam Wallet balance covers every device.
"Invalid code" and other errors
- Typo. Codes use letters and numbers that look alike (0 and O, 1 and I, 5 and S). Type it again carefully, or copy and paste it from the email.
- Wrong currency. A physical Steam card is tied to the currency printed on it. If your Steam store uses a different currency, the code is likely to be rejected. Steam doesn't let you change your store country to fit a card. Buy cards in your own country's currency.
- Too many attempts. After several failed tries, Steam blocks redeeming for a while. Wait a few hours before you try again. Retrying straight away only resets the wait.
- Card not activated. A shop card must be activated at the till. If it wasn't, the code won't work. Keep your receipt and go back to the shop. Our checklist for a gift card code that isn't working covers this and more.
- Wallet full. Steam caps your wallet at US$2,000 (or the same amount in your currency). If the card would push you over, spend some funds first.
- Already used. Each code can be redeemed once. If it says it's already been used and you didn't do it, contact the shop you bought it from with the receipt.
Characters that get mistyped
Valve's own advice for wallet codes that won't enter: if you typed a 0, try the letters Q, O or D; for a 1, try I; for the letter O, try 0, Q or D; for B, try 8; and for G, try 6. If a newly bought card still fails after several hours, Valve says activation may not have completed at the shop, and Steam Support may ask for a clear photo of the back of the card and the matching receipt.
Digital gift cards from friends
A Steam Digital Gift Card that a friend sends you through Steam is not a code. It arrives as a gift notice in Steam. Accept it and the money goes straight to your wallet, converted to your currency if needed. There's nothing to type in.
What to spend it on
Wallet funds work for games, DLC, in-game items and Community Market purchases. Spending US$5 also lifts the restrictions on a new account. See what a limited Steam account is and how to unlock it. Wallet funds can't be cashed out, and you can't move Steam Wallet money to another account.
Haven't got a card yet? XPReward exchanges points from completed offers for Steam codes, from 3,600 points for $25, and the free Steam gift card guide is upfront about the effort. Join free with 250 points to start.
Frequently asked questions
Sources
Steam redemption steps checked on 2 November 2026 against: