This guide is for three groups: players without a credit card who want to buy on Steam with prepaid cards or retail codes (students included), people who want to give Steam gift cards to friends or family, and anyone who has been asked to "pay with gift cards" and isn't sure whether it's a scam. You'll learn the basic Steam Wallet rules, how to buy and redeem codes properly, which situations are always scams, and what records to keep in case something goes wrong.
If you want to compare credit cards and other payment methods, see our overview of payment options in Taiwan (Paying on Steam from Taiwan). This article focuses only on the wallet and on wallet codes and gift cards.
What the Steam Wallet Is
The Steam Wallet is a stored balance tied to your Steam account. You add money in advance and spend it on games, DLC, in-game purchases and Community Market items. The balance is shown in the currency of your account's region; Taiwan accounts typically see New Taiwan dollars.
A few properties matter before you add any money:
- Wallet funds can't be withdrawn as cash. Money in the wallet can only be spent on Steam; it can't go back to a bank account.
- Funds can't be transferred to another account. There's no "send wallet money to a friend" button. Use the gifting feature or a Steam gift card instead.
- There may be a balance cap. Steam limits how much a wallet can hold; check Steam's official support pages for the current limit.
- Refunds usually go back to the original payment method or the wallet. Games bought with wallet funds that qualify for a refund normally return the money to the wallet. Our refund guide (How to Get a Steam Refund) covers the rules.
Wallet codes, physical cards and digital gift cards
- Wallet codes: a string you redeem for wallet balance. It may be printed on a card, on a store receipt, or delivered by email.
- Physical gift cards: sold at retail in some regions; scratch the back to reveal what is, in effect, a wallet code.
- Steam Digital Gift Cards: bought inside Steam and sent directly to a friend. Once accepted, the amount goes into their wallet with no code to type.
Ways to Add Funds
How people top up varies by country. In Taiwan, for example, convenience stores are a common channel. The options below are general; available products and retailers change over time, so go by what each seller actually offers.
Directly on Steam
Under "Account Details," choose "Add funds to your Steam Wallet," select an amount and pay with any method Steam supports in your region. This is the simplest path, with no code involved.
Retail and prepaid card channels
Many players buy game credit at convenience store kiosks or counters. Some products are Steam Wallet codes outright; others are credit for a third-party prepaid platform that you then convert into a Steam code or top-up. Before paying, check that the product name clearly says it works with Steam, which account region it supports, and how redemption works.
Authorized online code shops
Some online shops sell Steam Wallet codes. Prefer sellers with clear company details, a support channel and proper receipts. Be wary of codes priced well below face value; that usually means the code's origin is questionable.
General buying rules
- Buy only for yourself or someone you know, never because a stranger asked.
- Keep the receipt. Store receipts and confirmation emails should be kept at least until the code is redeemed, ideally longer.
- Check currency and region. Codes issued in another currency may convert into your wallet currency, but some codes are region-restricted.
How to Redeem a Wallet Code
- Open the Steam client and sign into your own account, or type the Steam store address into your browser and sign in there.
- Click your account name at the top right, open "Account Details," and find the option to redeem a Steam gift card or wallet code. The client's "Games" menu also has a redeem option.
- Type the code carefully, watching for look-alike characters such as zero and the letter O, or the number one and the letter I.
- Check that the amount and account shown are correct, then confirm.
- Verify the new balance in Account Details and screenshot the success page alongside your receipt.
If a friend sent you a digital gift card, there's no code. Accept the gift from the notification and the money lands in your wallet.
Gift Card Scams: Paying With Gift Cards Means It's a Scam
This is the most important section. Steam gift cards and wallet codes can only buy games and items on Steam. No legitimate organization will ask you to pay a bill with them.
All of these are scams:
- Someone claiming to be a government agency, tax office, police or a court asking you to pay a fine or tax with game cards.
- Fake bank, phone company or online shop support saying your account has a problem and you must "cancel an installment" or "verify your identity" with prepaid cards.
- An online date or marketplace seller asking you to buy cards and send photos of the codes.
- Fake Steam Support or game admins demanding gift cards as a deposit to unban your account.
- A prize you supposedly won that requires a gift card to cover fees or shipping.
Scammers love gift cards because once a code is redeemed it's almost impossible to trace or recover, and it can be resold quickly. If anyone asks you to "buy a card, scratch it and send me the code," stop right there.
If you already gave someone a code
- Stop all contact and don't buy any more cards.
- Keep every piece of evidence: receipts, photos of codes, chat logs, the scammer's account or phone number.
- Contact Steam Support at help.steampowered.com with the code and proof of purchase. If the code hasn't been redeemed yet, something may be possible, but there's no guarantee.
- Report it to your local police or anti-fraud hotline (in Taiwan, the 165 anti-fraud line) and inform the store where you bought the card.
Our scam guide (Common Steam Scams Explained) covers other scripts that circulate on Steam.
Things to Watch Out For
- Never post codes publicly, even partially, in communities, forums or streams.
- Avoid "discount top-up" services that need your account password. You're handing your account to a stranger, and unusually cheap sources may involve stolen payment details.
- Set rules before giving cards to kids: redeem them yourself, never hand codes to online friends, and ask a parent about any "free credit" offer.
- Keep receipts until redemption succeeds. If a code doesn't work, both the retailer and Steam Support will want purchase details.
- Top-up receipts double as ownership proof. If your account is ever compromised, they help Support confirm it's yours.
Common Mistakes
- Assuming wallet funds can be cashed out. They stay on Steam.
- Adding far more than you need. Since the balance can't be withdrawn, top up for what you actually plan to buy.
- Sending code photos to "support." Real support never asks for this.
- Buying heavily discounted codes from unknown sources. Codes can be revoked, and the balance may be clawed back.
FAQ
Q: Can I transfer my wallet balance to a friend?
No. To give a friend something, gift them a game from the store or send a Steam Digital Gift Card, which adds funds to their wallet once accepted.
Q: Can I redeem a code issued in another currency?
Some codes can be redeemed and converted to your wallet currency, while others may be restricted by region or currency. Read the product description before buying and check Steam's official support pages for the current rules.
Q: The code says it's invalid. What now?
Check for typing errors, especially look-alike characters, and whether the code was already redeemed. If it still fails, contact the retailer with your receipt, and if needed, Steam Support at help.steampowered.com.
Q: Does wallet balance expire?
Generally there's no expiry, but if an account is penalized for violating the terms of service, wallet access may be affected. Steam's subscriber agreement has the authoritative rules.
Q: Someone offers to top up my wallet cheaply if I give them my login. Is that OK?
No. Sharing your password puts the account at risk of theft or misuse, and cheap top-ups may be funded with stolen cards. When those payments are reversed, it's your account that takes the hit.