How to Gift a Game on Steam
Giving a PC gamer a game through Steam is genuinely easy. Here's the whole process — plus the one friends-list catch that trips people up.
Steam is the main place PC games are bought, and yes — you can absolutely give a game as a gift through it. The whole thing takes a couple of minutes. The one thing to sort out first is that you have to be Steam friendswith the person you’re gifting to, so start there.
Step by step
- Add the person as a Steam friend first. You can only send a Steam gift to someone on your Steam friends list, so add them (and have them accept) before you start. If they're not a Steam user yet, a Steam Wallet gift card is the alternative.
- Open Steam and find the game. In the Steam app on a computer, search for the game you want to give and open its store page.
- Add it to your cart. Click Add to Cart on the game's store page.
- Choose 'Purchase as a gift'. Open your cart and select the option to purchase the game as a gift rather than for yourself, then continue to the gift options.
- Pick the recipient from your friends list. Choose the friend you want to send it to, and add a personal message if you like — it shows when they open the gift.
- Pay to send it. Complete the payment. Your friend receives an email and a notification in the Steam client, and accepts the gift to add the game to their library.
If you're not Steam friends (or they don't use Steam)
If you can’t add them — maybe it’s a surprise, or they’re not a Steam user — the clean alternative is a Steam gift card(also called a Steam Wallet card). They redeem it to their account and buy whatever they want, which also dodges the risk of picking a game they already own. It’s the PC equivalent of a store gift card, and it’s never the wrong move when you’re unsure.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to be friends with someone on Steam to gift them a game?
Yes. Steam only lets you send a game gift to someone on your Steam friends list, so add them and have them accept the request before you buy. If they don't use Steam, buy a Steam gift card instead.
What does the person receive?
They get an email and an in-client Steam notification letting them know you've sent a gift, along with your personal message. They click to accept, and the game is added to their Steam library.
Can I schedule a Steam gift for a birthday or Christmas?
Steam typically delivers the gift when you complete the purchase, and the recipient accepts it then. If you want it to land on a specific day, buy it that day, or give a Steam gift card they can redeem whenever they like.
What if the game is cheaper or on sale later?
You pay the price at the time you buy. If you're not in a rush and a sale is coming, waiting can save money — or give a Steam gift card so they can grab it (and anything else) during a sale themselves.
Can I gift a game to someone in another country?
Sometimes there are regional restrictions on gifting across certain countries or price regions, and Steam will tell you at checkout if a gift can't be sent. If it's blocked, a Steam gift card is usually the simplest workaround.
Sources
- Steam Support — Steam Gifts — Valve's own guidance on Steam gifting: the recipient must be on your Steam friends list, you mark the game 'This is a gift' in the cart, choose the friend, and they receive an email plus an in-client notification to accept it (accessed July 22, 2026)
- ESRB — Ratings Guide — The Entertainment Software Rating Board's official age-rating definitions: E (Everyone), E10+ (Everyone 10+), T (Teen), M (Mature 17+) and the content descriptors printed on every game box (accessed July 22, 2026)