In the Steam app, open the Games menu, choose Activate a Product on Steam and enter the key. Gift links and account products are used differently.
A Steam key is activated in the Steam app, under Games then Activate a Product on Steam. If your product is a gift link or an account, the steps are different: see the sections below.
01Before you start
- Install Steam from the official Steam site and sign in to your Steam account, or create one.
- Check the key's Region on the product page against the country of your Steam account.
- Open your order page and copy the key with Copy.
02Activate a Steam key
- 1Open the Steam app and sign in.
- 2Select the Games menu at the top of the app.
- 3Choose Activate a Product on Steam....
- 4Follow the on-screen instructions and paste the key.
When Steam accepts the key, the game is added to your Steam account.
Tip: Steam's own help page, "Activating a Product on Steam", also links to a way to register a key in a browser.
03If your product is a gift link
Some products are delivered as a link instead of a key. The product name says so. Open Show details on your order page, or the Activation details tab on the product page, and follow the steps written for that product. Sign in to the Steam account that should receive the game before you open the link.
04If your product is an account
You receive login details for a new account that holds the game. See I bought a game account. How do I use it?.
05If that did not work
- Steam says the key is invalid: copy the key again from the order page instead of typing it.
- Steam shows a region or country message: the key's region does not match your account. See How do I check a game platform and region before buying?.
- Steam says the key was already used: see My game key is not working or was already used.
- You have a Steam gift card, not a game key: see How do I redeem a Steam gift card?.