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Steam

Redeem guide

How to activate a Steam key (game, DLC or bundle)

To activate a Steam key, open the Steam app, click + Add a Game at the bottom left and choose Activate a Product on Steam..., then follow the on-screen instructions to agree to the Steam Subscriber Agreement and enter your key. You can also activate it in any browser at store.steampowered.com/account/registerkey. The game, DLC or bundle is added to your Steam library for good.

Jump to the steps Official redeem page

Below you will find the exact steps for the Steam desktop app, the web, Steam Deck and phones, how region-locked keys work, and what every Steam activation error means.

Official menu names
Every device
Fixes for common errors

Last reviewed November 2, 2026Steps checked against the official help pages linked at the bottom of this guide.

In short

Copy the key from your Gameplug order.
Open Steam and sign in to the account that should own the game.
Click + Add a Game at the bottom left and choose Activate a Product on Steam... (or open the activation page in a browser).
Agree to the Steam Subscriber Agreement, enter the key and confirm.

What you need before you activate

The right Steam account, signed in. Once a key is registered it is tied to that Steam account and cannot be registered again, so check which account is signed in first.
A key made for Steam. Every key works on one platform only. Gameplug product names say which one ("Steam Key", "Epic", "GOG" and so on), and Steam rejects keys for other launchers as an invalid product code.
A key for your region. Some publishers lock keys to a region. A region-locked key only activates on an account in that region, and Steam Support cannot remove the restriction. The region of every key is in its product name and on the product page.
The base game, for DLC. A DLC or expansion key needs the original game on the same account. Activate the base game first, then the add-on.
A game key, not a wallet code. Steam Wallet codes and Steam gift cards add money and go on a different page; see how to redeem a Steam Wallet code.

How to activate a Steam key, step by step

All routes add the product to the same Steam account, so pick the device in front of you. The game then appears in your library on every PC and Steam Deck you sign in to.

Activate a Steam key in the Steam desktop app

Works the same in the Steam app on Windows, macOS and Linux.

Step 1: Open the Steam app and sign in to the account that should own the game.
Step 2: Click + Add a Game at the bottom left of the Steam app and select Activate a Product on Steam...
Step 3: Follow the on-screen instructions: agree to the Steam Subscriber Agreement, paste your key and confirm.
Step 4: Steam adds the product to your library. Install it now, or later from your library on any PC or Steam Deck signed in to the account.

Steam key regions: GLOBAL, EU and region-locked keys

Games bought in the Steam store itself are usually not region restricted, but keys can be. Valve says region restrictions on keys vary by publisher: there is no universal rule. When you register a region-restricted key in a different region, Steam refuses it, and Steam Support is unable to modify or remove any region restriction.

GLOBAL (or region free): activates on Steam accounts in any country.
EU / Europe: made for accounts in Europe.
Other region labels (for example ROW, "rest of world", or a single country): the key only activates on accounts in that region, so check the product page before you buy.
Your region on Steam is your store country, set from the location of your first Steam purchase and shown under Account Details. If you are travelling, Valve asks that your store region stays set to the country where you permanently live.

Do not use a VPN or proxy to activate a key from another region. Steam's help says disguising your location is against the Steam terms and may result in restrictions on your account.

Not sure a key fits your account? The region is in the product name and on the product page. Ask our support team before you buy if you are unsure.

Steam key activation errors and how to fix them

These are the messages Steam shows when a key does not activate, with the cause and the fix.

"The product code you've entered is not valid or is not a product code." (Invalid Product Code)
Why:A character was mistyped, the key is for a different platform, or it is a Steam Wallet code.
Fix:Copy the key straight from your Gameplug order. Valve suggests trying Q, D or O for a 0, I or L for a 1, Q or D for an O, 8 for a B and 6 for a G. Check the product name says Steam. Wallet codes go on the wallet redeem page.
"The product code you've entered has already been activated by a different Steam account." (duplicate product code)
Why:The key is already tied to a Steam account and cannot be registered again.
Fix:Check any other Steam account you use. If you never activated it, contact Gameplug support with your order number.
"This Steam account already owns the product(s) contained in this offer."
Why:The game is already in the library of the account you are signed in to.
Fix:Open your library: the game is there. If you meant the key for a different account, contact our support before doing anything else.
"Sorry, but this product is not available for purchase in this country." or "Game not available in your territory"
Why:The key is region-locked to a different region from your Steam account. Steam says the key has not been redeemed.
Fix:Activate it on an account in the key's region where you live. If you bought the wrong region by mistake, contact our support and do not keep retrying.

After you activate: where your game shows up

Games: the game is in your Steam library on every PC and Steam Deck signed in to the account. Install it from there whenever you like.
DLC and expansions: they are added to the account that owns the base game and become available in that game.
Bundles: one key can add several products. The receipt Steam shows after activation lists all of them.
Pre-orders: Valve says a release key can be activated at any time, but the product only unlocks once it is released on Steam.

Steam keeps the registered key with your account as proof of purchase for that game. Keep your Gameplug order too: your key stays available under Orders.

Steam keys in stock

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Frequently asked questions

How do I activate a Steam key?

Open the Steam app, click + Add a Game at the bottom left and choose Activate a Product on Steam..., then agree to the Steam Subscriber Agreement and enter the key. The game is added to your library straight away.

Can I activate a Steam key without the Steam app?

Yes. Sign in at store.steampowered.com/account/registerkey in any browser, including on a phone, paste the key, agree to the Steam Subscriber Agreement and confirm. The game waits in your library for your next Steam session.

Official links

Platforms change their menus from time to time. If a step no longer matches your screen, the official pages below have the current wording.

Activate a Steam key in a web browser

Handy when you are away from your PC: the game waits in your library the next time you open Steam.

Step 1: Go to the Steam product activation page and sign in with the account that should own the game.
Step 2: Paste your key into the product key field and tick the box to agree to the Steam Subscriber Agreement. Steam will not continue without it.
Step 3: Confirm. Steam shows a receipt listing every product the key added to your account.

Did Steam say the key is not a product code? If it is a Steam gift card or wallet code, Steam points you to the wallet page instead: see how to redeem a Steam Wallet code.

Activate a Steam key on a Steam Deck

The easiest way is to activate the key on a PC or in a browser: the game then shows up in your Steam Deck library, ready to download. To do it on the Deck itself, use Desktop Mode.

Step 1: Press the STEAM button, select Power, then Switch to Desktop.
Step 2: On the desktop, open Steam and follow the Steam app steps above: + Add a Game, then Activate a Product on Steam... Press STEAM + X to bring up the on-screen keyboard to paste or type the key.

Activate a Steam key on a phone

Steam's help does not describe a key activation option inside the Steam Mobile App, so use your phone's browser.

Step 1: Open the Steam product activation page in your phone's browser and sign in.
Step 2: Paste the key, tick the box to agree to the Steam Subscriber Agreement and confirm.
Step 3: The product is now in your Steam library. Install it the next time you are at your PC or Steam Deck.

"The product code you've entered requires ownership of another product before activation."

Why:It is a DLC or expansion key and the base game is not on this account.

Fix:Activate or buy the original game first, then activate this key again.

"There have been too many recent activation attempts from this account or Internet address."

Why:Steam limits how many activation attempts can come from one account or internet address in a short time.

Fix:Wait and try again later. Steam does not say how long the wait is, so stop retrying for a while and paste the key carefully next time.

"An unexpected error has occurred. Your product code has not been redeemed."

Why:A temporary problem on Steam's side. The key was not used.

Fix:Steam asks you to wait 30 minutes and try again. If it keeps happening, contact Steam Support.

"You must agree to the terms of the Steam Subscriber Agreement to complete this transaction."

Why:The agreement box was not ticked.

Fix:Tick the box to agree to the Steam Subscriber Agreement and confirm again.

How do I activate a Steam key on Steam Deck?

Activate it on a PC or in a browser and the game appears in your Deck library. To do it on the Deck, press STEAM, select Power and Switch to Desktop, then use + Add a Game and Activate a Product on Steam... in Steam.

Will a Steam key from another region work on my account?

GLOBAL keys work anywhere. Keys locked to a region only activate on accounts in that region, and Steam Support cannot remove the lock. Check the region in the product name before you buy.

Can I activate a pre-order Steam key before the release date?

Yes. Valve says release keys can be activated at any time, but the game only unlocks once it is released on Steam.

Does activating a Steam key remove the limited account restriction?

No. Valve lists activating a retail game as one of the actions that do not lift limited user restrictions. Spending at least US$5 in the Steam store, for example with a Steam Wallet code, does.

My Steam key does not work. What should I do?

Check the key was copied in full, that it is a Steam key and that its region matches your account. If it still fails, contact Gameplug support with your order number. Keys confirmed as faulty are replaced or refunded.

Step 3: Select Return to Gaming Mode on the desktop when you are done. The game is in your library, ready to install.