How do I check to see what games are linked to which steam keys?

[Puppyg1rl Hyp3rp0p G4m1ng ♡]

So recently I got some games from indiebox, and as such they came with steam keys, however I have mixed up the steam keys and I cannot be sure which ones go to which game, in order to try and figure that out I created a secondary account and tried to activate one of the codes on that account, with the intention of cancelling the redemption of the key so as not to actually expend the key, however there was no such option.

I already own the two other games I have steam keys for, so I want to give them to friends, however I want to know which game is which so that way I know which friends to give them to, how can I figure out which code is which since the codes have no identifying features?

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

You can not check game keys. Once activated, they are permanently bound to an account.

[Muppet among Puppets]

Contact who you got them from

[Teksura]

The thing to have done would have been to make note of the key when you got it. Many online retailers also give you some means to keep track, like an account page where you can view your keys.

It sounds like you already redeemed the keys anyway, so they're spent.

[Puppyg1rl Hyp3rp0p G4m1ng ♡]

Originally posted by Teksura:

The thing to have done would have been to make note of the key when you got it. Many online retailers also give you some means to keep track, like an account page where you can view your keys.

It sounds like you already redeemed the keys anyway, so they're spent.

Only the one, and thankfully it wasnt the one I planned to give to a friend of mine, so thanks for the advice, I'll contact the seller and see if they have any info on which key is which.

[Kargor]

There are certain scenarios where you can identify keys.

Like there have been giveaways of "random keys" where you didn't know what you got. I just activated those keys -- if I didn't have the game already I'd get it, and know what it is. If I had the game already, Steam wouldn't use the key, but open up a download window for the game -- so I learned what the key is for.

The only keys I couldn't identify like that were DLCs, because they just demand that you have the base game, but don't tell you what that base game is.

However, that really only works in cases where you don't mind getting the games. For me, it simply allowed me to know what those duplicate keys are, so I have labels attached to them.

You cannot identify keys if you're not willing to get the game (and I'm not sure about bundle keys either. Those keys give you the items that you don't already have and discard the duplicates, but I wouldn't be surprised if Steam just trashed the key if you already own everything, as in "This is a bundle key, so let's just go through the items individually" without checking whether anything was activated at all.

[Undefined_user_]

...

[Vasharal]

Originally posted by Kargor:

There are certain scenarios where you can identify keys.

Like there have been giveaways of "random keys" where you didn't know what you got. I just activated those keys -- if I didn't have the game already I'd get it, and know what it is. If I had the game already, Steam wouldn't use the key, but open up a download window for the game -- so I learned what the key is for.

The only keys I couldn't identify like that were DLCs, because they just demand that you have the base game, but don't tell you what that base game is.

However, that really only works in cases where you don't mind getting the games. For me, it simply allowed me to know what those duplicate keys are, so I have labels attached to them.

You cannot identify keys if you're not willing to get the game (and I'm not sure about bundle keys either. Those keys give you the items that you don't already have and discard the duplicates, but I wouldn't be surprised if Steam just trashed the key if you already own everything, as in "This is a bundle key, so let's just go through the items individually" without checking whether anything was activated at all.

You my friend are a genius! Thank for this advice.

[dreamArk Jamz]

You can submit your key here (you may need to create a free account there first):
https://steamdb.info/keys/

WARNING: If the bot did NOT already own that game (somewhat unlikely, unless it's a fairly new game), it will have used the key, so you "could" lose it. So, generally this method is safest to use for a key that you suspect is for an insignificant game (one you would not mind losing). On the other hand if you try to activate a key yourself, the downside is that you may now own a "trash" game that you wish you didn't own (and of course losing the key in the process).

To see the result for the key you entered you go to the bottom of the page under the heading "Your submitted keys". It will "initially" likely say "Not yet activated" next to a tiny clock icon (indicating it will take some time to resolve). I did not see it resolve a game name within the first few minutes, so I left the browser tab open, and I came back 40 MINUTES LATER, did a refresh, and DID SEE the game name. Feel free to comment below how many minutes it took you before you saw the game name.

Note: When the key is resolved to a game name they no longer show the key, just the time you sent it and the game name (so MAKE a NOTE of what key you sent when).

So ... this is not as convenient as the alternative method of just trying to activate the key in your own steam account (hoping you already own it), but does increase the odds that it won't be "used up" (ie, it's way more likely that the bot owns it than you do).

I hope this all makes sense. Feel free to add any clarifying explanation you think of.

Edit: Near the top of the page there is also a button that says [View already owned products]. You can click that and use a Search box to look for a game name to see if the bot DOES ALREADY OWN that game. This is only useful for you if you "suspect" your key may be for one (or a few) game names, and you just want to confirm which of those games your key is for. The search helps inform you of the likelihood of "keeping" your key (ie, bot already owns the game).

Edit: This can also work for DLC keys. You'll see something like:
"DoesNotOwnRequiredApp (base game missing)"
...followed by the Title of that DLC (as listed at store.steampowered.com unless of course that title has been de-listed by Steam).

Note: Even if Steam has de-listed any of the Game or DLC titles in the list, you can still click on any title in the list to go to it's steamdb.info page and to review all it's historical info/stats there.