Why was my activation code not reset, while others had the same issue resolved?

[76561199469493168]

Hello everyone,
I recently encountered a frustrating issue — I accidentally activated a game code on the wrong Steam account. It was a complete mistake as I forgot to switch accounts at the time.

After activating the code, I only played for a very short time before realizing the error. I immediately contacted Steam Support to request a reset of the activation code, but they told me they couldn’t assist with this.

The strange part is that some of my friends have faced similar situations in the past, and Steam Support successfully helped them reset their activation codes. Why is my request being denied for the same issue?

Here are my questions:
1. Has anyone else experienced a similar problem?
2. If Steam Support resolved it for you, how did you communicate with them?
3. Is there any way I can appeal or reapply for the reset?

I really enjoy using the Steam platform and understand that Support has a heavy workload, but I hope there could be a fair resolution to this issue. If anyone has suggestions or similar experiences, please share them with me!

Thank you to everyone willing to share their insights!

[Chompman]

You can try doing a refund if you have played for less then 2 hours and owned the game for less then 2 weeks.

Otherwise you cannot transfer games like that if they have denied your request.

[MancSoulja]

Your friends are lying to you. Valve cannot "reset" activation codes, there is no system in place that would allow them to do that and even if they could, it would be illegal as they don't own the codes, the codes are owned by the game's IP owner. Steam is just a store.

I've heard of Valve moving games to a different account on really rare curcumstances but I don't think it happens very often, certainly not often enough for all your friends to have experieced it.

[Dan5000]

Yeah, no thats not gonna happen. Once activated it's tied to that account. Even if you remove the game from your account, the key will still be tied to that account. There is no way to get it out of it. It's permanent.

[Cinemax]

To answer your questions:
1. No, because I don't use socks.
2. They can't.
3. You can't.

[Chronocide]

"Can I Merge Accounts

Steam accounts can not be merged together. Per the Steam Subscriber Agreement, Steam game subscriptions / CD keys are nontransferable and cannot be reset / moved between Steam accounts."

Source:
https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/2816-BE67-5B69-0FEC

[76561198375499837]

Hi All,

I did the same thing as the original post, and in the long periods where I'm completely offline, I cannot play the one game in my other account. I have wondered if it would be possible to move the one game (in this account) to my other main account. I own the game and have the original DVD and the activation code. So why can't I move it to my main account and delete this account - which I no longer use?

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

Originally posted by Whatever:

Hi All,

I did the same thing as the original post, and in the long periods where I'm completely offline, I cannot play the one game in my other account. I have wondered if it would be possible to move the one game (in this account) to my other main account. I own the game and have the original DVD and the activation code. So why can't I move it to my main account and delete this account - which I no longer use?

No.

[Kargor]

Originally posted by Whatever:

So why can't I move it to my main account and delete this account - which I no longer use?

Because Steam has a very strict "games stay on the account they have been purchased/activated on" policy.

[Ogami]

Originally posted by Whatever:

Hi All,

I did the same thing as the original post, and in the long periods where I'm completely offline, I cannot play the one game in my other account. I have wondered if it would be possible to move the one game (in this account) to my other main account. I own the game and have the original DVD and the activation code. So why can't I move it to my main account and delete this account - which I no longer use?

Create a Steam Family with both accounts in it ,then they share all your games between them and you will have access to the lone game from that one account on your main account.

https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/054C-3167-DD7F-49D4

[Blaagh]

of course valve support has the power to undo an activation key- they manage the whole system. its just policy to NOT do it because that would open wide the gates of hades (for abuse). also people are fearmongers and would go crazy if they did

its been ~10+ years when I did such a whoopsi myself and immediately contacted support and they did undo it - but it was an 1 time only exception and I already had the game (and some dlc) in question on my account (key was for a bundle with 1 additional dlc)

you did ask and they denied it to you.. no point of 'collecting evidence' against them.