How do you redeem Steam codes? Whether you’re new to Valve’s PC marketplace or a long-time Steam shopper who’s only just realized that they can sometimes get better prices on other sites, it’s important to know how to redeem Steam keys. Fortunately, it’s pretty simple, and we’re here to walk you through it.
Knowing the right process will help you find some great deals on the best PC games, while also ensuring you know how to claim your reward should you ever win any free Steam games. If you just buy directly through Steam, you’re missing out on many bargains and giveaways.
Retailers like Humble Bundle and Fanatical often give away large bundles of Steam keys, while Humble Choice gives way freebies every month (more on that below), so let’s get into the specifics so that you don’t have to miss out anymore.
How to redeem Steam keys
The best way to redeem Steam keys is through the Steam app on PC, by following the steps below:
- Open the Steam client
- Hover your mouse over the ‘Games’ tab at the top of the page
- Select ‘Activate a product on Steam’
- Paste your code into the text box, making sure it follows one of the correct formats
- Click the ‘Redeem’ button, and then you can install your game manually
You can also redeem codes through the Steam website or via the Steam app on your mobile phone. The latter is a fairly tedious way, as you’ll need to go to your profile, head to Account Settings, and then choose ‘Add funds to your Steam wallet’, followed by ‘Redeem a Steam Gift Card or Wallet Code’. While this is how most people add funds to their accounts, you can also add games through this method.
To work on Steam, the code needs to be active, can never have been redeemed by someone else, and must follow one of the below formats:
- AAAAA-BBBBB-CCCCC
- AAAAA-BBBBB-CCCCC-DDDDDD-EEEEE
- ###AAAAAAAAAAAA ##
How to get games cheaper than Steam
While Steam sales (hyperlink here) are some of the best-known sources of discount PC games, there are cheaper marketplaces out there. However, you have to be careful, as there are many dodgy sites selling Steam keys. Fanatical and Humble are two we strongly recommend as legitimate sites with huge discounts.
First and foremost, Fanatical offers major sales across the many games in its store, giving you discounts that are usually slightly cheaper than Steam – occasionally, a lot cheaper. They also have deals on upcoming games, meaning pre-ordering with them saves you money compared to the Steam store itself. Finally, there’s the super Mystery Bundles offer, which rotates every couple of months with new triple-A games in the mix, allowing you the chance to get some must-have titles – like Space Marine 2 or Helldivers 2 – for as little as $1 / £1 per key.
Secondly, Humble is a website that many will know for its iconic Humble Bundles. The company bundles up several games in similar genres or with a familiar theme and makes them remarkably cheap—all in the name of raising money for charity. Each bundle has a designated charity, and some proceeds from sales are donated.
While the company is well-known for its bundles, Humble has other great deals too. The sales page will frequently rotate with new deals that can match or be cheaper than Steam’s storefront, and the Humble Choice membership grants you eight free games per month, as well as additional discounts on current and upcoming PC games.
That’s everything you need to know about how to redeem Steam codes. Whether you’re looking to grab some of the best Steam Deck games around or you’re diving into the best FPS games on PC, these instructions (as well as our recommendations for cheaper games) will be sure to help you grow your library in no time.