Locked out of Steam or changing a password before there is a problem? Steam gives you two clean paths: reset it through Steam Support when you cannot sign in, or change it from the desktop client when you still have access.
Start with the method that matches your situation. Each one below uses Steam’s own account recovery or account security screens.
Reset your Steam password through Steam Support
Use this when you cannot sign in or the password you remember no longer works. Steam Support searches for your account with your account name, email address, or phone number.
Go to https://help.steampowered.com/en/ and choose Help, I can't sign in.
Select I forgot my Steam Account name or password.
Enter the email address or phone number on the account. If you only know your account name, select Search with my account name in the tip below the field.
Complete the CAPTCHA, then select Search.
Follow the recovery prompts Steam shows for your account. Use the email, SMS, or Steam Guard verification option Steam presents, then set a new password.
Change it while you are already signed in
If you can still open your account in the Steam desktop client, change the password from account security instead of starting account recovery.
Open Steam on your computer, select Steam in the upper left, then open Settings. On Mac, use Preferences instead.
Open the Security tab and choose Change Password. Select the option to send a verification email to the email address connected to your account.
Enter the 5 character code from the Steam Support email. Enter a new password that is not a previous password and meets Steam password strength requirements.
If this method fails because you cannot receive the email or reach the signed-in client, use Help, I can't sign in in Steam Support.
Find your account when details are missing
Start with Steam Support search, then use the support form only after automatic recovery stops.
- 1.Go to https://help.steampowered.com/en/wizard/HelpWithLogin.
- 2.Select I forgot my Steam Account name or password.
- 3.Search first with the email address or phone number. To search by account name, select Search with my account name.
- 4.Follow the automatic recovery prompts Steam gives you.
- 5.Use the intake form shown at the end of the process when automatic recovery cannot recover the account.
- 6.Provide proof of account ownership, possible Steam Account login names, and possible email addresses used on the account.
Use SMS recovery when your phone is already added
This applies when a phone number is already attached to your Steam account and can receive text messages. Valve does not accept certain VoIP numbers or numbers that cannot receive texts.
Open Steam Support and choose Help, I can't sign in.
Select I forgot my Steam Account name or password.
Enter the phone number on the account and choose Search.
When the SMS option appears, follow the text-message verification prompts. After verification, reset the password from the recovery flow.
To add or manage a phone number for later recovery, sign in to Steam in the app or a browser. Open your profile name in the top right, go to Account Details, then use Add a phone number or Manage your phone number under Contact Info. Enter the number, choose Next, and enter the SMS confirmation code.
Use Steam Mobile with Steam Guard
Steam Mobile protects your account with Steam Guard, QR sign-in, one-touch sign-in confirmation, and account protection. It is not a standalone password reset screen.
For authenticator trouble or account recovery, go to https://help.steampowered.com. Choose Help, I can't sign in, then select I forgot my Steam Account name or password.
When you are already signed in and managing account security, Steam Mobile routes you to account areas. Adding a phone number through Steam helps recover the account or reset the password later.
Recover a stolen Steam account
When someone else has taken over your Steam account, use Steam’s stolen-account recovery path instead of the standard password-only flow. Go to Steam Support and select My Steam Account was stolen and I need help recovering it.
Follow Step 1 - Scan your computer.
Follow Step 2 - Change your email's password so the attacker cannot keep intercepting recovery messages.
Choose Reset my password and recover the Steam account by changing the password.
If the stolen-account flow does not restore access, continue through Steam Support and use the account-recovery intake form with proof of ownership.
Get the official Steam client first
This applies when you want to use the signed-in desktop method but do not have the Steam client installed. Use Valve’s official Steam product and download page at https://store.steampowered.com/about/.
Install the Steam client and sign in.
Open Steam, then choose Settings. On Mac, open Preferences.
Go to Security and select Change Password.
Use the verification email, enter the 5 character code, then set the new password.
Skip secret question password resets
The old secret question reset is not part of Steam’s current password recovery flow.
Use Help, I can't sign in, email verification, SMS verification, Steam Guard, or the account-recovery intake process instead. Those are the current paths Steam gives you for resetting a password or proving account ownership.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I reset my Steam password without my account name?
Yes. Steam Support lets you search for the account with the account name, email address, or phone number.
Can I reset a Steam password from the mobile app?
Use Steam Support for the documented recovery flow. Steam Mobile helps with Steam Guard, QR sign-in, one-touch confirmation, and account protection.
What proof do I need if automatic recovery fails?
Steam Support asks for proof of account ownership, possible Steam Account login names, and possible email addresses used on the account.
Does uninstalling Steam reset my password?
No. Uninstalling Steam or removing the mobile app does not reset the account password.