Even if you have good instincts about avoiding malicious content on Steam , a clever hacker can still get past you and take over your account. While they're trying to change your account information, there are a few tricks you can use to recover your stolen Steam account and get your precious library back.
Follow Steam's account recovery process
The first thing you should do is follow Steam's account recovery process. If you still have access to your Google account, you can simply send an email to regain control. This may not happen. But if you suspect your account has been hacked, you can still take action.
- Go to the Steam account recovery page .
- Now, select My Steam Account was stolen and I need help recovering it , then, at the bottom, click Reset my password .
- Provide the email associated with your account and Steam will send a verification code. The email will take up to 5 minutes to appear.
- Click the link in the email Steam sent and you're good to go.
The situation in the example is even worse: The email associated with the Steam account has changed, so recovering via email is not a viable option.
Scan for malware
One piece of advice that Steam recommends is to scan your computer for malware , which is always a good idea. First, confirm that your computer isn't infected with a keylogger (or some other type of malware) by running an antivirus scan .
However, if you need to spend money on more Steam games, you should use Windows' built-in virus scanner and run a Malwarebytes scan to be safe - both are free. If you don't scan for malware, you risk having your Steam account hacked a second time. If you find any malware on your system, remove it, reboot your system , and then scan again.
It's important to run the test a few times to catch any malware that wasn't detected the first time, or that was removed and returned. If you find that the malware is persistent, you may have a serious problem on your hands, in addition to your Steam account being stolen. Also, remember that some malware is harder to find than others. Either way, you'll want to make sure your system is clean before proceeding with recovering your Steam account or switching to a supposedly clean device.
Create a new Steam account
Once your computer has been scanned and the unwanted guests have been removed, you should feel free to move on to step 2: Creating a second Steam account. This is not an immediate replacement for your old Steam account. You need this new temporary account to specifically contact Steam support, as contacting Steam without an account will take longer.
If you want to reuse the email you used for your hacked Steam account, you can. But here's the thing: Make sure your email account is secure first. If your Steam account gets hacked, your email can be hacked again, and it will cost you a lot of time. Do your best by changing your password, enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) , and adding a recovery phone number to your email.
Contact Steam Support
Now that you have your new burner account (temporary account), follow the same steps to recover your Steam account the normal way, but now there is a new option.
- Go to Steam and click Support from the top menu.
- At the bottom, you will see a list of options. Click Steam Community . This is where you will be prompted to log in, but log in with your new Steam account.
- Now, select I need help with something not listed here , then on the next page, click Contact Steam Support .
- From there you can fill out a support ticket as well as add images.
This is where you need to prove ownership as thoroughly as possible. Do you have a receipt that proves you bought the game with a debit or credit card? Steam will email you a receipt when you make a purchase. Attach a picture of the receipt. Is the phone number associated with your Steam account? Is it a link to the hack, and do you remember their username? What was your original email or any emails that were previously associated with the account? No detail is too small.
Someone changed the email for their Steam account, but if you still have access to the old email, share both. If you never deleted the Steam receipt in your email, you can share an image, along with the invoice number, which is also listed on the receipt.
Protect your account from future attacks
To reduce the risk of losing your Steam account again, take extra precautions to protect it from hackers. Knowing how to spot threats isn't enough - you have to use the tools Steam provides you and, in some cases, avoid a feature it offers.
- Connecting your phone number to your Steam account is another way to recover.
- It's tedious, but Steam Guard Mobile Authenticator is a must. Two-factor authentication (2FA) makes your account harder to hack.
- Don't share your library unless other devices are secure. If your kids like to use your account, install anti-virus software on their computers.
- Install antivirus software on your own devices to detect malware that may compromise your Steam account.
- Set a strong password. We recommend using Bitwarden ; it's one of the most trusted and loved password managers .
In just a few days, you will have your Steam account back, and surprisingly, everything will be fine, except for the need to update your personal information. By acting quickly and not panicking, you will not only save your account from a worse fate, but also save others. Don't let your account be used to harm others.