Instructions for activating a key on Steam. Correct activation of the game on Steam
Each Steam user can send games in the form of Gifts to users on their friends list. The receiving party only needs to activate the gift received in order to immediately start downloading the game on the PC. In addition, activation can be performed using keys. We will consider these two methods and another less popular one in the current article.
Games for your account do not have to be purchased from the Steam store - they can be received as gifts from friends or purchased from third-party stores at a discounted price. In this case, the way they are activated will differ, since the principle of their distribution is not the same.
Option 1: Key activation
Adding to the library by entering a key is a very popular and universal method: it can be obtained in various online stores, where it is often possible to make a better purchase than through the internal Steam store. In addition, buyers of physical copies of games for Steam will not be able to activate the products in any way except by entering a key confirming the license. We talked about the procedure for activating a game key in our other article at the link below.
In the same article you will find information on what to do if the key cannot be activated, which is very important to know if a problem occurs (it is advisable to be aware of this information before purchasing).
Option 2: Activating a gift from the library
You can receive a gift from someone on your friends list that contains the game. After the changed rules, a person who makes a purchase in the same region as yours will be able to send you a gift (this is done due to the difference in prices for goods in different regions) or provided that in his region the price will be higher than in yours. That is, you will be able to activate the game in any case - several years ago the service limited this opportunity, but freely allowed sending a gift to a user who obviously would not be able to use it.
If suddenly, instead of adding, you receive an error, for example, that the game has already been activated, but it has not appeared in the library, first just wait. Glitches during this process are not uncommon, so it is likely that after a short wait the item will appear in the library.
Option 3: Activate the game using a Gift link
Some third-party stores have begun selling gifts not in the form of keys, but with Gift links. Usually on these sites it is written how to perform activation in this way, and it is almost the same: you make a purchase on the site, through a browser, then return to the store page (usually you need to go to the section "My purchases") and follow the link you received in return. Steam will ask a question about accepting the gift, answer in the affirmative. All that remains is to go through the desktop client to "Library" and start installation.
Do not forget that these links are one-time use, so your friends will not be able to get the game to their account in this way. This link can also be sent to a friend as a gift, but then, of course, you will not be able to use it.
Now you know how you can activate a game on Steam, received in the form of an activation code, gift or link.
Everyone loves to spend time computer games, and many have already switched to licensed content. There are many advantages to this approach, including security, reliability and developer support. One of the most popular platforms selling licensed copies of games is Steam. Here, since 2016, you can not only buy games, but also activate them using keys that must be entered in a special window.
What is a key on Steam
Valve itself claims that the key function was added for the comfort of gamers and has an extremely useful task. You can buy game content not only on Steam, but also in real stores, other sites, or in special online stores.
The key itself is serial number of 13, 15, 18 or 25 numbers and letters that you must enter to get the game into your Steam library. If the user purchased the game on physical media, the secret combination is usually attached inside the disc box. If in electronic stores, then the code is either transmitted directly or sent by mail, along with a purchase notification. It is important to make sure that this key is for Steam, this is usually indicated on the box or in the email.
Where to get the key
The key can be obtained when purchasing content on another platform or in a real store. There are also many sites and stores on the Internet that offer to buy games at low prices. Here, when purchasing, you can get the same code that is entered into Steam.
How to activate a key in Steam
After receiving the key, you must activate it in order for the purchase to appear in the Steam game library. If the user does not have Steam, then first you will need to go to the company’s official website and download it, after which all updates will be downloaded, and then you can register.
After this, click on the button “ Add a game" in the lower left corner of the window and select "Activate on Steam..." in the list that opens.
The following window will open, informing you that you can add your purchase to your library by entering a digital code. Click " Further». 
The next window will prompt you to read the Steam license agreement, which explains the company’s trading policy and user rights. To continue click " I agree». 
The input window itself will appear. Copy the character set into a single field, or enter it manually if it is on physical media. Then click “Next”. 
After activation is complete, a window will appear informing you that the process has been successfully completed and that the user has received the game.
What to do if the key doesn't fit
First you need to make sure that this key is for Steam, again read what is written on the box or in the email. If everything is correct, then you should contact technical support seller, if he cannot help or refuses to help, then contact the publisher directly. The same actions should be taken if activation has already been carried out, just first contact Steam technical support, perhaps the code has already been activated on another account - they will help you restore it.
Alternative Activation Pathways
You can also add the game to your library using a key through a browser by going to the Steam website. To get to the activation page, follow the link to the official website. 
Unfortunately, it is currently impossible to activate through the official mobile application on your phone, but you can do it through a mobile browser.
Checking the key without activation
Sometimes you need to check which game the Steam key is linked to without activating it. This can be useful if you received an unknown digital key. To check you will need a Steam account blocked social functions, that is, without the ability to purchase goods.
You will need to do all the same steps as during normal activation, only because the account is blocked at the end, not an activation message will be displayed, but an error notification and the name of the product that was not added. Unfortunately, we were not able to test this method, so we cannot guarantee its functionality.
Many of us use the Steam game client, which provides access to many popular games. Downloading games from Steam often occurs using an electronic key, and having received such a key, the user sometimes does not know how to work with it and where it can be activated. This material is intended to help such users; in it we will tell you how to activate the key in Steam, and what is the step-by-step procedure for such activation.
Let me remind readers that the Steam Key is a digital-alphabetic code that allows you to activate any game in your Steam account. You must be the owner of such an account, and if you do not have one, then you need to register and create it.
Steam does not sell keys to ordinary customers. You can buy such keys in various computer online stores, receive them as a gift (gift) from another user or game developer (the latter have many free keys), purchase them second-hand from some dubious seller, and so on. At the same time, in most cases, the buyer himself is responsible for the validity of such a key, and if you suddenly find a message in Steam that the key you previously activated has been revoked, you can only shrug your shoulders, since it will be difficult to prove something.
I also note that when activating a key, the latter is tied to a specific account, and it will be impossible to activate it on another account.
To view the activation status of your existing keys, just go to “Account”, then to “About Account”, and then to “Licenses and Key Activations”.
How to activate the game on Steam with a key
So, you somehow received a key for the game on Steam, and you want to activate it immediately. I recommend doing the following:
- Launch your Steam client (if you do not have this client, then you can download it from store.steampowered.com);
- Log in to your account (if necessary, go through the registration procedure);
- Click on the “Add game” in the lower left corner, and in the window that appears, select “Activate via Steam...” (you can also select the “Games” tab at the top, and there click on “Activate via Steam...”);
Select the “Games” tab - “Activate via Steam...”
- Next, you will need to agree to the Steam subscriber rules by clicking on “Agree” (if available);
- In the window that opens, enter the product code you have, and then click on “Next”.
Enter the product key you have and then click on "Next"
- The game activation procedure will start, and the game you purchased will be added to your Steam game library (in some cases, the client will offer to immediately download and install the game on your PC);
- To access the game, go to the “Games” tab, and select “View game library” there;
- In the list of games that opens, select the one for which you activated the key and click on the “Install” button on the right. The specified game will begin downloading to your computer. Please note that the duration of the installation process directly depends on the size of the game, the speed of your Internet connection, as well as the power of your system when installing game files;
- After installing the game, click on “Play” and enjoy the gameplay.
We activate the key in Steam through the browser and mobile applications
Many users often ask if it is possible to activate a Steam key through a browser and mobile phone. If previously the possibility of activation through a browser was not available, and activation through a mobile phone (using the functionality of various mobile applications). And it did carry the danger of allowing attackers to access your account (after all, the user de facto transferred his Steam account data to mobile application developers), but now there is a completely official possibility of activating your key through a browser.
To do this, you need to go to the activation page on the official website store.steampowered.com, enter your account information there (having a Steam account is required). And activate the product (you can try using the same link using a mobile browser). I also ask you to take into account hypothetical changes in Steam policy, and the possible removal of this tool in the future.
Conclusion
In this material, we looked at what a key is in Steam, and what is the step-by-step algorithm for activating such a key. The activation procedure itself is performed in a rather formulaic manner and does not pose any difficulties for the average user. At the same time, I also recommend making sure that you purchase keys from a trusted counterparty, otherwise at one sad moment you may face the revocation of your Steam key.
In contact with
It’s already autumn, and very soon it will be October, in which the next one will take place. But after purchasing game code On the portal, many are wondering where and how to enter the key in Steam.
On Steam you can get promotional codes, as well as purchase an activation code for your favorite game. To activate the key in Steam, you need to follow a few simple steps. The only thing is that you must have the official software of this store installed. Although the latter Steam time allows activation directly through the browser.
How to activate a key in Steam on PC
- The first step is to download and then install on your computer software online store. You must download the software exclusively from the official website.
Attention! Do not use file hosting services, torrents or other file sharing services. An installer loaded in this way may contain viruses. Download the program only from the official website of the online store.
- After you have downloaded the program, you should install it on your computer. And then authorize using your account Steam.
- Next we find the “Games” menu, in which we are interested in the “Activate via Steam...” item.
- The next step is to accept the subscriber's message. If anyone is interested, read what they write about. If you’re not interested, scroll down and then click “I Agree.”
- The “Product Activation” form will open, in which you need to enter the key in Steam to activate the purchased game.
- After this, the system will think a little and report that the operation was successful.
Is it possible to activate a Steam key through a browser?
Many people do not want to install additional software on their PC. Then a reasonable question arises: is it possible to activate a Steam key through a browser? Not long ago, the Steam online store introduced the option to activate a key through a browser.
To do this you need:
- be a registered user of the online store;
- follow this link;
- enter the key, accept Terms of use and click the “Continue” button.
After this, the system will notify you that the product has been successfully activated.
How to activate a Steam key on your phone
Another popular question from users is activation on the phone, via Android or iOS. Here the situation is similar to activation via a browser. On this moment time, you can use the browser of your phone or tablet for this purpose. There is no application for activation via phone.
Conclusion
Thus, at this point in time, the only way to enter the key in Steam is to use the official software of the online store. This software must be downloaded and installed on a personal computer. Recently, you can use a browser to activate.
The popular gaming platform has its own store through which you can buy and install gaming content on your computer. But the same thing can be purchased outside the service:
- Buy the boxed edition on disc.
- Purchase from third party marketplaces.
- Download from torrents and other file hosting sites.
- Get it for free, for example, when you purchase a video card.
When purchasing online, you do not download any installation files to your disk. As in the case of a gift for a video card, you are given a special key that allows you to activate the game on Steam.
Methods and procedure
Once you have the code, you should do the following:
In addition to the application, the platform has a web interface that allows you to work on Steam through a browser, as well as an official mobile client. However, activation of the game on Steam through an Internet browser is not provided.
As for the ability to activate a game purchased outside the Steam platform via a mobile phone, the situation is as follows:
- If you have an Apple smartphone with operating system iOS, then this option to activate the game on Steam is not available to you. But don’t be discouraged, in pursuit of buyers, developers are constantly improving, so this method will probably become available soon.
- For phone Android opportunity enter key is already available. There is a special Ice Client application for this.
Ice Client is not affiliated with the developers, but has extensive features in the gaming space:
- Steam Guard support;
- Ability to save data from multiple accounts;
- Marketplace and store;
- View invitations;
- Change of status;
- Activation by code.
The last function is the most useful. To use it to activate any game in Steam service, you need to follow a few simple steps:
These are the ways to activate any game in the Steam service if you purchased it outside the built-in store. If you know ways to do this through a browser or mobile iOS phone, write your tips in the comments.
