Steam is probably the most popular gaming platform on the PC right now offering not only a game store and means to launch games from a single client but also community elements that include a friend system, groups and chat among other things.
Some Steam users may have noticed that a handful of Steam features are not available to them. When a Steam account is limited, users are unable to send out friend invites or initiate chat sessions. Several other features are still available, including accepting chat sessions, being added as a friend or the creation of community groups.
To verify that a Steam account is limited, you could try to start a chat session with an existing friend or send out an invite to a new person on Steam. You could also try voting on Greenlight or participating in Steam Market.
Steam Account Limited
Valve has implemented limited accounts to protect the user base from spammers and abusive users. If the system would not be in place, those users could simply create a Steam account and start messaging and inviting Steam users without limitation. To avoid this, limited accounts were introduced.
Every Steam account is limited by default until at least one purchase is made in the store. A purchase includes a direct purchase in the store, the registration of a paid game in the account using a game serial number or a microtransaction in a game.
Here is the full list of transactions that remove the limited status from an account on Steam:
- Add $5 or more to the Steam Wallet (equivalent in other currencies) either directly, or by using a Steam Wallet card.
- Purchase a game on Steam for $5 or more.
- Purchase a gift on Steam that has a value of at least $5. Receiving gifts does not count.
Once has a purchase has been made, the account stops being limited and becomes fully functional on Steam.
Limited Account: features that are unavailable
You cannot remove the limitation by downloading game demos, adding non-Steam games to your library, adding retail games to the library, adding promotional games that come with hardware such as video cards to the library, making use of promotional items like free weekends, or playing free to play games like Team Fortress 2.
The following features are not available for gamers with limited accounts:
- Sending friend invites.
- Using browser or mobile chat, or opening group chat.
- Voting on Greenlight, Steam Reviews and Workshop items.
- Using Steam Market.
- Gaining Steam levels or Trading Cards.
- Submitting content to the Steam Workshop.
- Posting frequently in the Steam Discussions or Steam Workshop Discussions.
- Adding public artwork or screenshots.
- Accessing the Steam Web API.
Closing Words
Gamers who just installed Steam to play a free to play game like Team Fortress 2 and those who have bought a retail game are the most likely candidates for noticing that some of the software’s features are not available to them. The easiest way to get around this is to either purchase a discounted game or make an in-game purchase to enable all social features on Steam.
You could also add $5 to your Steam wallet either directly or by using a Steam Wallet card to do so.
A limited account should not be confused with a suspended or banned account. Accounts may be suspended for a variety of reasons, including piracy or hacking, payment fraud, sharing accounts, or buying, selling or trading accounts. Steam users who try to log into a suspended account see the following error message when they try to do so.
It reads:
Steam – Contact us
Steam Support has suspended this account
Accounts typically become suspended when an account has been accessed by someone else, or a payment dispute is in progress.
Please contact Steam Support to resolve this issue.
You find additional information about limited and suspended accounts on the Steam Support website.