You cannot use any cheating software, bots, or unauthorized tools on Steam. If you do, Valve can immediately suspend or permanently ban your account — and you will lose all your games and purchases.
This analysis describes what Steam's agreement states, permits, or reserves. It does not constitute a legal determination about enforceability. Regulatory applicability and practical outcomes may vary by jurisdiction, enforcement context, and individual circumstances. Read our methodology
This clause establishes technical and behavioral requirements for account operation and protects the integrity of the Marketplace and game environments by restricting software and tools that circumvent or alter intended platform functionality. The provision grants Valve the authority to take account enforcement action when violations are detected.
The updated agreement no longer explicitly discloses that Steam Wallet funds held by Japanese users will expire six months after being added, or that expiration dates can be reviewed in the Steam Wallet. The removal of this disclosure eliminates the transparency mechanism previously available to Japanese subscribers regarding fund expiration timelines and monitoring options. Japanese law may still impose expiration requirements on stored funds regardless of contractual disclosure, but the agreement no longer notifies users of this expiration mechanism.
View change record →The removal of explicit anti-cheat and third-party software restrictions means these policies are no longer visible in the main agreement, though they may be enforced through other documents or the Rules of Use.
View full change record →Using any unauthorized third-party software — including tools that may be ambiguously classified as 'automation' — can result in immediate and permanent account termination with forfeiture of all purchased content and Steam Wallet funds.
How other platforms handle this
You may not use our Services for any illegal purpose or in violation of any laws or regulations. You may not use the Services to send money to sanctioned countries or individuals on government watchlists. You may not use the Services for gambling, illegal drugs, weapons, or any other prohibited acti...
Subject to your compliance with the terms of the Agreement (including, without limitation, these Terms and Taskrabbit's Acceptable Use Policy), Taskrabbit grants you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable and revocable license to (a) access and use the Platform (in the locations and territories ...
Pharmacies and the sale of prescription drugs, as well as the sale of substances that mimic the effects of illegal drugs, sale of drug paraphernalia, and related items are among the categories restricted or prohibited from using Stripe's services.
Monitoring
Steam has changed this document before.
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"You may not use cheats, automation software (bots), mods, hacks, or any other unauthorized third-party software, to modify or automate any Subscription Marketplace process. [...] Valve may immediately suspend or terminate your account if you use such software. [...] You agree that you will not use any form of third-party communication application when using Steam or playing games through Steam that enables features not permitted by Valve.— Excerpt from Steam's Steam Subscriber Agreement
REGULATORY FRAMEWORK: This provision engages the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) 18 U.S.C. §1030 (unauthorized access to computer systems, which Valve may invoke against cheat software developers); Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) 17 U.S.C. §1201 (anti-circumvention provisions relevant to cheat tools that bypass technical protection measures); and state computer crime statutes. For enforcement against users, this is primarily a contractual rather than statutory framework. FTC Act Section 5 may be implicated if anti-cheat bans are applied unfairly or without adequate notice.
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This clause establishes technical and behavioral requirements for account operation and protects the integrity of the Marketplace and game environments by restricting software and tools that circumvent or alter intended platform functionality. The provision grants Valve the authority to take account enforcement action when violations are detected.
Using any unauthorized third-party software — including tools that may be ambiguously classified as 'automation' — can result in immediate and permanent account termination with forfeiture of all purchased content and Steam Wallet funds.
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