Steam Support
Steam-Issued Activation Keys
Some Steam games may provide you with an additional activation key once they have been downloaded on a Steam account. These keys appear in the Steam library when you right-click the game and select 'Manage' -> 'CD keys'. These keys are used to register your product outside of Steam, with a third party client or service.



This FAQ pertains to Steam-issued keys that were added to your account after a game was purchased or registered. If you are registering a retail or digital key to your Steam account, please see the Retail & Digital CD Keys FAQ for further information.

Why am I not receiving my Steam-issued third party key?

Make sure that the game has been successfully downloaded and installed through the Steam client. A key will not be issued on the Steam account until the download has begun.

If the key is still not generating, please verify integrity of game files and restart the Steam client.

Why am I receiving a Failed to Contact Key Server error?

For information on this error please see the Failed to Contact Key Server page.

Why am I receiving an Invalid Key error when attempting to register my key?

If you receive an invalid or duplicate error when registering Steam issued key, you will need to contact the third-party game developer/publisher's support team for that game.
Contacting third-party support
Steam does not have access to third-party registration systems and cannot resolve issues with registration.

You can find the third-party game's support contact information by selecting the game in your Steam Library and then on the right hand side select "Support" from the tabs available above the "Activity" section.

Make sure to provide them with your Steam-issued CD Key so that they can better assist you.





Need help with Steam?
Use the Steam help wizard to narrow down your topic and get the help you need.
Help Me With My Issue
Community Help
Post or search in Steam Discussions for an answer to your question.
Visit Steam Discussions