Why is my Steam account restricted?
"Restricted" covers four different systems that get blamed on each other in every forum thread. Work down this list and you will find yours in about two minutes.
1. The limited account ($5 rule)
Until an account has spent $5 USD on Steam (wallet top-up, game purchase or gift), it cannot trade, use the Community Market, send friend invites, level up, or use the Web API. Things that do not lift it: free games, retail keys, promo keys, and money received from market sales. Yes, that last one is a trap - selling items does not unlock the account that sold them.
2. An actual ban
| BAN TYPE | TRIGGER | SCOPE |
|---|---|---|
| VAC ban | Cheating detected | Permanent, per game engine, not disputable. |
| Game ban | Issued by the game's developer | Per game; terms set by the developer. |
| Trade ban | Economy abuse - see our trade ban guide | Trading + Market, usually permanent. |
| Community ban | Abusive behaviour in community features | Forums, comments, reviews; not disputable. |
3. A hold, not a ban
- No Mobile Authenticator active for the last 7 consecutive days: items leaving your account are held up to 15 days (1 day when trading with a friend of 1+ year).
- Moved the authenticator to a new phone: holds apply again until it has been active 7 days.
- Holds expire on their own. Nothing is wrong with your account - Steam is just making a hijacker's week annoying.
OBLIGATORY PLUG
The practical takeaway for winning things here: $5 spent + Mobile Authenticator running for a week = your prize trade arrives without a 15-day quarantine. Sort it before you enter, not after you win. Browse the draws ->
Knowledge base: Steam Support: limited accounts · Steam Support: trade holds
