Counter-Strike Steam

Steam says my CD-Key is already in use when I try to register it. How do I reset my CD key?

CD Key Reset Process Guidelines

If you recently purchased a retail game which requires activation on Steam and are encountering a "Duplicate CD Key" error message, you must contact Valve to have the CD Key moved to your account.

Note: We cannot reset CD Keys which have been disabled for violations of the Steam Subscriber Agreement and/or End User License Agreement or banned by VAC for cheating infractions.

If your CD Key is alpha-numeric and matches the ##### - ##### - ##### - ##### - ##### pattern, you must have a copy of your purchase receipt from within the last 90 days to have the CD Key moved to your account. We do not accept receipts from online auction websites or used software vendors. If you do not provide a purchase receipt, Valve will not be able to transfer the CD Key.

Sierra Half-Life, Counter-Strike, and Blue Shift CD Keys

Older CD Keys (Sierra Half-Life, Counter-Strike, and Blue Shift CD Keys) are printed in the following format:

#### - ##### - ####

If your CD Key does not match the pattern (4 numbers - 5 numbers - 4 numbers), please skip down to the All Other CD Keys section.

If your CD Key matches the #### - ##### - #### pattern and you are certain that you have not registered it through Steam in the past, please send all of the following items to us via postal mail:

1. The original printed CD Key - no copies, photos or scans of the CD Key will be accepted. Please send only the CD Key. Do not send the game box or game CDs.
2. A copy of the CD Key Reset Form filled out as completely as possible.
3. A photocopy of your receipt for the purchase of the game if the game was purchased within the last 90 days (please circle the game title on the photocopy if there are multiple items on the receipt).
4. If you do not have a copy of your receipt for the recent purchase of the game, please include a money order or bank cashier check made out to Valve Corporation for $10.00 USD (ten dollars in United States funds) to pay the CD Key reset service charge.

Please print out the CD Key Reset Form and complete it. Specify the use of any numbers in the names or email accounts (for instance, "B0B" has the number zero in it - you would need to point this out).

Package and send the requested materials to:

CD Key Reset
Valve Corporation
PO Box 1688
Bellevue, WA 98009
USA

Your CD Key will be sent back to you via US Mail once it has been reset. Please allow 6 to 8 weeks for the materials to be mailed back.

Note: You do not need to wait to receive your CD Key from us to make use of the subscription on your Steam account – you will be sent an e-mail regarding the status of your CD Key reset request when your request is received and processed.

CD Key Reset Form

form-cd_key_reset.pdf

All Other CD Keys

Current CD Keys are comprised of 18 numbers and letters (Prey) or 25 numbers and letters (Valve games) arranged into five groups of five characters separated by hyphens:

Prey example: AAB1BB2C345CDD6E E7

Valve game example: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q

If your CD Key fits one of these patterns, please follow the link below to create a support case to provide the following materials:

• A scan or digital photo of the CD Key with the words Reset To and your Steam account username written in permanent ink on the reference card or sticker (without obscuring the CD Key)
• A scan or digital photo of your retail purchase receipt (game must have been purchased within the last 90 days - we do not accept receipts from online auction websites or used software vendors)
• The Steam account username you would like the CD Key moved to

CD Key Scan Examples

Here is a typical example of a CD-key reset picture. Please write your account name or support incident number on the reference card. (If you do not have your account name, you must first create your support ticket, copy the incident number then submit an update to the ticket with your digital photo of the CD-key.)

If you do not have access to a scanner or digital camera, you may complete the CD Key mailing process described for Half-Life, Counter-Strike, and Blue Shift CD Keys which is outlined above (you do not need to include $10.00 USD for the CD Key Reset Service Charge, however, you must include a copy of your receipt from within 90 days of the postmark date for the materials).

Contact Steam Support

Please see the Contacting VALVe Billing and Support topic for instructions to contact Steam Support to provide the requested information once it is ready.