Steam: Your Account Does Not Meet the Requirements to Use this Feature
The message “Your Account Does Not Meet the Requirements to Use this Feature” means that your account is categorized as a Limited User Account. This restriction is encountered by every user who has not spent $5 after creating a new account. Steam restricts access to certain features to enhance the community experience and ensure user safety by preventing malicious activities such as spamming and phishing.
Additionally, this policy encourages users to make genuine purchases, promoting a more engaged and invested user base.
To remove this restriction and gain full account benefits, you must spend $5 on your Steam account. This will allow you to add friends, access and participate in the Steam community, and gain access to other features listed in this article.
Please note that activating games using CD keys, making retail purchases and adding them to Steam, and receiving gifts from friends will not count toward the $5 minimum. You need to make a purchase directly from Steam to remove the restrictions.
Below, we have listed the methods to spend $5 on Steam to lift the limitations. Please make sure to use one of these methods to ensure the limitations are lifted.
1. Purchase a Game or DLC
The most straightforward way to lift the limitation is to buy any game or downloadable content (DLC) from Steam that costs at least $5.
2. Add Funds to Your Steam Wallet
Another simple way to meet the requirement is to add funds to your Steam wallet. This will allow you to meet the Steam requirement and use the $5 funds for future purchases. This is especially helpful if you don’t want to spend money on a game right now but plan to do so later.
3. Purchase Steam Wallet Card
You can also buy a Steam wallet card and redeem it on your account. However, you need to make sure that the card’s value is at least $5 to lift the limitations.
List of Features Not Available to Limited User Accounts:
Below is a list of features that are not available to Limited User Accounts:
1. Sending Friend and Group Invites
On Steam, you can add people by using their Steam ID or their name, and even when you’re in-game. Additionally, there’s a friend interface available within the Steam client where you can see a friend’s last online status, current game, and achievements. You can also invite them to play a game with you.
However, if your account is limited, you cannot initiate friend requests. You would have to provide your Steam ID to others and ask them to add you.
2. Requesting Access to Groups
In many games, players can team up by creating groups. With a limited Steam account, you cannot request to join these existing groups. They would need to invite you, which requires them to find you through your Steam ID or have you on their friend list.
3. Opening Group Chat
Similarly, you cannot access group chats or read ongoing conversations as a limited account holder. This can be frustrating since team planning before gameplay often occurs in these chats, which are essential for all participants to be involved in.
4. Voting on Workshop Items and Writing Steam Reviews
To prevent review manipulation and unwarranted rating disruptions, Steam has restricted limited accounts from writing reviews or voting on workshop items. Additionally, non-limited account holders can recommend games by giving a “thumbs up,” making the recommendation visible to friends.
To write a review, open the Library in the Steam client and click on the game you wish to review. In the top-left corner, click on Write review. If you have a limited account, you’ll be notified that you cannot post reviews due to the account limitations.
Should you try to write a review with a limited account, an error message will inform you that review posting is not permitted.
5. Participating in the Steam Market
The Steam Market is a digital marketplace available to the Steam community for selling or exchanging in-game items. To counteract spamming, this feature has been disabled for limited account holders.
6. Posting Frequently in Steam Discussions
Steam has also set a limit on the number of posts and comments limited account holders can make in the Steam Discussions forum within a 24-hour period. The reasoning was that scammers previously abused the discussion board, leading Steam to take action and preserve the integrity and efficiency of the forum.
7. Gaining Steam Profile Levels
Steam rewards account activity with profile levels, each providing additional benefits and options. As you level up, you unlock more profile showcases, with a new showcase earned every 10 levels, up to a maximum of 16 showcases. However, having a Limited User Account means you cannot level up, regardless of gameplay frequency or quantity.
Here is a brief overview of how the leveling system works:
Level 1- 100XP = +5 Friend Slots ... Level 20- 30000XP = +5 Friend Slots and Earn 1 profile showcase
Earning XP can be done through various means, including gameplay, trading, crafting badges, and participating in sales. With a limited account, however, you cannot increase your level until you spend $5 or more on Steam.
8. Accessing Steam Web API
Limited account holders are also denied access to the Steam Web API, which is an HTTP-based service enabling access to many of Steamworks’ features and is particularly useful for developers.
9. Using Browser and Mobile Chat
Steam’s mobile browser and chat functionalities allow you to communicate with friends on the go. With a limited account, you won’t be able to participate in these chats.
10. Adding Public Artwork
Adding artwork to your profile, whether for showcase or sharing with friends, is a feature not available to limited account holders. While artists may find this limiting, it’s necessary to prevent potential abuse.
Which Actions Will Not Grant Me Access to the Full Account Benefits?
Certain actions do not contribute to gaining full account benefits:
1. Activating a Retail Game on Steam
Activating a product on Steam via a CD key does not help in negating a limited account. You must spend precisely $5 in the Steam store.
2. Playing Free Demos
Engaging with demos provided for free will not count toward the elimination of account limitations.
3. Spending Funds Obtained from Items Sold in the Steam Market
The use of funds accumulated from sales in the Steam market for purchases does not count as a valid purchase to activate an unlimited account.
4. Activating Promotional CD Keys from Hardware or Graphic Manufacturers
Redeeming promotional CD keys as part of schemes from hardware or graphics manufacturers is not considered in achieving an unlimited account status.
Will I Gain Access to All Features if I Receive a Game as a Gift?
No, receiving games or items as gifts or through Steam trading does not qualify. You must personally spend at least $5 on Steam.
What Happens if My Purchase is Refunded/Disputed/Charged Back?
If a purchase is refunded, the amount will be deducted from your account. Similarly, disputes that result in the account balance falling below $5 will negate eligibility for full access.
What If My Purchase is Pending/Processing? When Will I Get Unlimited Access?
You gain full account benefits only after the purchase is successfully verified and completed. Pending or processing transactions do not count until finalized.
My Steam Store Isn’t in USD. What Are the Exchange Rates?
Transactions are converted to USD to meet the $5 threshold, using the exchange rate on the day the purchase occurs.
Is There Any Way for Me to Add Friends as a Limited User?
As a limited user, you cannot initiate friend requests. But if someone with an unrestricted account sends you a request, you can accept it and become friends.
Important Note:
All transactions should be made through the official Steam client. Websites claiming to be official partners are not endorsed by Steam, and purchases made outside the official Steam client do not contribute to unlimited account status. Only purchases directly from Steam count towards access to unlimited features.
