January 17, 2019

Steam Account Trade and Market Restictions List

(12 votes, average: 2.08 out of 5)

Can’t trade even though you should be able to? There may be cases in which you won’t be able to trade your skins for cash even though you theoretically should be able to. In such cases, it is always good to check if you’re Steam account isn’t subjected to any of the numerous market restrictions.

Trade or Market Hold

Even though an item hold won’t prevent your account from trading or using the Community Market, it will put a delay on any transfers between accounts. The Trade Hold is usually caused by the lack of Steam Guard’s Mobile Authenticator.

Trade and market holds may be irritating but please remember that they help you protect items in case your account get compromised. Even if a hijacker manages to access your account, you can prevent them from stealing your items by canceling any transactions that are on hold.

Recently Cancelled An Accepted Trade

If you canceled any of your accepted trades that are undergoing a trade hold, your account will automatically be restricted from any trading for 7 days.

Limited User Accounts

Some Steam accounts are limited, which means that the users are prevented from accessing a range of features on Steam. Steam limits access to certain features as a means of new user protection from scammers, spammers and phishers.

Newly Authorized Device

If you’re using a device that has not been previously authorized through Steam Guard, you won’t be able to trade or use the Community Market from that particular device for the next week. Luckily, any other devices that have already been authorized for at least 7 days will still be able to trade and use the Community Market.

Bear in mind that actions such as clearing your web browser cookies, using a new web browser, reinstalling Steam, and reformatting your computer will make that device look new to Steam and will trigger this restriction.

In case you have had a Steam Guard Mobile Authenticator beforehand there will be no trading or Market restrictions forced on the new device as you have to confirm all trades and Market listings through the mobile app anyway.

Steam Guard Not Enabled

Steam Guard has to be enabled for at least 15 days. If you have not had Steam Guard enabled for 15 days, you will be unable to trade or use the Community Market. Accounts that currently have Steam Guard disabled will be unable to trade and use the Community Market.

Steam Guard Only Recently Enabled

If you have recently enabled Steam Guard, you won’t be able to use Community Market for the next 15 days. Removing Steam Guard or disabling and re-enabling Steam Guard will also trigger this restriction.

Recent Password Reset

If you forgot your password and had to reset it, you will be restricted from trading and the Community Market for 5 days. If your account has not had any activity for more than two months, these restrictions will apply for 30 days.

This restriction only applies to password resets and doesn’t trigger on password change.

Mobile Authenticator Added/Removed

A Steam Guard Mobile Authenticator provides additional security and it’s always a good thing to have. Trades created within the first 7 days of adding the authenticator will still have up to a 15-day trade hold. If your account was already protected by Steam Guard via email, you will have no new restrictions from using trading or the Community Market. If your account was not protected by Steam Guard, you will be restricted from using trading and the Community Market for the next 15 days. You’re also unable to trade or use Community Market for 15 if you remove your mobile authenticator.

Newly Added Payment Method

Unverified payment methods are subject to a 3-day restriction period before you can use them to make a purchase on the Community Market. Items that are purchased with trusted payment methods may or may not have a cooldown before they can be traded or used in the Community Market. This cooldown period varies and is game dependent.

No Purchase Older Than 7 Days

Your Steam account must have a successful purchase older than 7 days, but not older than a year in order to access the Community Market. This can range from anything like wallet funds and games up to DLCs and other software. You can also use a Steam Wallet card or Gift card. However, retail CD key activation and gift purchases do not satisfy this requirement.

Current Trade or Community Ban

You also may be unable to trade or use the market if your account has been banned from trading by Steam Support. Depending on the severity of the violation, you may receive a temporary or permanent trade ban.

VAC Ban

If a VAC Ban, cooldown or overwatch ban has been registered on your account, you will no longer have access to the CS:GO store, or be able to make trades for CS:GO items, and you will no longer receive or have access to any drops