New Steam accounts don’t have access to a series of community and social features. Having a limited account can be quite frustrating but please bear with Steam. The company implemented these restrictions in order to fight against common spamming and phishing attacks.
In this guide, we’ll answer all your questions so as to why your Steam account cannot access particular community features and options. We’ll also explain to you what you can do to get rid of the restrictions as soon as possible.
We have listed all the features which are not available to a limited account.
What Features Are Unavailable on a New Steam Account?
1. You Can’t Sent Friend and Group Invites
Steam users can add other users to their list of friends using their Steam ID or name. This social feature of the platform allows users to see when their friends were last online, what games they’re playing, how well they did, and so on.
A limited Steam account can’t send friend requests. This feature is restricted in order to deter new accounts created solely for spamming purposes. As a workaround, you can provide your friends with your Steam ID and ask them to send you a friend request instead.
2. You Can’t Request Access to Groups
Playing your favorite Steam games with your friends in the same team is really awesome and fun. But in order to do that, you need to create Steam groups.
Limited Steam accounts are not allowed to create groups or join existing groups. As a workaround, your friends can add you to their groups if they already have you on their list of friends. Or they can look up your Steam ID and add you in their group using your ID.
3. You Can’t Open Group Chat
Limited Steam accounts can’t view group chats and read the conversation. This can sometimes be a major disadvantage as you can’t see what strategy your team hs agreed upon before the gameplay.
4. You Can’t Write Steam Reviews
Limited Steam accounts are not allowed to write reviews. The only thing you can do to let your friends know you really like a game is to give it a thumbs up.
If you try to leave a written review using a limited account, an error will pop up informing you can’t post reviews due to account limitations.
Steam introduced this restriction in order to block scammers who would create countless new accounts and write negative reviews so as to destroy the ratings of a specific game.
5. You Can’t Access the Steam Market
Limited account holders can’t join the Steam Market. This means they can’t buy or sell in-game items.
6. You Can’t Post Too Often in Steam Discussions
This is another attempt to counter spamming. If you’ve got a limited Steam account, you can’t post too frequently in Steam Discussions in a 24 hour period. If you can’t open a new Steam discussion, wait 24 hours and try again.
In order to post in Steam Discussions, you need to have at least 60 minutes of playtime on your account. You must also own the respective game.
7. Gaining Steam Profile Levels
Steam profile levels are locked for limited accounts. No matter how much time you spend playing games on Steam or how many games you play, you are stuck at level 0 until you spend at least $5.
When your account is no longer limited, you have access to Steam’s profile ranking system. Each new level brings you additional options. Every 10 levels earn you 1 showcase.
For the first 10 levels, you need around 100XP to unlock the next level. Keep in mind the XP amount required to level up increases every 10 levels as follows:
- Level 1 requires 100XP = +5 Friend Slots
- Level 2 requires 200XP = +5 Friend Slots
- Level 3 requires 300XP = +5 Friend Slots
- Level 4 requires 400XP = +5 Friend Slots
- Level 5 requires 500XP = +5 Friend Slots, and so on.
- Level 10 requires 1000XP = +5 Friend Slots and Earn 1 profile showcase
- Level 11 requires 1200XP = +5 Friend Slots
- Level 12requires 1400XP = +5 Friend Slots
- Level 13 requires 1600XP = +5 Friend Slots
- Level 14 requires 1800XP = +5 Friend Slots
- Level 15 requires 2000XP = +5 Friend Slots, and so on.
- Level 20 requires 30000XP = +5 Friend Slots and Earn 1 profile showcase
- Level 21 requires 30300XP
- Level 22 requires 30600XP, and so on.
8. You Can’t Create Public Steam Guides
If you own a limited Steam account, you can’t publish public guides. These guides are a great way to share your gaming experience with other players and help them find the answers to some of the questions they might have.
9. Other limitations include:
- Limited account owners can’t access Steam web API and many Steamworks features.
- You can’t use Steam’s mobile browser and chat and take part in chat conversations on your phone.
- Limited Steam account holders can’t add public artwork and screenshots on their profile which means people can’t see it or view it.
- You can’t post hyperlinks in the Steam Community
- You are not allowed to add messages to trade offers
- You can’t submit content on the Steam Workshop
Which Actions Won’t Give You Access to Unlimited Steam Accounts?
- Playing free demos
- Using a CD key to activate a game, including Promotional CD Keys
- Spending the money you obtained from selling items on the Steam market
- Playing games you received as gifts.
And now you know.
References:
- Limited User Accounts, retrieved from Steam Support.