Are Steam keys region locked? How to check a game key before you buy

How to check a key's region before you buy

1. 1Find the country of your platform account. On Steam it is called your store country and is shown under Account Details. The sections below cover Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo.
2. 2Open the game's product page and find the details list. Read the Platform line first: the key only works on the platform named there.
3. 3Read the Region line. It shows the area the key is made for, or Worldwide when the catalogue lists no regional limit.
4. 4In the purchase panel, read Can be activated in. If there is a line under it that says Cannot be activated in or Can only be activated in a number of countries, select View list.
5. 5Look for your account's country in that list. Excluded, or missing from an allowed list, means the key is not for your account.
6. 6Open the Activation details tab when the product has one, and read any extra condition.
7. 7If the label is one you don't recognise, ask support before you buy.

Where each platform shows your account's country

Steam

Steam Support says your store country is set from the location of your first Steam purchase, and that the current one is shown under Account Details. It can be changed when you move, by completing a purchase with a payment method from the new country, and only once every 3 months. Steam adds a note that matters here: CD keys and Steam Wallet codes cannot be used to change your store country.

Xbox

Xbox Support says some codes are meant for a specific country or region that might not match the regional settings on your account, and tells you to make sure the region on your Microsoft account matches your physical location. On a console, the device's own setting is under Profile & system > Settings > System > Language & location.

PlayStation

PlayStation Support puts it in one line: the voucher code needs to be for the same region as your account. Steps and details are in how to redeem a PlayStation game code.

Nintendo

Nintendo Support says a download code can only be redeemed on a Nintendo Account set to the same region as the code, and that a European code will not work with a North American account. A mismatch can show error 2813-0054, "This activation code cannot be used with your country/region setting."

What the platforms say about VPNs

We don't advise using a VPN to activate a key. This is what the platforms' own terms say.

• Steam. In the Steam Subscriber Agreement you agree not to use IP proxying or other methods to disguise your place of residence, including to get around geographical restrictions on game content. It adds that Valve may terminate your access to your account if you do.
• Xbox. Xbox Support says a VPN is allowed for privacy while browsing or gaming, but that you may be required to turn it off for certain purchases and redemptions, including some region-locked codes. Its advice for VPN errors is to set your region to your physical location and turn the VPN off.

A key that needs your location hidden to activate is the wrong key. Buy the one whose list includes your country.

If the key turns out to be the wrong region

The platforms send you back to the seller. Xbox Support says to contact the retailer if a code doesn't match your account's region. Nintendo's page for a region error suggests checking the account's country and the country printed for the code.

On KryptoMate the rule is short. A product bought for the wrong region by your own selection can't be refunded: our Refund Policy excludes purchases of region-locked products made despite the warning on the product page. Activated keys are final. If the region matches and the key is still rejected, see Game key not working; an invalid key reported within 48 hours of delivery is reviewed under the Refund Policy.

Our help article I bought the wrong product or region explains what support can and can't do.

Bought the key with crypto?

Paying with crypto changes nothing about a key's region: the list on the page applies whichever coin you use. Browse Games, and see How to pay On-Chain for the payment step.

Frequently asked questions