These steps cover the Steam Guard mobile authenticator. Steam describes the same transfer process for Android and iPhone.
What to check before moving Steam Guard
Check whether the authenticator still works on your old phone and whether you can receive messages at the number linked to your Steam account.
| What you can still access | Where to start |
|---|---|
| The old authenticator and linked phone number | Sign in on the new device, approve the sign-in and choose the transfer option |
| The old phone is lost, but the linked number still works | During sign-in, choose the option saying you no longer have access to the authenticator, then follow the SMS transfer steps |
| The old authenticator works, but you cannot use the linked number | Keep the old phone intact. Check phone number management in Steam; see the section on changing your number below |
| Neither the authenticator nor the linked number | Start account recovery with Steam Support; keep your recovery code handy if you saved it |
How to move Steam Guard when you have the old phone
- Install the official Steam Mobile app on the new phone. Check that the app's developer is Valve.
- Sign in to the same Steam account. Use the existing authenticator on your old phone to approve the sign-in you initiated.
- Open the Steam Guard tab on the new phone and select “Move Authenticator.”
- Enter the confirmation code Steam sends to your linked phone number and follow the app's remaining instructions.
- Store the recovery code shown by Steam somewhere safe. Your only copy should not be on a phone you could lose.
- Check that Steam Guard is available on the new device. Before selling or giving away the old phone, verify a sign-in with the new authenticator, then remove your personal information from the old device.
A Steam account can have only one active mobile authenticator at a time. Transferring it does not leave you with a backup authenticator on the second phone.
How to move Steam Guard without the old phone
If the old phone is lost or broken but you can still use the linked phone number, install Steam on the new device and begin signing in. When asked to confirm the sign-in, choose “I no longer have access to my authenticator.” The app will guide you through transferring it using a message sent to the linked number.
If you still own the number but no longer have the SIM, ask your carrier whether you can get a replacement SIM or eSIM with that same number. Steam recommends restoring access to the number after losing a phone so you can receive recovery messages again.
If you have lost access to both the phone and the number, start the official account recovery process with Steam Support. Keep your recovery code ready if you saved it, and enter it only in the official recovery process. If you have neither your authenticator nor your recovery code, you will need Steam Support's help. Support may ask for proof that you own the account; there is no recovery time we can promise in advance.
If you also notice unfamiliar sign-ins or suspicious trades, follow our Steam account security and recovery steps. Resolve the account security problem before trying to sell items.
What to do if your phone number is changing too
Check the number in your account settings while you can still use it. In the Steam client or on the Steam website, click your profile name, open “Account Details” and select “Manage your phone number” under “Contact Info.” Follow Steam's instructions to confirm the change.
If the old authenticator works but the number is already unavailable, keep access to the app and check which verification options Steam offers. If Steam requires a code sent to a number you cannot use and offers no alternative, contact Support. Stay signed in to the working app until you have recovered access.
Getting a SIM with a different number does not update the number in your Steam account. Avoid removing the authenticator as a troubleshooting step, since removal causes a separate 15-day trading and Market restriction.
When you can trade and sell skins after a Steam Guard transfer
| Action | Restriction stated by Steam |
|---|---|
| Moving the authenticator to a new phone | 2 days without trading or the Community Market |
| Removing the mobile authenticator | 15 days without trading or the Community Market |
These periods concern changes to your authenticator. Your account or an individual item may have a separate restriction. For example, the end of the 2-day transfer restriction does not change the date when a particular skin becomes marketable.
Read Steam's message and the item's description before making a transaction. If you still cannot use the Market, check the other reasons a skin sale may be blocked. Changing phones alone does not explain every restriction that might appear afterwards.
Before your first trade on the new phone, check the recipient and both sides of the offer. Approve only sign-ins and transactions you initiated.
What to do when the SMS does not arrive or a code fails
Check that you can receive messages at the linked number and that your carrier allows service SMS messages. Repeated requests can temporarily stop Steam from sending more messages. Pause before trying again. If the code still has not arrived after a few hours, Steam's transfer instructions recommend contacting Support.
If the app rejects a current authenticator code, check the phone's clock. Steam generates these codes using the device's time. If you use several Steam accounts, make sure the code belongs to the account you are signing in to.
Do not approve an unexpected sign-in request to “fix” the transfer. Someone contacting you privately as a support agent does not need your password, Steam Guard codes or recovery code.
Where to find your Steam Guard recovery code
If you did not save the code but still have access to the authenticator, open Steam Guard in the mobile app, tap the gear icon and choose “Recovery Code.” Store it somewhere you can reach even if you lose your phone.
The SMS code confirms an action during a transfer. The recovery code helps you regain access after losing the authenticator. Use the recovery code only when Steam's official recovery process asks for it. Do not share these codes with anyone contacting you as a support agent.
