Limited User Accounts
Question
My Steam account is missing some Community features and/or is showing up as a limited user. What does this mean?
Answer
Why are some features of Steam not available to me?
We've chosen to limit access to some community features as a means of protecting our customers from those who abuse Steam merely for evil purposes such as spamming and phishing. Only people using the platform to play games are able to directly connect with others. Spammers' and phishers' ability to send pesky invites and chat requests to strangers is thereby reduced, protecting legitimate users from annoyance and scams.
How can I gain access to these Steam features?
To access all features of Steam, simply purchase a game from the Steam store, redeem a Gift or Guest Pass* on Steam, or activate a retail game on Steam.
* Access to features may be limited to the duration of the Guest Pass.
Can I gain access to these features by playing free demos, adding a non-Steam game as a shortcut, or promotional trials like Free Weekends?
No. Demos, Free Weekends, and other promotions do not act as qualifying items.