How to Check Steam Trade History: A Simple Guide
Steam enables users to exchange virtual items, gifts, and various digital assets amongst themselves. Since its introduction in 2011, trading has become an important part of managing virtual inventories and interacting with the community.
Checking trade activity periodically enables users to ensure disputes are settled, accounts secured, and items traceable. It confirms all trades made are documented properly to enable easier inventory management and inventory transactions. In case disputes arise, the trade records can be used as proof of what was exchanged. Examining trade histories also help to quickly establish the presence of unauthorized activities that could possibly lead to breaches in security.
Trade History Interface
Understanding how to use the Steam trade history page helps users manage their trades and inventory efficiently. The trade history lists all completed trades in order, showing important details such as:
- Date and Time – When the trade took place.
- Trading Partner – The username of the person you traded with (clicking their name takes you to their Steam profile).
- Items Exchanged – A list of items given and received. Items you traded away are marked with a “-“, while items received are marked with a “+”.
This information allows users to track their transactions, verify trade details, and ensure everything is recorded correctly.
Filtering Options
Steam does not provide built-in filtering or search options for trade history, but third-party tools can help:
- Steam Market History Plus – A Chrome extension that improves the market history page by adding search, sorting, and highlighting features.
- Steam Market History Cataloger – Organizes trade data, allows offline viewing, and lets users export transactions in formats like JSON and CSV.
These tools help users quickly find specific trades, filter transactions by date or item, and analyze trade patterns more effectively.
How to Check Your Steam Trade History
- Log into Steam – Open the Steam app on your device and sign in to your account.
- Go to Your Inventory – Hover over your profile name at the top of the Steam window. A dropdown menu will appear. Click “Inventory” to open it.
- Open Trade History – Inside the Inventory page, find the “More” button (three dots) in the upper-right corner. Click it and select “View Inventory History” from the menu.
This will show a list of all your past trades, including the date, items exchanged, and trading partners.
Can I See Someone Else’s Trade History?
Steam does not allow users to view another person’s trade history due to privacy rules. There is no feature that lets you check someone else’s past trades in detail. However, if their profile and inventory are public, you can see the items they currently own and some recent activity. To check, go to their Steam profile and click “Inventory.” Keep in mind that what you see depends on their privacy settings.
If you need details about someone’s trades, the best way is to ask them directly. You can politely request that they share their trade history or specific trade details, especially if you are negotiating a deal.
Always respect privacy rules and follow Steam’s guidelines when looking for information about another user’s trades.
Why You Should Check Your Trade History Regularly
- Managing Your Inventory
Checking your trade history helps you track the items you have traded or received. This prevents confusion about missing items and keeps your inventory accurate. Looking at past trades can also help you understand trading patterns and make better decisions in the future.
- Resolving Disputes
If a trade causes confusion or disagreement, having a record of the exchange helps you prove what happened. Trade history shows the date, items traded, and the person involved. This information can help resolve disputes and serve as proof if you need to contact Steam Support.
- Keeping Your Account Secure
Regularly checking your trade history helps you notice any trades you did not make. If you find an unauthorized trade, you can quickly change your password and contact Steam Support to protect your account and items.
Common Problems and How to Fix Them
1. Trade History Won’t Load
If your trade history does not appear or shows an error, try these steps:
- Clear Cache and Cookies – Too much stored data in your browser can cause issues. Clear your browser’s cache and cookies, then restart it.
- Use a Different Device or Network – Try opening your trade history on another device or internet connection to see if the problem is local.
- Check Steam’s Server Status – Steam may be down for maintenance. Visit Steam’s official status page to see if there are server issues.
- Refresh the Page – Reloading the page multiple times might fix the issue.
If none of these steps work, Steam’s servers might be the cause, especially if you have many trades. In that case, contact Steam Support for help.
2. Missing Trades
If you cannot find certain trades in your history, check the following:
- Make Sure You Are Logged Into the Right Account – Sometimes, trades may not appear because you are signed into a different Steam account.
- Check for Unauthorized Account Access – If your trades are missing, someone else may have accessed your account. Protect it with these steps:
- Scan for Malware – Run a security check using trusted antivirus software.
- Change Your Passwords – Update both your Steam and email passwords from a secure device.
- Remove Unrecognized Devices – Check Steam’s device management and remove any devices you don’t recognize.
- Revoke API Keys – Go to the Steam API Key page and remove any keys you didn’t create.
- Turn on Steam Guard – Enable two-factor authentication for extra security.
For more help on securing your account, visit Steam Support’s official page.
Mastering Your Steam Trade History
Checking your Steam trade history regularly helps you manage your inventory, resolve disputes, and keep your account secure. When you know how to access and read your trade history, you can keep accurate records, quickly fix any mistakes, and spot any unauthorized trades. Making this a habit will improve your Steam experience by helping you stay organized and protect your digital items.
Go to Inventory > Trade Offers > View Trade History. This section displays a chronological list of all your completed trades on Steam.
Yes. Each entry in the trade history shows the date, items sent, items received, and the user you traded with.
The mobile app doesn’t have full trade history support. For the most detailed view, it’s best to use the Steam desktop client or a web browser.