Can't link non-steam account to steam account

Saucy_Jack · November 2020

So my original account was the original pre-order from Bethesda, so it wasn't on Steam. Been playing that one since beta.
I bought another Steam account.

At the current point in time, I have the original non-steam account installed on a laptop that's in the shop for repairs for a while; I have the steam version installed on another laptop.
However, when I try to use my original account credentials to log in to the steam version, it tells me that the login failed because either the username or password is incorrect, and I know for a fact both are correct.

So I signed into my account on the actual elderscrollsonline.com website, and attempted to link my account to my steam account, at which point that website gave me the error "There was a problem linking your account. Please try again later or contact support."

So here I am. Is there a reason why I can't a) link my non-eso account to Steam despite inputting all the correct credentials, or b) why I can't log in to ESO through steam even though I'm supplying correct account credentials?

anitajoneb17_ESO · November 2020

You just happen to have an angel watching over your and your ESO accounts.

Your efforts should in my experience go towards unlinking everything ESO from Steam - rather than the opposite.
The digital relationship between ZOS and Steam and chaotic to say the least, always has been, and moreover, there's been a fundamental change in it around 2015. Pre-2015 ESO accounts are not handled by Steam the same way than post 2015 ESO accounts.

I don't really answer your question but that's my experience with ESO and Steam anyway.

ZOS_Chiroptera · November 2020

Hi @Saucy_Jack, for issues with account linking and unlinking, please submit an account recovery ticket here.

SKEyesOGrey · November 2020

I have an adjacent issue, i gifted a friend a copy on steam. When she tries to set up an account it tells her she already has one. Account recovery is useless because she doesn’t remember playing so no surprise she doesn’t have a date when she first registered. Account recovery page looks more like you guys don’t want people to recover accounts, asking for info no reasonable person would record. I can not locate an email address to report the problem, only that dead end recovery system.

Sorry for the tone of the post, but this has been very frustrating and I was just trying to play with a friend.

Is there a path to resolution for this?

ZOS_Bill · November 2020

@SKEyesOGrey

Your friend will need to start a ticket with customer support for help through the account recovery page. If there are requested details they do not know just fill out the account recovery form to the best of their ability to get the ticket started.

lurkin777 · November 2020

I used to have an account linked to steam and I don't recommend it. It just adds another layer of bugs and login problems.