How To Receive Free Rewards And Digital Gifts Through The Microsoft And Xbox Ecosystem

The Microsoft Rewards program provides an official, structured method for consumers in supported regions to earn points through everyday digital activities, which can be redeemed for a variety of rewards, including Xbox games and gift cards. Additionally, the Microsoft Store offers a digital gifting system, though it is subject to specific regional restrictions that determine whether a game or content code can be redeemed by a recipient in a different country. Understanding the eligibility requirements, earning mechanics, and regional limitations is essential for consumers looking to maximize benefits or send digital gifts internationally.

Understanding the Microsoft Rewards Program

Microsoft Rewards is a free loyalty program integrated into the Microsoft ecosystem, allowing users to earn points for activities they already perform, such as shopping in the Microsoft Store, gaming on Xbox, and searching on Bing. The program is designed to function across multiple devices, including Xbox consoles, PCs, and mobile devices, provided the user has a Microsoft account with Rewards activated.

Eligibility and Availability

According to official documentation, the Microsoft Rewards program is not global in the sense of uniform availability. It is strictly limited to specific regions. As of the provided data, the program is available only in the following countries: * Australia * Belgium * Brazil * Canada * France * Germany * Hong Kong * Ireland * Italy * Japan * Mexico * The Netherlands * New Zealand * Norway * Singapore * Spain * Sweden * Taiwan * The United Kingdom * The United States

To participate, users must activate the program via rewards.microsoft.com. Once activated, the system automatically tracks qualifying activities. A specific requirement for maximizing points is setting Bing as the default search engine in a browser or app. Additionally, installing the Xbox Game Pass app (on console or mobile) is recommended to access specific gaming missions.

Earning Points

Points are accrued through a variety of daily tasks distributed across different platforms.

Browser and Mobile Activities: * Bing Searches: Users can earn up to 150 points daily on PC searches and up to 100 points daily on mobile searches. * Daily Tasks: The Rewards website offers quick clicks, trivia, and surveys that typically yield 30–50 points per day.

Xbox Console Activities: * Microsoft Rewards App: Available directly on Xbox consoles. Daily logins provide 5 points. * Promotions and Achievements: Users can earn points by visiting specific sections of the app or unlocking achievements in games. * Weekly Streaks: Maintaining an active weekly streak provides an accumulated bonus. * Game Pass Missions: These are specific tasks related to the Xbox Game Pass subscription. They include daily and weekly tasks for playing specific titles, achieving achievements, or simply opening the app. Monthly bonuses are available for completing several challenges.

Estimated Earning Potential

A recommended weekly routine can yield significant points. One guide suggests the following schedule to maximize earnings: * Daily: Performing Bing searches, completing trivia, and logging into the console (Estimated: 300 points). * Daily: Opening the Game Pass app and entering the Rewards section (Estimated: 15–20 points). * Every 2–3 Days: Completing achievements or tasks in Game Pass titles (Estimated: 100–150 points). * Weekend: Completing the featured weekly mission, such as playing a specific game (Estimated: 250–500 points).

Following this routine results in an estimated total of 2,000 to 2,500 points per week.

Redeeming Rewards

Points accumulated through the program can be redeemed for prizes. The provided data indicates that users can obtain "games, gift cards and months of Xbox Game Pass totally free." While specific point costs per item are not detailed in the source material, the redemption process is managed through the Microsoft Rewards portal.

Digital Gifting and Regional Restrictions

While the Microsoft Rewards program allows users to acquire games and gift cards for their own accounts, the Microsoft Store also features a "Buy as Gift" option. However, sending digital games or content to users in other countries is complicated by strict region-locking policies and currency conflicts.

The "Buy as Gift" Limitation

The "Buy as Gift" option on the Microsoft Store is primarily designed for gifting within the same region. Due to licensing restrictions and currency differences, a digital game purchased in one region may not be redeemable by a recipient in another. If a game is not available in the recipient’s country, the digital gift cannot be redeemed.

Region Locking and Currency

Xbox consoles (Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S) are not region-locked for physical game discs, meaning a disc purchased anywhere will play on a console from any region. However, digital storefronts and game codes are region-specific. A digital code purchased in the US, for example, is generally redeemable only in the US Xbox marketplace.

Currency mismatches are a significant obstacle. Xbox gift cards are region-locked; a US dollar gift card cannot be used in the UK marketplace, for instance.

Workarounds and Recommendations

Because digital cross-border gifting is unreliable, the following alternatives are suggested: * Physical Copies: Since Xbox disc games are not region-locked, sending a physical copy is a viable option. However, this involves shipping costs, potential customs fees, and delivery delays. * Regional Gift Cards: Instead of attempting to gift a specific game, it is safer to send an international gift card that can be purchased and used within the recipient’s specific region. * Region-Specific Accounts: Creating a new Microsoft account set to the recipient's region is technically possible but cumbersome. It requires purchasing the game through that account and sharing login credentials with the recipient, which involves security risks.

Policy on VPNs and Account Manipulation

Microsoft actively monitors for attempts to bypass these restrictions. Using a VPN to access content or change regions is discouraged and can result in account blocks. Furthermore, changing account regions too frequently is restricted. Even if accounts are linked to the same Microsoft account, regional settings apply individually, and linking does not bypass region restrictions.

Refunds and Unauthorized Sellers

If a digital code is unredeemable due to region restrictions, users can request a refund through their Microsoft account order history. It is noted that most reputable retailers honor region-locking policies, but consumers should be cautious when purchasing codes from unauthorized sellers who may not disclose these restrictions.

Conclusion

The Microsoft Rewards program offers a legitimate and structured way for consumers in supported countries to earn free Xbox games, gift cards, and Game Pass subscriptions by engaging with Bing, Xbox, and the Microsoft Store. Success in the program requires consistent daily engagement with search tasks and gaming missions. Conversely, gifting Xbox games to friends or family in other countries is strictly limited by digital region-locking and currency policies. While digital gifting is generally restricted to the same region, consumers can utilize physical copies or region-specific gift cards to share content across borders.

Sources

1. Everything you can get with Microsoft Rewards on Xbox in 2025
2. Rewards on Xbox
3. Can I gift a Xbox game to someone in another country?