Microsoft Rewards is Microsoft’s loyalty and engagement program that allows eligible Microsoft account holders to earn points while using certain Microsoft products and services.

There is normally no separate membership fee for joining Microsoft Rewards. You use your Microsoft account, enroll in Rewards where available, complete eligible activities, accumulate points and then redeem eligible points for rewards offered in your region.

Microsoft describes the basic process as:

Use eligible Microsoft services → Earn points → Accumulate points → Redeem available rewards

Depending on your country, account and current Microsoft promotions, points may be earned through activities involving Bing, Microsoft Store, Xbox, the Bing mobile app and other Microsoft services.

The program was previously associated with Bing Rewards, but Microsoft Rewards is now the broader program.

What Does “More Points. More Possibilities.” Mean?

“More points. More possibilities.” is essentially promotional wording used by Microsoft Rewards.

The idea is simple: the more Rewards points you accumulate, the more redemption options may become available to you.

Depending on your country and the current Rewards catalog, redemption possibilities can include:

• Microsoft-related rewards
• Gift cards
• Games or gaming-related rewards
• Movies or digital content
• Sweepstakes entries
• Donations to participating nonprofit organizations
• Partner rewards
• Promotional offers

The important point is that the Rewards catalog is not identical in every country. Rewards can also be added, removed or temporarily become unavailable.

Understanding the Microsoft Rewards Email

The Microsoft Rewards email in this example displays:

Current displayed points: 248

and:

Points to claim: 84

with a message similar to:

“You earned bonus points. Claim them before they’re gone.”

These two numbers should not automatically be added together until the bonus has actually been successfully claimed.

If the displayed 248 points are the current balance and Microsoft successfully adds the 84 bonus points, the expected balance would mathematically become:

248 + 84 = 332 points

However, always verify the final balance on the Microsoft Rewards dashboard because promotional points can have eligibility requirements, expiration dates or other conditions.

How Does Microsoft Rewards Work?

Microsoft Rewards is connected to your Microsoft account.

A typical Rewards workflow is:

Step 1 – Sign in to your Microsoft account

Use the Microsoft account that participates in Microsoft Rewards.

Step 2 – Open the Microsoft Rewards dashboard

The dashboard shows information such as:

• Current point balance
• Available earning activities
• Daily or promotional offers
• Redemption opportunities
• Rewards goals
• Order history

Step 3 – Complete eligible activities

Microsoft awards points for qualifying activities.

Step 4 – Points are added to your account

The number of points awarded depends on the activity, region, account status and current promotion.

Step 5 – Accumulate enough points

Continue earning until you have enough for a reward available in your account.

Step 6 – Redeem your points

Choose an available reward and complete any required identity or phone verification.

How Can You Earn Microsoft Rewards Points?

The exact methods vary by region, but Microsoft currently lists several possible ways to earn points.

1. Search Using Bing

One of the best-known methods is performing eligible searches using Microsoft Bing while signed in to the participating Microsoft account.

Microsoft may impose daily earning limits, and search-based earning is not necessarily available in every country.

2. Search from Windows

Microsoft states that eligible users may be able to earn points by searching the web through the search box on the Windows taskbar.

Availability depends on the device, region and current Rewards program.

3. Microsoft Rewards Activities

The Rewards dashboard can contain activities such as:

• Quizzes
• Trivia
• Polls
• Promotional activities
• Featured searches
• Daily activities
• Special campaigns

These opportunities change regularly.

Therefore, checking the Rewards dashboard periodically is useful if you actively collect points.

4. Microsoft Store Purchases

Eligible purchases made through Microsoft Store may generate Rewards points.

You generally need to be signed in with the Microsoft account associated with Microsoft Rewards when completing the eligible purchase.

Not every purchase, product or region necessarily qualifies.

5. Xbox Activities

Microsoft Rewards can also integrate with the Xbox ecosystem.

Depending on the account and region, eligible users may earn points through selected Xbox activities, games, quests or offers.

Xbox earning opportunities can change over time, so the current Rewards hub should be treated as the authoritative source.

6. Bing Mobile App

Microsoft promotes the Bing mobile application as another way to participate in Rewards.

Eligible mobile searches and activities may earn points.

The app is available for Android and iOS, although specific Rewards features can vary by region.

7. MSN and Other Microsoft Activities

Microsoft also lists engagement with services such as MSN and other selected Microsoft experiences among potential Rewards opportunities.

This is why two users may not necessarily see exactly the same earning activities.

Microsoft Rewards Level 1 and Level 2

Microsoft Rewards currently uses two principal status levels:

Level 1

A new or lower-activity Rewards member normally starts at Level 1.

Level 2

According to Microsoft, you can earn and maintain Level 2 by earning at least 500 Microsoft Rewards points in a month.

Level 2 can provide additional benefits. Microsoft currently states that Level 2 members may receive benefits such as:

• Higher Bing earning potential
• Up to 10% savings on certain Microsoft rewards
• Access to exclusive offers

Microsoft says Level 2 members can earn up to five times more points on Bing.com compared with Level 1, subject to the applicable program and regional rules.

Because Rewards offers can change, always check your dashboard for the benefits currently attached to your account.

What Can Microsoft Rewards Points Be Used For?

Microsoft Rewards points are not the same thing as money sitting in a bank account.

Microsoft specifically states that Rewards points do not have cash value.

Instead, points are exchanged for eligible rewards.

Possible categories include:

Gift Cards

Depending on region and availability, Microsoft may offer gift cards from Microsoft or participating third parties.

Microsoft Products and Services

Microsoft gift cards or related rewards can sometimes be used toward eligible Microsoft products, apps, games or services.

Games and Gaming Content

Rewards may include:

• Game-related digital codes
• In-game currencies
• Xbox-related rewards
• Other gaming promotions

Sweepstakes

In supported markets, points may be exchanged for entries into selected sweepstakes.

A sweepstakes entry is not a guaranteed prize.

Donations

Microsoft Rewards may allow users to donate points to participating charities or nonprofit organizations.

How Much Are Microsoft Rewards Points Worth?

There is no universal cash conversion rate that applies to every reward and every country.

Microsoft says Rewards points have no cash value.

As a rough illustration in Microsoft's documentation, approximately 5,000 points may be needed for something worth around US$5, but this should not be treated as a fixed exchange rate.

Actual redemption value depends on:

• Country
• Reward
• Promotion
• Account
• Reward availability
• Required number of points

Therefore, calculate value based on the specific reward displayed in your own Redeem catalog rather than assuming that every point has a fixed monetary value.

Is Microsoft Rewards Available in India?

Yes. India is currently included in Microsoft's list of supported Microsoft Rewards regions.

However, being supported does not mean that Indian accounts receive exactly the same earning opportunities and rewards as users in the United States, United Kingdom or another country.

Microsoft explicitly states that offers and redemption catalogs vary across regions.

For an Indian user, therefore, the most reliable source for available rewards is the Redeem page shown after signing in to the Microsoft account.

How to Check Your Microsoft Rewards Points

Sign in to the Microsoft Rewards dashboard with the correct Microsoft account.

Your dashboard can show your current Rewards balance and available activities.

This is preferable to relying only on an email because the dashboard represents the account's current Rewards status.

What Does “Claim Bonus Points” Mean?

Microsoft occasionally runs promotional Rewards campaigns.

An email may say:

“You earned bonus points. Claim them before they’re gone.”

This means the promotional points may require an action before they are credited.

For example, you might need to:

1. Open the legitimate Rewards offer.
2. Sign in to your Microsoft account.
3. Complete or activate the promotion.
4. Claim the eligible points.
5. Verify that the balance increased.

The wording “before they're gone” also suggests that the particular promotion may be time-limited.

Be Careful Before Clicking Microsoft Rewards Emails

Because Rewards emails discuss points, gift cards and prizes, attackers can imitate them in phishing campaigns.

Never trust an email solely because it contains a Microsoft logo.

Before clicking, check:

• Sender email address
• Destination domain
• Microsoft account status
• Unexpected attachments
• Requests for passwords
• Requests for credit-card information
• Suspicious shortened links
• Spelling or formatting anomalies

A safer approach when uncertain is to open Microsoft Rewards independently rather than using the email button.

Sign in directly to Microsoft's Rewards service and check whether the same promotion appears in your account.

Why Do Microsoft Links Sometimes Look Extremely Long?

The email in this example contains URLs beginning with an Outlook Safe Links domain.

That does not necessarily mean the email is fraudulent.

Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Safe Links can rewrite URLs in emails so that links can be checked when users click them.

A rewritten link can therefore look much longer than the original destination.

However, a Safe Links-looking URL should still not be treated as proof that an email is genuine. Sender identity and final destination should still be checked.

Microsoft Rewards Safe Sender Addresses

Microsoft currently recommends adding these Rewards addresses to your safe list if you want to avoid missing Rewards communications:

MicrosoftRewards@notifyemail.microsoftrewards.com

and

MicrosoftRewards@customeremail.microsoftrewards.com

Still, users should independently verify suspicious messages rather than relying only on the displayed sender name.

Do Microsoft Rewards Points Expire?

Yes, they can.

Microsoft currently states that Rewards points expire if you do not earn or redeem anything for 12 months.

Therefore, an account that remains completely inactive for a long period can lose accumulated points.

This is different from an individual promotional offer having its own deadline.

A “claim these bonus points before they're gone” promotion may expire much sooner than the general inactivity rule.

Microsoft Rewards and VPNs

Using a VPN or proxy to manipulate your Rewards location is a particularly bad idea.

Microsoft states that users should not use a service intended to alter their true IP address to earn or redeem Rewards points.

Microsoft can also restrict accounts for attempting to earn points from more than one country on the same day or redeeming points outside the country where they were earned.

When redeeming Rewards, use your genuine region and normal network connection.

Can You Create Multiple Accounts to Earn More Points?

Do not create multiple accounts simply to artificially multiply Rewards earnings.

Microsoft's Rewards policies prohibit abusive behavior such as maintaining multiple accounts to manipulate the program.

Automated earning techniques can also cause problems.

Avoid:

• Bots
• Macros
• Automated search software
• Search automation scripts
• Mobile emulators used to manipulate Rewards
• False account information
• Location manipulation
• VPN-based region switching

Microsoft can suspend Rewards privileges and invalidate points when it determines that program rules have been violated.

Phone Verification When Redeeming Rewards

Microsoft may require identity verification when you redeem Rewards.

A mobile or landline telephone number may be required.

Microsoft states that VoIP numbers are not permitted for Rewards phone verification.

A phone number may also be restricted if it has already been associated with too many Rewards accounts.

QR Code Verification

Microsoft also supports QR-code-based verification for some Rewards redemptions.

Where available, you may see an option to verify using the Bing app.

The general process is:

1. Select a reward.
2. Choose the Bing app verification option when offered.
3. Scan the displayed QR code using your mobile device.
4. Enter the requested verification code.
5. Complete the redemption.

This option is not available in every situation or region.

Why Microsoft Rewards Redemption May Fail

A redemption can fail or be cancelled for several reasons.

Common causes include:

• Incorrect verification code
• VPN usage
• Region mismatch
• Attempting redemption while travelling in another market
• VoIP telephone number
• Excessive use of one telephone number across accounts
• Reward becoming unavailable
• Reward being out of stock
• Account verification problems
• Violation of Rewards policies

If a reward fails, first disable any VPN or proxy and confirm that your Microsoft account country/region corresponds with the market in which you are legitimately using Rewards.

How to Check a Redeemed Reward

Microsoft provides an Order History section for Rewards.

After redeeming something:

Microsoft Rewards → Redeem → Order history

You can check the status of your order there.

For eligible rewards, Order Details may contain the redemption code or relevant link.

Microsoft can also send a confirmation email to the primary email address associated with your Microsoft account.

Difference Between Microsoft Rewards Points and Microsoft Account Balance

These are not the same thing.

Microsoft Rewards Points

These are loyalty points accumulated through qualifying Rewards activities.

They have no direct cash value.

Microsoft Account Balance

This can be a monetary balance associated with your Microsoft account.

For example, redeeming certain Microsoft or Xbox gift-card Rewards may deposit promotional funds into your Microsoft account balance.

Those promotional funds can have separate expiration conditions.

Therefore:

Rewards Points ≠ Microsoft Account Money

Are Microsoft Rewards Really Free?

Joining Microsoft Rewards itself does not normally require a subscription fee.

You can earn some points through activities such as eligible Bing searches and Rewards activities without purchasing anything.

However, some earning opportunities involve purchasing eligible Microsoft products or services.

You should not buy something solely for points unless the purchase itself is worthwhile to you.

Is Microsoft Rewards Worth Using?

For people who already regularly use Microsoft products, it can be useful because some Rewards activities fit into normal computing habits.

For example, someone who already uses:

• Bing
• Windows
• Microsoft Edge
• Xbox
• Microsoft Store
• Bing mobile app

may accumulate points without dramatically changing their normal usage.

However, Rewards should be considered a loyalty program rather than a source of income.

The number of points available, earning limits and reward values can change.

Important Security Recommendation

When receiving an email such as:

“Claim bonus points”

avoid assuming that the button is safe simply because the email looks professional.

For maximum safety:

Open your browser → Visit Microsoft Rewards directly → Sign in → Check your Rewards dashboard.

If the bonus or promotion appears there, you can proceed from the authenticated Microsoft environment.

This approach also protects users from sophisticated phishing messages that imitate genuine Rewards emails.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is Microsoft Rewards?

Microsoft Rewards is Microsoft's loyalty program through which eligible Microsoft account users can earn points by completing qualifying activities and redeem those points for available rewards.

2. Does Microsoft Rewards cost money?

No separate Microsoft Rewards membership fee is normally required. A Microsoft account is required.

3. Is Microsoft Rewards available in India?

Yes. India is currently listed as a supported Microsoft Rewards region.

4. Can I earn points by searching Bing?

Yes, Bing searches are one of Microsoft's documented ways of earning Rewards points, although availability and limits vary by region.

5. Can Windows searches earn Rewards points?

Eligible web searches through the Windows taskbar search box may earn points where supported.

6. Can I earn points using Xbox?

Yes. Selected Xbox games, quests and activities can provide Rewards points where available.

7. Can Microsoft Store purchases earn points?

Eligible Microsoft Store purchases can earn points when the purchase is made using the Microsoft account associated with Rewards.

8. What does 248 in the Rewards email mean?

In the supplied email, 248 appears to represent the displayed Microsoft Rewards points balance.

9. What does “Points to claim: 84” mean?

It indicates that an additional promotional 84 Rewards points are being offered for claiming, subject to the promotion's requirements and validity.

10. Will 248 + 84 become 332 points?

Mathematically yes. If 248 is the current balance and all 84 bonus points are successfully added, the resulting balance would be 332. Confirm the actual result on the Rewards dashboard.

11. Do Microsoft Rewards points expire?

Yes. Microsoft currently states that points expire if there is no earning or redemption activity for 12 months.

12. Do bonus offers expire?

They can. Promotional Rewards activities may have their own deadlines independent of the general points-inactivity rule.

13. Can Rewards points be converted directly into cash?

Microsoft states that Rewards points have no cash value. They are redeemed against available Rewards offers.

14. Can I redeem points for gift cards?

Yes, gift cards are among the Rewards categories, but the brands and values available depend on country and current inventory.

15. Are Amazon gift cards always available?

No. Microsoft says gift-card availability can change. A particular card may appear in one market or account and not another.

16. Can I donate Rewards points?

Yes, charitable or nonprofit donations are available in supported Rewards markets and campaigns.

17. What are Microsoft Rewards Level 1 and Level 2?

They are Microsoft Rewards status levels. Level 2 currently requires earning at least 500 points in a month.

18. What benefits does Level 2 provide?

Microsoft currently advertises benefits including greater Bing earning potential, discounts on some Microsoft rewards and exclusive offers.

19. Can I use a VPN with Microsoft Rewards?

Do not use a VPN to manipulate location or region. Microsoft specifically warns against location-altering services in connection with Rewards earning and redemption.

20. Why won't Microsoft let me redeem my points?

Possible causes include VPN usage, region mismatch, verification failure, VoIP telephone numbers, account restrictions or reward availability.

21. Can I use a VoIP number for Rewards verification?

Microsoft states that VoIP numbers are not accepted. Use an eligible mobile or landline number.

22. Why does Microsoft require my phone number?

Microsoft may require telephone verification as an anti-fraud and account-verification measure when joining or redeeming certain rewards.

23. Can I verify using a QR code instead?

In some redemption situations, Microsoft provides QR-code verification through the Bing app.

24. Can I automate Bing searches to collect points?

You should not use bots, macros or automated methods to generate Rewards activity. Microsoft identifies such techniques as violations that can result in account restrictions.

25. Can I create several Microsoft accounts to earn more Rewards?

Using multiple accounts to manipulate Rewards earning can violate Microsoft's program policies and should be avoided.

26. Why are Rewards different in India and the USA?

Microsoft Rewards offers and redemption catalogs are region-specific. The availability of a program in a country does not mean every country receives identical rewards.

27. How do I know which rewards are available in India?

Sign in to Microsoft Rewards and open the Redeem section. The catalog associated with your account and region is the most relevant source.

28. Where can I check my Microsoft Rewards balance?

Your current balance can be viewed on the Microsoft Rewards dashboard while signed in to your Microsoft account.

29. Where can I see Rewards I have already redeemed?

Open Microsoft Rewards → Redeem → Order history.

30. Is a “Claim Microsoft Rewards Points” email always genuine?

No. Phishing emails can imitate Microsoft Rewards. Verify the sender and destination, or preferably open the Rewards dashboard independently instead of clicking an unexpected email link.

Conclusion

Microsoft Rewards is a legitimate Microsoft loyalty program that rewards eligible users for interacting with services such as Bing, Microsoft Store, Xbox and other selected Microsoft experiences.

The basic concept is:

Sign in → Complete eligible activities → Earn points → Accumulate points → Redeem available rewards.

For the email discussed in this example, the account appears to show 248 Rewards points and an offer to claim 84 additional bonus points. If the promotion is legitimate, still consider opening the Microsoft Rewards dashboard directly rather than relying solely on the email link.

For users in India, Microsoft Rewards is currently supported, but earning opportunities and redemption options can differ substantially from those available in other countries.

Finally, Microsoft Rewards should be treated as a loyalty and promotional program—not a cash-earning scheme. Use legitimate activities, avoid VPN/location manipulation and automation, and periodically check the Rewards dashboard so that accumulated points do not become inactive.

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