
It's been a while since we last talked about Microsoft Rewards here at Pure Xbox, but we're definitely still racking up the points - and on the whole, I'd personally say this year's changes to the program have been for the better on Xbox.
However, it's not all sunshine and roses, with many frustrated Microsoft Rewards users taking to its subreddit recently to complain about limits (or "cooldowns") that seem to be getting more regular for earning points via Bing searches.
Here are just a couple of examples of what we're talking about:
So basically, you can earn Microsoft Rewards points every single day by searching on Microsoft Bing - either via the Microsoft Edge browser on Xbox, on PC or on a mobile device. However, if the system thinks you're engaging in "unusual search activity", it may implement limits that prevent you from racking up a number of points very quickly.
This sounds fine in theory, but the problem is, it appears to be random in nature for some users:
What's the best way to proceed, then? Well, the majority of Microsoft Rewards users are just recommending that you space out your searches - doing a few at a time, and then waiting until later in the day to do more.
Of course, there are many other ways to earn Microsoft Rewards points on Xbox and beyond, so it's not like you're totally out of luck if this happens to you, but it's worth keeping in mind these limits are becoming more prominent now.
We'll throw our guide about Microsoft Rewards below - and let us know if you've experienced this issue yourself!
How are you getting on with Microsoft Rewards in 2025 so far? Tell us down in the comments section.
Comments 28
I understand if it was 5min but I got a 15min time delay when I wasn't even rushing through them.
I mean, what causes this though? Is it stuff like just searching each letter of the alphabet to get 3 points for each?
It's been the same story for a while, devaluing rewards in 3 ways:
I stopped doing all but the most basic things, it's just not worth the time anymore for a lot of it. ymmv
It be good if peole stated where they come from when they answer this, microsoft has different rules for different areas.
Personally i'm the UK i've had to issues (yet).
@johnK I'm from the UK and both myself and the wife had the time issue.
Im not about to spend most of my day logging into a laptop and mobile just to earn max points if that is the way its heading. Its too much of a time commitment.
Ive been racking up points for years now, but if i start seeing this with 30 minute 'cooldowns', im out. Its a shame too, i felt like they were reestablishing themselves well after they took away a lot of stuff over the last year or two.
At this point, it sounds like it makes more sense to pick up another job for a few hours a week. 😋
@Th3_Highlander What inputs do you use for searching?
I usally start from choosing 3 random letters, search and then add anther random letter to search again. Repeat, etc
Reward points on the Xbox app have been gone for me for about a month!
I can't see my rewards or what I've earned but I still get a notification every morning to sign into it for points and have to redeem them on my console very weird and stupid!
I just get what I get these days.
The time investment is certainly no longer worth it to go looking for points.
Any search on bing is unusual activity
I can't earn xbox rewards from 2 weeks now and time to time randomly it start to work before it stops again.
Everytime I redeme a reward it doesn't give me points for at least 1 week.
I used to do searches like "fffffffffffffffff" and just keep deleting one letter and search again and I would get it done in under a minute, they caught on and stopped it. Now I do searches like "mcdonalds menu 2024 pdf usa free menu pdf pdf menu" and just keep clicking the next suggestion in the row and get it done pretty quickly.
I dunno, I think they've made some massive improvements in the last several months. It's easier and less time consuming now than it was a couple years ago because it's much more passive. No more half hour quests playing PvZGW for the 19th time, no more daily achievements, no more dealing with that horrid Rewards app on xbox. Just play any game and earn streaks.
It also used to be a chore just to find out what the hell was available. I was watching Rewards Hunter youtube channel weekly and following the subreddit just to stay up to date. Now everything that is available is streamlined to the site or the app.
The searching has definitely become more tedious (those stupid botters ruined it for everyone), but it takes roughly the same amount of time, just spread throughout the day. I don't always get all the searches done, and I'm fine with that. If I only did 3 searches per day to get the streak and puzzle piece, I'd still earn 10k per month.
@johnK I've started picking a subject like solar system or animals and then chucking in some random stuff in between, I did click on some of the related searches further so I don't know if that did anything.
I've not had the time thing yet. I just hate you have to wait five-ten seconds between each search. I just search from 1-20 on bing mobile and yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy on Xbox lol. I miss being able to spam it fast.
I searched for " Bing points unusual activity" then I got the message " unusual search activity detected, we are limiting your searches".
Yesterday I opened a complaint when I noticed it was taking longer to cooldown bing searches. I thought it was happening only to me, but now I see they have f***ed up everyone again.
My current cooldown has been in place for over 3 months. I'm on the verge of sending them all to hell at this point.
Why I gave up with Microsoft rewards quite a while back now ..used to do them daily for a long time....but the cooldown on searches just really killed it for me...used to bash them all out after work or wateva ...but just so tedious with the cooldowns etc
@ZYDIO Bing limited my starches after doing extensive searches on types of potatoes
They're doing as intended.
Make rewards so paltry most quit using.
And that in turn reduces the payouts they have to give, further.
Glad it’s not just me experiencing this!
Spacing out searches doesn’t work for me. I can’t go sit down at my computer the required 8 (!!) times per day. Not everyone lives on a computer. So it just is what it is.
I’m still glad the rewards program exists. I rarely spend actual money for a game anymore (besides discounted game pass renewals).
I like it. I believe the goal is to make points more natural than just hitting random search 20 times. I dont put any effort into points and get enough, its nice. Just use bing for your regular search and edge as the browser and your good.
I really wonder how many people will continue subbing to GPU when there is another price hike (lets say $23/m USD) and all loopholes like rewards and core conversions are nerfed.
Like no stacking or anything.
And its almost guaranteed to happen by the time next gen launches.
Doesnt look that enticing now?
@RentedPanda haha, I didn't catch that. I fixed it though.
This is still one of those rare places on the internet where you can make some money and it's not a total scam so as long as I can even earn a few cents I'm happy
@Millionski I'm swapping to Core when everything is expired for my GPU. I just hate the ads once you're Core
I had this for a while, the cooldown, it's not new to me at all. I had these issues even last year.
I would never dance to a corps tune just to earn a few cents and in this house 'bing' is the sound the microwave makes when it ends and nothing else.
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