Microsoft Rewards is pretty awesome. You earn points by searching with Bing, doing quizzes, or browsing on Edge. Then, you cash those points in for gift cards, donations, or cool Xbox stuff. Nice and easy—until you hit that annoying brick wall: “Something went wrong!” when you’re about to redeem. Ugh!
TLDR
If you’re getting the “Something went wrong!” error when redeeming Microsoft Rewards points, don’t worry. It’s usually caused by a small issue—like a browser problem, VPN, or account check. Try clearing your browser cache, turning off your VPN, or logging out and back in. You’ll be earning those gift cards again in no time.
What’s up with the error?
So you’re ready to spend your hard-earned points and boom—error message. No explanation, just “Something went wrong!” That’s it. Not helpful, right?
This is a pretty common issue with Microsoft Rewards. Luckily, it’s usually easy to fix.
Let’s break down the fixes
Here are some simple things to try that usually get rid of the error:
1. Refresh and chill
First things first—do the good old refresh. Press Ctrl + F5 on your keyboard to force your browser to reload the page fully. Then try redeeming again. Sometimes that’s all it takes!
2. Clear your browser cache
Your browser might be holding onto some junk that’s messing things up. Here’s how to wipe it:
- Open your browser settings
- Find “Privacy and Security”
- Click Clear browsing data
- Select “Cached images and files” and hit Clear
After that, restart your browser and go back to the site.
3. Try a different browser
If you’re on Chrome, switch to Edge or Firefox. Some browsers just don’t play well with Microsoft’s website. You may find it magically works in a different one.
4. Log out and log back in
It might sound silly, but signing out of your Microsoft account and signing back in can fix issues. Just click on your profile icon on the top right, log out, then log back in and try again.
5. Disable any VPN or proxy
Microsoft Rewards is picky about your location. If you’re using a VPN, it might think you’re in another country and block you. Turn off your VPN or proxy and refresh the page.
6. Check your account status
Microsoft might be stopping your redemption because something’s up with your account. Maybe they think it’s suspicious activity. Go to your Microsoft Rewards Dashboard and see if there are any messages or alerts.
If you see something like “Account under review” or “Redemption temporarily unavailable,” then that’s the reason. In most cases, it clears up in a few hours or days.
7. Try redeeming through a different link
Sometimes using the direct link works better. For example, if you’re trying to redeem an Xbox gift card, go straight to the gift card redemption page by searching for “Microsoft Rewards Xbox gift card” and click that link instead of going through the main menu.
8. Use InPrivate or Incognito mode
This opens a browser window without any of the cached data or extensions. Here’s how:
- Edge: Ctrl + Shift + N
- Chrome: Ctrl + Shift + N
- Firefox: Ctrl + Shift + P
Try logging in and redeeming in that private window. It surprisingly works for a lot of people!
9. Update your browser
Running an old browser can mess with new website features. Go to your browser settings and make sure you’re on the latest version.
Microsoft Rewards works best with updated Edge and Chrome versions.
10. Use the Microsoft Rewards app (mobile)
Yep, there’s an app for that! If you can’t redeem from your computer, try the mobile app. Search for “Microsoft Bing” on the App Store or Play Store. Log in and go to the Rewards section.
Surprisingly, many users report that redemption works better on mobile!
Still not working? Here’s what to do.
Contact Microsoft support
When all else fails, you may need to speak to the experts. Go here:
https://support.microsoft.com/
Click on the “Contact us” button and choose the Rewards section.
Make sure you explain:
- What reward you were trying to redeem
- What error you saw
- What you’ve already tried
They may take a day or two, but they’ll usually dig into your account and fix things.
Why does this happen, anyway?
If you’re wondering why Microsoft makes this part so weird—it’s mostly to fight fraud. Tons of people try to game the system with fake accounts, bots, or VPNs. So Microsoft puts in checks to block weird behavior.
The bad news—sometimes legit users like you get caught in the net. The good news—once you fix the problem, redemption usually works just fine again.
Bonus tips to avoid future issues
- Use your real location (don’t use VPNs when redeeming)
- Don’t redeem too many points too fast
- Stick to one browser and stay signed in
- Don’t create multiple accounts—it’s a big no-no
These help keep your account in good standing and avoid mysterious lockouts.
You’re back in action!
That’s it! Now you know how to deal with the annoying “Something went wrong!” error in Microsoft Rewards.
Just follow the steps in this article and you’ll be trading those points for gift cards like a pro. Whether it’s for Xbox, Spotify, or Starbucks, you earned those rewards—now go enjoy them!
Happy redeeming!