I can't get past the location check when trying to redeem Microsoft Rewards points.

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I can't get past the location check when trying to redeem Microsoft Rewards points.

anonymous123-8334 40

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I'm trying to redeem an Amazon gift card with Microsoft Rewards points, but here is the issue. After successfully completing the verification in the "Redeem your rewards" window and clicking the "Next" button, a small "Verifying your location" window (as mentioned above) pops up. I follow the instructions, but because it shows "Place" instead of "Location," I allow "Place" and refresh. Then it goes back to the "Redeem your rewards" window, I complete the verification again, and the small "Verifying your location" window pops up once again. This cycle repeats over and over for days, and I cannot get past it at all. I've tried all the fixes I found online (checking that location sharing is turned on in settings, making sure language and region/country are set to Japan, ensuring VPN is off disabling proxies, etc.), but the result is exactly the same. How can I get past this?

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Answer 1

Kayece Jan Mae Amizola 16,680 Independent Advisor

Hi,

May I ask whether you have redeemed rewards with the same account before? If so, does it have the same country?
May I also ask if you have tried doing it in an Incognito, InPrivate, or different browser, or using the Bing app? If not, please try to sign in to your account. Try to redeem your rewards.

Also, please try to change the location permission if you are using the Edge browser by following the steps on the link below.

https://support.microsoft.com/edge/location-and-privacy-in-microsoft-edge

Please let me know how it goes. I look forward to your response.

Stay Safe!

anonymous123-8334 40 Reputation points

2026-07-06T12:37:45.03+00:00

Hi,

Thank you for your quick reply.

First of all, I'm quite a novice at computer/operating systems, APP, or any other gadgets. And this is going to be the very first time for me to redeem rewards with the account I'm having trouble and I haven't travelled/moved anywhere since I've started to earn MS rewards points. I'm not using the Bing app on my smartphone, I recently set to Google (public dns), actually to be more precise, changed to Google (public dns) because the rewards.bing.com did not seem to like Cloudflare (1.1.1.1).

I've tried the link you kindly shared. But regarding the section called "Control specific websites from accessing your location", though it says "2. In the corner of the address bar, select the Lock, Info, or Dangerous icon and selection Permissions for this site.", there is no Info or Dangerous icon on my PC so I cannot select Permissions for this site. And although one line below says "3. Next to Location, choose Ask (default), Allow, or Block from the List.", there is nothing next to Location on my PC, so I cannot Ask, Allow, nor Block.

I wonder what else I could do to fix this problem. Your further advice would be very appreciated.
Kayece Jan Mae Amizola 16,680 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-07-07T02:39:49.7+00:00

Do all of your available or installed browsers have the same issue? If you still have not logged in and redeemed your rewards from another browser, please try to redeem there.

My apologies for the late reply, and thank you in advance for your understanding if future responses are delayed
anonymous123-8334 40 Reputation points

2026-07-07T13:04:31.9133333+00:00

Thank you for your reply.

I only use Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome, so I tried Google Chrome but the result is almost the same - though I allow "Location" to the website, I cannot get past.

I wonder the reason I have not registered my phone number could be the reason why I cannot get past this process. Due to my bad experience, I disclose only minimum personal information to anybody. I was told I would not have to let the rewards.bing.com site know my phone number both to earn and redeem points, that's why I stated this. But is it not true?

I appreciate your reply anytime anyway.
Kayece Jan Mae Amizola 16,680 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-07-07T13:14:05.71+00:00

Adding a phone number is a key requirement for redeeming points. If you did not allow it, the system may instead be trying to verify your location or require QR code verification through the Bing app. These security measures were introduced to prevent scammers and hackers from redeeming points on behalf of users. I suggest installing the Bing app, signing in to your account, and then attempting to redeem your rewards there.
anonymous123-8334 40 Reputation points

2026-07-08T08:00:30.7533333+00:00

Thank you for your quick reply.

I now understand that I need to add my phone number.

I've already installed the Bing app on my mobile phone, it was actually quite a while ago. To earn points on my mobile phone, I remember, when I installed the app, being asked for my phone number, so I decided not to sign in to my account and gave up earning points on my mobile phone. But the app is still there without being uninstalled.

Since using my PC is easier than my mobile phone, I want to use my PC for this process. To redeem my rewards, could I add my phone number to my account on PC only (I'm asking this because of my bad experience I mentioned earlier), or could I add it to my account on my mobile phone only, or should I add it to my account on my PC as well as my mobile phone? And are you saying that once I add my phone number, in theory, I should be able to get past this process? Without being asked for QR code or any verification anymore??
Kayece Jan Mae Amizola 16,680 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-07-08T10:41:58.6433333+00:00

Yes, adding a phone number will make verification easier, but it is not a guarantee that it will not ask for additional verification, especially if it triggers unusual activity on your account. You may add it using your PC only.

May I ask if you have tried to use another network, like mobile data? Sometimes, the network you are connected to may affect geolocation verification.
anonymous123-8334 40 Reputation points

2026-07-08T13:03:10.2066667+00:00

I now realized that I have already given my phone number to my MS account on PC. Funny enough, it only shows "Sending a code via SMS" section under Security, not on My Account Info page, which says 'no phone number', so it confused me., which confused you too, for that I'm sorry.

To get through, I thought I might be able to redeem my rewards using the QR code. But unlike the instructions, no QR code appears on my PC screen. Instead, the same location permission request appears though I've only given permission, so I'm going nowhere.

To answer your question about another network, I sometimes use mobile data called 4G when I'm on the go, while I use wifi at home. But to try to redeem my rewards, I've only used wifi.
Kayece Jan Mae Amizola 16,680 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-07-10T01:22:50.8533333+00:00

Hi,

Thank you for your response. Try using your phone browser or the Bing app to redeem your rewards. If the issue persists, try changing to another network and make sure that your phone's permissions are set to allow it to locate you through the browser and the app.

If the verification is still present after changing networks and allowing permission to locate, I would recommend contacting the MS Rewards support team to help you further with verification.

https://rewards.bing.com/support
anonymous123-8334 40 Reputation points

2026-07-10T05:44:18.5466667+00:00

Hello.

I finally succeeded! I changed all sorts of settings related to location on my PC and finally managed to get past using the Bing app.

Thank you very much for your help, time and patience.
Kayece Jan Mae Amizola 16,680 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-07-10T13:00:58.6666667+00:00

You are welcome. I am glad that everything is good now.