Why can't I redeem rewards for Amazon Gift card?

Question

Why can't I redeem rewards for Amazon Gift card?

Brenda Lindsay 10

I cannot redeem my rewards for Amazon or Walmart, but can I redeem them for other gift cards? I have tried on different devices and search platforms. I live in the US and have not traveled out of the country, but for some reason it is saying "On the go?" You're previewing a catalog item that you're not eligible to redeem due to region or other restrictions. Can anyone help me? I have contacted Microsoft several times with no answer.

JBF 25 Reputation points

2026-08-16T14:19:56.6133333+00:00

I am having the same issue. I have gotten Amazon cards before many times, last time in May. I have contacted Microsoft many times and just get the run around. I do not have VPN on my computer, it is shut off, I am sitting in New York on my computer, have tried a different browser and nothing works??? I am so frustrated. Is this just a scam with Microsoft?
Jonathan 5 Reputation points

2026-08-16T22:56:50.68+00:00

They might have an internal quota, people in the US already hit the limit so we have to wait for the quota to refresh or unlock again.
JBF 25 Reputation points

2026-08-16T23:44:28.1133333+00:00

Jonathan, why don't they tell us that? Is the same thing happening to you? I have tried totally shutting down my Norton Antivirus and that didn't work either. Thx.
Jonathan 5 Reputation points

2026-08-17T00:06:09.0333333+00:00

I'm just guessing. Yeah, I have the same problem. It happened before in the past too. Eventually it went away, now it's back again. So I'm guessing there's an internal quota. It depends on the contract between Microsoft and Amazon. Before there weren't as many people using Bing so it wasn't a problem, but now there are more Bing users so we keep hitting the quota faster.
JBF 25 Reputation points

2026-08-17T00:28:49.3033333+00:00

Thank you! I was beginning to think I was crazy.....
Brenda Lindsay 10 Reputation points

2026-08-20T23:30:51.82+00:00

I get this message: “On the go?” region or other redemption restrictions. I live in the USA and have never been out of the country, and no one at Microsoft will message me back.
JBF 25 Reputation points

2026-08-21T00:36:58.29+00:00

Microsoft keeps responding to me with instructions on how to clear the message which none work. I think as Jonathan has said they have us blocked.
Zain S 5 Reputation points

2026-08-21T17:24:56.56+00:00

There is no quota, that is not true at all, someone in my house is able to receive their bing rewards points for amazon and walmart but i cannot. I am able to for other gift cards like target and best buy. Microsoft some provide some insight!!
James J 11 Reputation points

2026-09-03T05:56:22.31+00:00

The email I received back on this issue was VERY RUDE, implying that I had been using nefarious means or was using other accounts or vpn to game their system - all of which is a lie. I don't even come close to maxing out my searches to accommodate their so-called 'cool-down' that I have had since MAY (It's now September). I have never cheated in any way, never tried to game the system and now I'm using other search engines and browsers to AVOID hitting their limit! (If you want to limit to 10 searches, why not just cap it there?) You read that right, Microsoft has by their actions forced me to seek other search engines to avoid their cap. Why do I search so much? I am handicapped and retired, there isn't a whole lot else that I CAN do other than surf the internet. ALL of this started almost the DAY that I started using the XBox app whenever I play games. I suspect AI, which is often wrong, is now running the rewards program. Similar to an above comment - one of my neighbors is allowed to redeem Amazon or Wal-mart cards all of the time while I cannot. The regional unavailability line does not apply apparently.
JBF 25 Reputation points

2026-09-03T10:20:06.3566667+00:00

James - Sorry, I am a little confused. If you reach your search limit daily that has something to do with this block? I am not aware of this. Thank you.
James J 11 Reputation points

2026-09-03T11:34:36.4766667+00:00

According to the letter I received - yes - reaching close to and at the limit triggers their 'fraud' red flags. as I said, the letter I received was rude and accusatory with no specifics itemized.
JBF 25 Reputation points

2026-09-03T11:53:49.3033333+00:00

I have contacted them maybe 6 times and just receive the same standard response about not being in the area of the ip address. When I responded directly to that they still just gave me instructions regarding that issue but never mentioned anything else. Thanks.
Bill Tudor 10 Reputation points

2026-09-03T13:22:34.5133333+00:00

I am having the same issue..don't want to purchase crazy games..I want gift cards, i.e., Amazon, Walmart!

Sure wis they could repair this issue!
James J 11 Reputation points

2026-09-04T03:28:27.7233333+00:00

Update - don't know if this post had anything to do with it but for the first time since May I was able to redeem my points for Amazon cards - 10 hours later, a 4 month logjam cleared.
JBF 25 Reputation points

2026-09-04T10:49:57.5266667+00:00

I try regularly and different times and still get the same message "On the Go" .
Jonathan 5 Reputation points

2026-09-04T21:02:18.77+00:00

There is no quota, that is not true at all, someone in my house is able to receive their bing rewards points for amazon and walmart but i cannot. I am able to for other gift cards like target and best buy. Microsoft some provide some insight!!

Could still be a quota with a lottery, they have a limited number of gift cards available but not everyone can access them in a given timeslot. Your account did not have access but someone else did. We don't know how the gift cards get unlocked for people, it might be random like a lottery or there might be some internal requirements that Microsoft has not disclosed.
James J 11 Reputation points

2026-09-15T05:48:28.2966667+00:00

And after it mysteriously cleared up, 11 days later the exact same problem is BACK. I don't use multiple accounts for rewards, I don't max out the number of searches, every search is legitimate, I read the news articles fully, I use no vpn although I should, to protect myself.

I never had one problem until I started using the X Box app to collect points.

I don't cheat at anything, I don't even rack up the limit of points I can receive - I mean they practically throw opportunities at you but still yet, I refrain from maxing out. The AI that controls this program is deeply flawed.
DT is all over the Epstein Files 0 Reputation points

2026-09-27T13:31:31.4+00:00

Same thing just happened to me right now. Amazon cards don't work. I tried a Burger King and was going to let me redeem and I didn't get that error. This is frustrating. I have been at the same place I redeemed for years. The AI answer was worthless.
Brenda Lindsay 10 Reputation points

2026-09-28T00:30:37.7133333+00:00

I am still waiting for them to respond to me after someone finally sent me an email asking for info and a screenshot, and that was a month ago. No personal info, just what I am seeing on the screen, and I probably went out of the country, so it will take a while to reset; I don't go out of the country. I hope something gets straightened out soon I am tired of waiting.
JBF 25 Reputation points

2026-09-28T00:44:42.0233333+00:00

I finally gave up after months of not being able to get Amazon gift cards and got the Target instead. Their customer service is absolutely useless.
Brenda Lindsay 10 Reputation points

2026-09-29T21:41:24.5366667+00:00

Copilot gave me a phone number I might call tomorrow to see if I can reach someone. They need to have chat.
JBF 25 Reputation points

2026-09-30T10:28:11.4133333+00:00

I have had MANY emails back and forth with their customer service and have checked all. Nothing works!!!! After months I finally gave up and got a different gift card.
James J 11 Reputation points

2026-09-30T16:24:35.9733333+00:00

This is the type of thing that happens when an "ai" made by terrible substandard programmers is in control of a company function.

1 answer

Your answer

JBF 25 Reputation points

2026-08-16T14:19:56.6133333+00:00

I am having the same issue. I have gotten Amazon cards before many times, last time in May. I have contacted Microsoft many times and just get the run around. I do not have VPN on my computer, it is shut off, I am sitting in New York on my computer, have tried a different browser and nothing works??? I am so frustrated. Is this just a scam with Microsoft?
Jonathan 5 Reputation points

2026-08-16T22:56:50.68+00:00

They might have an internal quota, people in the US already hit the limit so we have to wait for the quota to refresh or unlock again.
JBF 25 Reputation points

2026-08-16T23:44:28.1133333+00:00

Jonathan, why don't they tell us that? Is the same thing happening to you? I have tried totally shutting down my Norton Antivirus and that didn't work either. Thx.
Jonathan 5 Reputation points

2026-08-17T00:06:09.0333333+00:00

I'm just guessing. Yeah, I have the same problem. It happened before in the past too. Eventually it went away, now it's back again. So I'm guessing there's an internal quota. It depends on the contract between Microsoft and Amazon. Before there weren't as many people using Bing so it wasn't a problem, but now there are more Bing users so we keep hitting the quota faster.
JBF 25 Reputation points

2026-08-17T00:28:49.3033333+00:00

Thank you! I was beginning to think I was crazy.....
Brenda Lindsay 10 Reputation points

2026-08-20T23:30:51.82+00:00

I get this message: “On the go?” region or other redemption restrictions. I live in the USA and have never been out of the country, and no one at Microsoft will message me back.
JBF 25 Reputation points

2026-08-21T00:36:58.29+00:00

Microsoft keeps responding to me with instructions on how to clear the message which none work. I think as Jonathan has said they have us blocked.
Zain S 5 Reputation points

2026-08-21T17:24:56.56+00:00

There is no quota, that is not true at all, someone in my house is able to receive their bing rewards points for amazon and walmart but i cannot. I am able to for other gift cards like target and best buy. Microsoft some provide some insight!!
James J 11 Reputation points

2026-09-03T05:56:22.31+00:00

The email I received back on this issue was VERY RUDE, implying that I had been using nefarious means or was using other accounts or vpn to game their system - all of which is a lie. I don't even come close to maxing out my searches to accommodate their so-called 'cool-down' that I have had since MAY (It's now September). I have never cheated in any way, never tried to game the system and now I'm using other search engines and browsers to AVOID hitting their limit! (If you want to limit to 10 searches, why not just cap it there?) You read that right, Microsoft has by their actions forced me to seek other search engines to avoid their cap. Why do I search so much? I am handicapped and retired, there isn't a whole lot else that I CAN do other than surf the internet. ALL of this started almost the DAY that I started using the XBox app whenever I play games. I suspect AI, which is often wrong, is now running the rewards program. Similar to an above comment - one of my neighbors is allowed to redeem Amazon or Wal-mart cards all of the time while I cannot. The regional unavailability line does not apply apparently.
JBF 25 Reputation points

2026-09-03T10:20:06.3566667+00:00

James - Sorry, I am a little confused. If you reach your search limit daily that has something to do with this block? I am not aware of this. Thank you.
James J 11 Reputation points

2026-09-03T11:34:36.4766667+00:00

According to the letter I received - yes - reaching close to and at the limit triggers their 'fraud' red flags. as I said, the letter I received was rude and accusatory with no specifics itemized.
JBF 25 Reputation points

2026-09-03T11:53:49.3033333+00:00

I have contacted them maybe 6 times and just receive the same standard response about not being in the area of the ip address. When I responded directly to that they still just gave me instructions regarding that issue but never mentioned anything else. Thanks.
Bill Tudor 10 Reputation points

2026-09-03T13:22:34.5133333+00:00

I am having the same issue..don't want to purchase crazy games..I want gift cards, i.e., Amazon, Walmart!

Sure wis they could repair this issue!
James J 11 Reputation points

2026-09-04T03:28:27.7233333+00:00

Update - don't know if this post had anything to do with it but for the first time since May I was able to redeem my points for Amazon cards - 10 hours later, a 4 month logjam cleared.
JBF 25 Reputation points

2026-09-04T10:49:57.5266667+00:00

I try regularly and different times and still get the same message "On the Go" .
Jonathan 5 Reputation points

2026-09-04T21:02:18.77+00:00

There is no quota, that is not true at all, someone in my house is able to receive their bing rewards points for amazon and walmart but i cannot. I am able to for other gift cards like target and best buy. Microsoft some provide some insight!!

Could still be a quota with a lottery, they have a limited number of gift cards available but not everyone can access them in a given timeslot. Your account did not have access but someone else did. We don't know how the gift cards get unlocked for people, it might be random like a lottery or there might be some internal requirements that Microsoft has not disclosed.
James J 11 Reputation points

2026-09-15T05:48:28.2966667+00:00

And after it mysteriously cleared up, 11 days later the exact same problem is BACK. I don't use multiple accounts for rewards, I don't max out the number of searches, every search is legitimate, I read the news articles fully, I use no vpn although I should, to protect myself.

I never had one problem until I started using the X Box app to collect points.

I don't cheat at anything, I don't even rack up the limit of points I can receive - I mean they practically throw opportunities at you but still yet, I refrain from maxing out. The AI that controls this program is deeply flawed.
DT is all over the Epstein Files 0 Reputation points

2026-09-27T13:31:31.4+00:00

Same thing just happened to me right now. Amazon cards don't work. I tried a Burger King and was going to let me redeem and I didn't get that error. This is frustrating. I have been at the same place I redeemed for years. The AI answer was worthless.
Brenda Lindsay 10 Reputation points

2026-09-28T00:30:37.7133333+00:00

I am still waiting for them to respond to me after someone finally sent me an email asking for info and a screenshot, and that was a month ago. No personal info, just what I am seeing on the screen, and I probably went out of the country, so it will take a while to reset; I don't go out of the country. I hope something gets straightened out soon I am tired of waiting.
JBF 25 Reputation points

2026-09-28T00:44:42.0233333+00:00

I finally gave up after months of not being able to get Amazon gift cards and got the Target instead. Their customer service is absolutely useless.
Brenda Lindsay 10 Reputation points

2026-09-29T21:41:24.5366667+00:00

Copilot gave me a phone number I might call tomorrow to see if I can reach someone. They need to have chat.
JBF 25 Reputation points

2026-09-30T10:28:11.4133333+00:00

I have had MANY emails back and forth with their customer service and have checked all. Nothing works!!!! After months I finally gave up and got a different gift card.
James J 11 Reputation points

2026-09-30T16:24:35.9733333+00:00

This is the type of thing that happens when an "ai" made by terrible substandard programmers is in control of a company function.

Answer 1

The “On the go?” message usually means the reward is being treated as unavailable because of region or other redemption restrictions.

Based on the supported guidance, the most common causes are:

Region mismatch Microsoft Rewards points must be redeemed in the same region where the account was signed up. Rewards also cannot be redeemed while appearing to be in another market.
VPN or proxy detection If a VPN or similar service is active, redemption can be blocked. Microsoft specifically says not to use a VPN when redeeming points.
Phone verification issues Redemption requires a mobile or landline number. VoIP numbers are not permitted. There is also a limit on how many Microsoft Rewards accounts can be associated with one phone number: maximum 6 accounts per household.
Offer availability Some gift cards, including specific brands, are not always available. Microsoft states that some gift cards are not always available through Microsoft Rewards and that support cannot provide details on when they will be restocked or removed.

Since different devices and platforms were already tried, the most relevant next checks are:

Open the Redeem page and confirm whether Amazon or Walmart appears at all.
Make sure no VPN/proxy is enabled on the network or device.
If prompted for verification, use a mobile or landline number, not VoIP.
Confirm the account is being used only in the US region where it was enrolled.
Check Order history to see whether any attempted redemption was created and then cancelled, and review the status.
If the error continues even while in the home region and without VPN/proxy use, contact Microsoft Rewards Support for account review: Microsoft Rewards Customer Support.

If Amazon or Walmart is missing entirely but other rewards are available, that points more to current offer availability than a points problem.