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You can rack up points and prizes with the Microsoft Rewards program. Here’s how to get free stuff by using programs like Edge and Bing.
ByLance Whitney
August 1, 2019
Interested in getting some cool stuff for free? The Microsoft Rewards program allows you to build up points by performing certain tasks, such as taking online quizzes, browsing with Microsoft Edge, and searching for items using Microsoft Bing.
In return, you can score gift cards for popular retail stores, get discounts on certain products, win apparel, get entered into sweepstakes for more lucrative items, and donate to charitable causes. Let's see how this works.
Microsoft Account
First, you'll need a Microsoft Account to tap into the rewards. If you don't have one, surf to the account creation page to set one up. Log in to your account, browse to the Microsoft Rewards site, and click Join for Free at the bottom of the page. You're best off starting with the Microsoft Edge browser, since Microsoft awards you points for using Edge.
Get Started
Microsoft welcomes you to its Rewards program with different quizzes, polls, and other tasks that you can accomplish to start racking up points. Each task lists the points you can gain as a reward. Find one that interests you and click the link that states how many points you can earn.
Complete Tasks
After you complete each task, you may need to refresh your browser to see your total points. For each task you complete, you should also see a checkmark in the box for that task displaying the points earned.
Discover Goals
After you've gone through a few tasks, you may want to set a goal. Scroll down the page to the Your goal section and click the link to Set goal. By default, the Goals page shows you all goals suggested for you. You can filter the results by clicking on Shop, Win, or Donate. And you can sort the results by changing the sorting to Price low to high or Price high to low.
Set Goals
Look for a reward that interests you and click Set as Goal. You can choose from a variety of rewards, including gifts cards, entry into a sweepstakes, and a donation to a charitable cause.
Complete Goals
You're returned to the main Rewards page. Scroll down the screen to the Your Goal window to see how many points are required to redeem the goal you chose. If you have enough points, click the Redeem Now link to redeem them for this goal.
At the goal's page, click the button to Donate if you chose a charitable cause or program, the button to Enter Sweepstakes if you selected a sweepstakes, or the button to Redeem Reward if you chose another type of reward. Then confirm the reward.
Remove Goals
Return to the main Rewards page. Scroll down to the Your goal window. If you wish to choose a different goal, click the link to Remove goal. Then click the link to Set goal and pick a different one.
Redeem Points
At the top of the main Rewards page, you can see your available points, total points earned, and points breakdown to determine how many points you have. Whether or not you set a goal, you can also redeem points for any reward or other item at any time. Click the heading at the top for Redeem.
Choose Rewards
Browse through the different rewards. If you have enough points for a specific reward, a link to Redeem Reward appears for that item. If you don’t have enough points, a graph shows your current number of points and the number of points needed to redeem that reward. Click the link to Redeem Reward for one that interests you and for which you have enough points.
How to Earn Points
If you sign in with your Microsoft Account, there are other ways to earn points without having to take quizzes or fill out polls. As previously stated, you can earn points by using Microsoft's Edge browser or searching with Bing. Use them together to earn even more.
Other search activities eligible for rewards include: using the search box on the taskbar of your Windows 10 device and searching with Bing through Cortana, and buying items from the online Microsoft Store using your mobile device, an Xbox One, the Microsoft Store app in Windows 10 or 8.1, or the web. If you play select games or complete certain quests on the Xbox One, you also get points.
Earn with Microsoft Family
If you've created a Microsoft Family with other family members, you can share points with them. At the Rewards page, click the heading at the top for Community. Here, you can invite other family members to join the rewards program and you can give points to or ask for points from other members who are already part of the rewards program.
Rewards Status
Next, click the Status heading at the top of the page. Here, you'll find the full details on your rewards status, including points earned, your level (each higher level brings with it more benefits), points redeemed, badges earned, your progress, and your recent rewards.
Wondering what the extra benefits are for leveling up? Click See my level benefits to view what you get at Level 1, Level 2, and Level 2 with Xbox Live Gold.
View Badges
As you earn points, you will also be rewarded with different badges. You can view these badges from the Status page by clicking See available badges. The badges don't actually win you any rewards; they're more of a visual status symbol for bragging rights.
View Progress
On the Status page is a section called Your progress where you can check in on how you are earning points. From this section, you can click the links to redeem a reward, see your points breakdown, go to a daily set of questions or quizzes to earn bonus points, and go to your dashboard.
Recent Rewards
On the Status page is a section called Your recent rewards. From this section, you can view the donation page, redeem gift cards, and check the outcome of the sweepstakes you have entered.
View Previous Winners
Interested in seeing who has won big prizes before you? Click Winners at the top of the Status page to view a list of prizes. Click a reward to see the names and locations of the winners.
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I've been working for PCMag since early 2016 writing tutorials, how-to pieces, and other articles on consumer technology. Beyond PCMag, I've written news stories and tutorials for a variety of other websites and publications, including CNET, ZDNet, TechRepublic, Macworld,PC World, Time, US News & World Report, and AARP Magazine. I spent seven years writing breaking news for CNET as one of the site’s East Coast reporters.I've also written two books for Wiley & Sons—Windows 8: Five Minutes at a Time and Teach Yourself Visually LinkedIn.
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