Do Reward Site Points Expire? What to Check Before You Save Up
October 23, 2026 · Updated November 2, 2026
Some reward points expire, and some don't. It depends entirely on the site's terms. Microsoft Rewards, for example, says points expire if you go 18 months without earning any. Other sites let points sit forever on an active account but forfeit them if the account is closed or left idle.
Key facts
- Reward point expiry depends on each site's terms; the three common types are inactivity, fixed-date and account-closure forfeiture.
- Microsoft Rewards points expire after 18 months without earning or redeeming activity.
- XPReward points currently have no expiry date.
- Steam, PlayStation and Xbox wallet funds don't expire once redeemed in most countries; Steam is the exception in Japan, where unused funds lapse after six months.
- Closing or losing an account usually forfeits its points on every site.
If you're saving up for something bigger, like a $50 or $100 gift card, it's worth checking this before you start, not when you're nearly there.
1. Inactivity expiry
This is the most common kind. Points stay as long as you keep using the site, but if your account goes quiet for long enough, the balance is wiped.
Microsoft Rewards is the best-known example. Microsoft's terms say points expire if you go 18 months without earning or redeeming any. One search or quiz now and then is enough to keep them alive.
2. Fixed-date expiry
Some programs give each batch of points its own expiry date, for example a year after you earn them, whether or not you're active. Promotional or bonus points are especially likely to work this way, sometimes with a much shorter window than normal points. If a site shows an "expiring soon" figure in your balance, this is the rule it's using.
3. Forfeiture on account closure
Almost every rewards site says that if your account is closed, whether by you, for inactivity, or for breaking the rules, any points left are lost. The rules that most often get accounts closed are:
- Running more than one account
- Using a VPN or giving false details
- Lying about your age (see age rules on reward sites)
Banned from an offerwall explains how these get flagged.
Do XPReward points expire?
At the moment, XPReward points have no expiry date. Points you earn stay in your balance until you spend them on a Steam, PlayStation or Xbox gift card. That's useful because the cheapest reward is a $25 card (3,600 points), so many members build their balance over several weeks.
The usual account rules still apply: one account per person, real details, no VPNs. If the policy ever changes, the terms will say so. Every credit and deduction is recorded in your points history, which the Trust page explains.
If your points suddenly disappeared
Before assuming they expired, work through the usual causes:
- Check the points history. Most sites list every credit and deduction. A redemption, an entry fee or a reversal often explains a drop.
- Look for reversals. On reward sites, an advertiser can reverse an offer it later rejects, and the points come back off. See how long offers take to credit for how reversals work.
- Check your account status. A warning or suspension email may explain a frozen or removed balance.
- Read the expiry rule. If the site uses inactivity expiry, check when you last earned or redeemed.
- Contact support with dates. Give the date you last saw the balance and what it was.
A simple routine to protect a balance
- Earn or redeem something at least every few months on any site with inactivity rules.
- Redeem once you reach a reward you'd genuinely use, rather than saving indefinitely.
- Keep one account per person and use your real details, the two rules that most often forfeit balances.
- Screenshot your balance before a long break.
What happens after you redeem?
Once points become a gift card, a different set of rules applies:
- Steam, PlayStation and Xbox wallet funds don't expire once you redeem the code, in most countries. Japan is the exception for Steam: its subscriber agreement says unused funds there lapse after six months. Do gift cards expire? has the details for each.
- Unredeemed codes are a different matter. Redeem them promptly so there's no risk of losing or leaking the code.
How much are your points actually worth?
Before deciding whether to save or spend, it helps to know what a point is worth. On XPReward, it's 144 points per $1 of gift card value. Other sites use very different scales, so the same number of points can mean very different amounts. What are reward points worth? converts the common ones.
Frequently asked questions
Do Microsoft Rewards points expire?
Yes. Microsoft says points expire if you go 18 months without earning any. Any earning activity resets the clock.
Do XPReward points expire?
Not currently. XPReward points have no expiry date and stay in your balance until you redeem them, as long as your account is in good standing.
What happens to my points if a reward site closes my account?
On most sites, they're forfeited. That's why it matters to follow the terms, especially the rules on one account per person and accurate details.
Should I redeem points as soon as I can?
If the site has inactivity or fixed-date expiry, yes. Even where points don't expire, redeeming once you reach a reward you want removes any risk.
Sources
Expiry rules checked on 2 November 2026 against: