How to Claim a Gifted Game on Xbox

To claim a gifted Xbox game, redeem its 25-character code while signed in to the Microsoft account that should own it. You can redeem the code on an Xbox console, on the web, in Microsoft Store on Windows, or in the Xbox app for PC. Check the account carefully first: Xbox says a code cannot be transferred after it has been redeemed.

First, identify what you received

“An Xbox gift” can mean several different things:

#	Preview	Product	Price
1		$100 XBOX Gift Card [Digital Code]	$100.00	Buy on Amazon
2		$10 XBOX Gift Card [Digital Code]	$10.00	Buy on Amazon
3		$50 XBOX Gift Card [Digital Code]	$50.00	Buy on Amazon
4		$25 XBOX Gift Card [Digital Code]	$25.00	Buy on Amazon
5		Xbox Physical Gift Card	$25.00	Buy on Amazon

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• Game-specific code: unlocks a particular game on the Microsoft account that redeems it.
• Xbox or Microsoft gift card: adds money to the account. You must then use that balance to buy the game from Microsoft Store.
• Retailer download code: is redeemed like an Xbox code, but may have retailer, product, and regional restrictions.
• Physical disc: is installed from the disc and normally must remain in the console to play.

A gift may arrive by email or Xbox message, although the exact delivery method can vary by purchase flow. Microsoft described both methods when Xbox game gifting launched in 2017; that announcement should not be treated as a guarantee that every current gift uses the same notification system. Do not post the code publicly or send it to anyone you do not trust.

Before redeeming: choose the right account

Sign out of any parent’s, friend’s, or household member’s Microsoft account if the game is meant for you. Redeem the code only on the account that should own the license. A game redeemed to the wrong account generally cannot be moved to another one.

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$100 XBOX Gift Card [Digital Code]

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• USE FOR GAMES & CONTENT — Redeem for thousands of digital XBOX games, from backward compatible classics to the latest new releases, plus DLC and in‑game currency.
• GAME PASS READY — Apply your balance toward XBOX Game Pass Ultimate to play new titles on day one* and access a library of hundreds of high‑quality console games.
• PRE‑ORDER & PRE‑INSTALL GAMES — Use your balance to pre‑order and pre‑download upcoming titles so you’re ready to play the moment they launch.
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Also check that the gift is intended for your country or region. Microsoft’s published gifting guidance says gifts can be redeemed only in the country or region where they were purchased, and its current region guidance warns that games, subscriptions, and account balances may not work across regions.

Redeem the gift on Xbox One or Xbox Series X|S

1. Sign in to the intended Microsoft/Xbox account.
2. Press the Xbox button on the controller.
3. Select Store.
4. Press the View button to open the side menu.
5. Select Redeem.
6. Enter the 25-character code.
7. Select Next and follow the confirmation prompts.

Review the account and product shown on the confirmation screen before submitting the code.

Redeem it online

Go to the official Xbox code-redemption page, sign in to the Microsoft account that should own the game, enter the 25-character code, and complete the prompts. The web method is also the recommended fallback when redemption is failing in an app.

Rank #2

$10 XBOX Gift Card [Digital Code]

• THE PERFECT GAMING GIFT — Buy an XBOX Gift Card for yourself or a friend and let them choose the games, add‑ons, subscriptions, and accessories they want most.
• USE FOR GAMES & CONTENT — Redeem for thousands of digital XBOX games, from backward compatible classics to the latest new releases, plus DLC and in‑game currency.
• GAME PASS READY — Apply your balance toward XBOX Game Pass Ultimate to play new titles on day one* and access a library of hundreds of high‑quality console games.
• PRE‑ORDER & PRE‑INSTALL GAMES — Use your balance to pre‑order and pre‑download upcoming titles so you’re ready to play the moment they launch.
• NO FEES OR EXPIRATION — XBOX Gift Cards never expire and have no service fees, so your balance is ready whenever you are.

$10.00

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Redeem it on a Windows PC

Microsoft Store

1. Open the Microsoft Store app.
2. Select the account icon in the top-right corner.
3. Choose Redeem code or gift cards.
4. Enter the 25-character code.
5. Select Next and follow the prompts.

Xbox app for PC

1. Open the Xbox app.
2. Select your gamerpic in the top-left corner.
3. Select Settings.
4. Under Redeem a code, select Redeem.
5. Enter the code, select Next, and confirm.

The current Xbox redemption instructions say that codes cannot be redeemed in the Xbox mobile app. Use a browser, console, Microsoft Store on Windows, or the Xbox PC app instead.

Install the game after redemption

Redeeming the code and installing the game are separate steps. A successful game-code redemption should add the title to the account’s digital library. On a compatible Xbox console or Windows PC, search for the game in Microsoft Store or the owned-games library and choose Install.

Check the product page before assuming the game works on every Xbox or PC. Platform support is title-specific. Xbox Play Anywhere titles can be installed on compatible Windows devices and Xbox One or Xbox Series consoles, but only participating games carry that designation. A code may also be for a PC-only product, console-only product, add-on, or another edition.

Rank #3

$50 XBOX Gift Card [Digital Code]

• THE PERFECT GAMING GIFT — Buy an XBOX Gift Card for yourself or a friend and let them choose the games, add‑ons, subscriptions, and accessories they want most.
• USE FOR GAMES & CONTENT — Redeem for thousands of digital XBOX games, from backward compatible classics to the latest new releases, plus DLC and in‑game currency.
• GAME PASS READY — Apply your balance toward XBOX Game Pass Ultimate to play new titles on day one* and access a library of hundreds of high‑quality console games.
• PRE‑ORDER & PRE‑INSTALL GAMES — Use your balance to pre‑order and pre‑download upcoming titles so you’re ready to play the moment they launch.
• NO FEES OR EXPIRATION — XBOX Gift Cards never expire and have no service fees, so your balance is ready whenever you are.

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You can review redeemed products and related order information in your Microsoft account’s order history.

If you received a gift card instead

A gift card does not automatically grant a particular game. Redeem it through Microsoft’s gift-card and code redemption guidance; the value is added to the Microsoft account as balance. Then open Microsoft Store, find the game, and pay with that balance.

This is useful when the sender does not know which game or edition you want, but it adds an extra purchase step and does not guarantee that a region-restricted product will be available.

Rank #4

$25 XBOX Gift Card [Digital Code]

• THE PERFECT GAMING GIFT — Buy an XBOX Gift Card for yourself or a friend and let them choose the games, add‑ons, subscriptions, and accessories they want most.
• USE FOR GAMES & CONTENT — Redeem for thousands of digital XBOX games, from backward compatible classics to the latest new releases, plus DLC and in‑game currency.
• GAME PASS READY — Apply your balance toward XBOX Game Pass Ultimate to play new titles on day one* and access a library of hundreds of high‑quality console games.
• PRE‑ORDER & PRE‑INSTALL GAMES — Use your balance to pre‑order and pre‑download upcoming titles so you’re ready to play the moment they launch.
• NO FEES OR EXPIRATION — XBOX Gift Cards never expire and have no service fees, so your balance is ready whenever you are.

$25.00

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Troubleshooting a gifted Xbox game

“This code has already been redeemed”

1. Check which Microsoft account is currently signed in.
2. Review that account’s order history and owned games.
3. Ask the sender to verify the purchase and confirm that the code was not used previously.
4. If it was redeemed to the wrong account, contact Microsoft/Xbox Support. Repeated attempts will not transfer the entitlement.

Possible causes include accidental redemption by someone else, use of the wrong account, or a sender providing an already-used code.

“The code is invalid” or redemption fails

• Re-enter all 25 characters carefully and check similar-looking characters.
• Confirm that it is an Xbox/Microsoft Store code, not a code for PlayStation, Nintendo, Steam, or another platform.
• Check whether it has already been redeemed.
• Confirm the purchase and account regions match.
• Try the web redemption page instead of the console or app.
• Update the Xbox console or Microsoft Store app if the error is a transaction or software problem.

Microsoft’s transaction troubleshooting guidance specifically points users toward web redemption when an app cannot complete the transaction.

The email never arrived

Check spam, junk, promotions, and filtered folders. Confirm that the sender used the correct email address, and check Xbox messages if the gift was sent through Xbox friends. If necessary, ask the sender for the code or purchase confirmation. Never share the code publicly.

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Xbox Physical Gift Card

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The game is missing after successful redemption

Confirm the account used for redemption, then search Microsoft Store while signed in to that account. Check the exact product name in order history: the code may have granted downloadable content, currency, a subscription, or a different edition rather than the base game. Also verify that the title supports your console or PC. If the purchase appears in order history but the entitlement is missing, contact Xbox Support.

Special cases

DLC, in-game currency, and subscriptions

Read the product name before redeeming. A code may be for an expansion, season pass, cosmetic item, consumable currency, or subscription rather than a full game. Some content requires the base game, a particular edition, or a separate online service.

Xbox 360 and original Xbox games

Do not assume that an older title follows the modern gifting process. Microsoft’s 2017 gifting announcement excluded Xbox 360 backward-compatible and original Xbox games when the feature launched. Separately, only selected Xbox 360 and original Xbox titles are backward compatible with Xbox One. Check the individual product page or current Xbox support information for the specific game.

You want to give the game to someone else

Do not redeem it first. Once redeemed, the code is tied to the account and cannot be transferred according to Xbox’s redemption page. If you have already redeemed it, Microsoft’s digital-goods rules generally do not allow digital licenses to be transferred or resold except where Microsoft specifically permits it.

Do not change your region just to force redemption

A region mismatch is usually a compatibility or purchase restriction, not a problem solved safely by switching account settings. Microsoft recommends changing your Store region only when you are moving to another country or region for an extended period. A change can affect purchases, subscriptions, and existing account balance. Contact the sender or Microsoft Support instead.

When to contact Microsoft Support

Contact support when the sender can verify a legitimate, unused purchase but the code remains rejected in the correct region; when the code was redeemed to the wrong account; or when order history shows the entitlement but the game is unavailable. Have the purchase confirmation, product name, error message, account details, and region information ready. Do not give your password or publish the full code.

Quick Recap

Bestseller No. 1

$100 XBOX Gift Card [Digital Code]

Gift cards are region‑specific (U.S. only) and cannot be transferred once redeemed.

$100.00

Bestseller No. 2

$10 XBOX Gift Card [Digital Code]

Gift cards are region‑specific (U.S. only) and cannot be transferred once redeemed.

$10.00

Bestseller No. 3

$50 XBOX Gift Card [Digital Code]

Gift cards are region‑specific (U.S. only) and cannot be transferred once redeemed.

$50.00

Bestseller No. 4

$25 XBOX Gift Card [Digital Code]

Gift cards are region‑specific (U.S. only) and cannot be transferred once redeemed.

$25.00

Bestseller No. 5

Xbox Physical Gift Card

MOVIES & TV SHOWS: Rent or buy new and popular movies and TV shows from a massive library.

$25.00

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