Yes, some Microsoft Rewards users have reported that a 15-minute search cooldown stopped appearing, but those reports do not show that Microsoft removed the limit for everyone. Microsoft’s support guidance says search earning limits can be temporary and may be lifted when search patterns are considered normal. It does not specify a universal cooldown length or announce that the 15-minute limit has ended across accounts.
What Microsoft says about Rewards search cooldowns
Microsoft acknowledges that some users may see a notice saying to wait a specified period before searches earn points, or that searches within a period do not qualify. The company says this limit is not permanent and will be removed once search patterns are determined to be normal rather than an attempt to earn points improperly. Microsoft does not publish a set duration for the limit. Microsoft’s search-limiting guidance also does not say that every account once subject to a 15-minute cooldown has had it removed.
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What Reddit users’ reports can—and can’t—tell you
In a February 14, 2024 discussion, one user reported not seeing a 15-minute desktop search cooldown that day. Other commenters in that discussion, and in a separate February 2024 thread, described points and cooldown behavior varying across days or apps. These are individual accounts, not an announcement from Microsoft or a systematic measure of how Rewards works now. The February 14 discussion and the other February thread therefore support the possibility of differing experiences, not a platform-wide change.
A cooldown disappearing from your account is consistent with Microsoft’s statement that a limit can be removed after search patterns are judged normal. It does not establish why the limit changed in a particular case, or whether the same change occurred for other accounts.
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Why search points may stop appearing for other reasons
A missing point is not always evidence that a cooldown has returned. Microsoft’s help pages describe several other conditions that can affect search earning:
- Your regional terms or limits: Daily search limits and earning methods vary by country or region, and searches may not earn points in every region. The available methods can also depend on the device or app. See Microsoft’s guide to earning Rewards points.
- Your counter has reached its limit: A PC or mobile search counter may already be maximized until it resets.
- Give Mode is on: Microsoft lists this as a possible reason search points may not appear.
- Account or browser data is not syncing: Check that you are signed in to the intended account and consider whether browser data synchronization is affecting the counter.
- Searches are automated or outside your market: Microsoft lists automated queries and attempts to earn from outside your current market among the reasons points may not be credited. See Microsoft’s general Rewards help.
How to use search without risking a restriction
Microsoft recommends spreading searches through the day instead of making them rapidly back-to-back. Its guidance discourages entering random letters or numbers, quickly clicking through articles, rapidly opening bookmarked articles to collect points, and using programs, bots, or macros to assist with searches. Repeated violations may lead to further account consequences, including suspension and invalidation of earned points. Read Microsoft’s full guidance on search limits before changing how you earn.
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If points are not appearing, first check your account, counter, region, and app or device rather than trying to work around a limit. Microsoft’s published guidance does not promise a fixed cooldown or identify every signal used to assess search patterns.
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