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Microsoft Rebrands Bing Rewards as Microsoft Rewards, Adds Edge Incentives

Microsoft’s 2016 Bing Rewards rebrand added Edge and Store incentives, converted credits into points, and launched in the U.S. Microsoft Rewards still exists, but its current offers and limits have changed.
From TheFinanceBase Team4 min to read
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On August 17, 2016, Microsoft renamed Bing Rewards to Microsoft Rewards and broadened the program beyond Bing searches. The change brought Edge-related activity and Microsoft Store purchases into the loyalty program, while converting existing credits into points at 10 points per credit. The rebrand was a bid to connect rewards to more of Microsoft’s ecosystem—not proof that every minute spent browsing in Edge earned points. Microsoft Rewards remains active, but its current offers and rules are different from the launch-era program.

What Microsoft changed in August 2016

Microsoft’s announcement repositioned Bing Rewards as a broader Microsoft loyalty program. Bing search activity remained part of the offering, but the new Microsoft Rewards name reflected earning opportunities connected with other Microsoft products and services, including Edge and purchases from the Microsoft or Windows Store. The contemporary report described the launch as available to U.S. residents. Thurrott’s August 17, 2016 report covered the announcement and its initial terms.

Credits, points, and membership levels

Bing Rewards credits became Microsoft Rewards points. The reported conversion was 10 points for each existing credit: a balance of 100 credits would convert to 1,000 points. That was a change in denomination, not evidence by itself that the balance became ten times more valuable. To assess the account’s practical value, users would need to compare its converted balance with the point cost of available rewards.

The former Member, Silver, and Gold tiers were replaced by Level 1 and Level 2. The 2016 coverage also reported that the previous minimum-age requirement of 13 was removed in the initial change. Neither detail establishes today’s qualification or age rules for every Rewards offer; current features can have their own terms.

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Why Edge was part of the pitch

Adding Edge-related earning opportunities gave Microsoft a way to encourage use of its browser as part of a wider loyalty program. At the time, Edge was competing with established alternatives such as Chrome. Microsoft was not merely changing the name of a search-rewards scheme: it was giving users another reason to engage with Microsoft services.

The 2016 launch coverage did not establish a universal number of points for Edge use or a permanent points-per-hour browsing rule. It is therefore misleading to say that Microsoft rewarded every page view or simply paid users for leaving Edge open. The distinction still matters: Microsoft’s current materials describe earning through qualifying Bing searches in Edge, not unrestricted browsing on any website.

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How Microsoft Rewards works now

Microsoft Rewards is still operating, but the present-day program should not be confused with its 2016 launch terms. Microsoft lists activities such as Bing searches, searches with Bing in Edge, mobile activity, eligible Microsoft Store purchases, selected Xbox and gaming activity, quizzes, and other dashboard offers. Points can be redeemed for items such as gift cards, sweepstakes entries, and charitable donations. Available activities and redemption options depend on country or region, account, and current offer terms. See Microsoft Support’s current earning guidance.

Current U.S. examples—not universal rates

Microsoft’s U.S. Rewards page currently gives examples of search and Store rates. These figures are specific to the U.S. presentation and can change; they are not guaranteed rates for every account or market. Microsoft’s terms and limits apply.

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Activity Current U.S. example shown by Microsoft
PC Bing searches 5 points per search; daily maximum shown as 50 points for Level 1 and 150 for Level 2.
Mobile Bing searches 5 points per search; daily maximum shown as 100 points.
Microsoft Store purchases 1 point per dollar for Level 1, 10 points per dollar for Level 2, and 20 points per dollar in the Level 2 plus Xbox Game Pass Ultimate presentation.

The rates and examples above are listed on Microsoft’s U.S. Rewards page. Store earning is subject to exclusions and offer conditions: Microsoft says subscriptions and gift-card purchases are excluded from certain purchase offers, purchases may qualify for only one Rewards offer at a time, and the described qualifying Store-purchase offer has a monthly ceiling of up to 20,000 points. Check the current terms for your account before relying on a purchase to earn points.

Limits, eligibility, and points value

  • A Microsoft account is required, and you generally need to be signed in for eligible activity to count.
  • Search earning has daily limits; a search does not necessarily earn points once the applicable cap is reached.
  • Mobile, Xbox, Store, and dashboard opportunities may differ by region, level, and account.
  • Microsoft Support says points expire after 12 months without earning activity. It also says redemption often takes about 5,000 points for something worth $5, while emphasizing that redemption values vary.
  • Points have no cash value. They are a loyalty benefit, not a guaranteed rebate or income.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

Is switching to Edge worth it for Rewards?

Rewards may be a convenient extra if you already use Bing, Edge, Xbox, or Microsoft Store and can earn points through activity you would do anyway. It is usually a weak standalone reason to abandon a preferred browser: the value is modest, earning is capped, and not every activity qualifies. If you prefer another browser for its privacy settings, extensions, performance, or workflow, weigh those practical considerations against the points rather than treating Rewards as cash compensation.

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Before changing habits or making a purchase for points, check the Rewards dashboard and applicable terms for your region. Offers, limits, qualifying actions, and redemption costs can change, and a feature shown on Microsoft’s U.S. pages may not be offered where you live.

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