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No current Microsoft guidance found here confirms that Microsoft accepts Bitcoin directly. The claim that it did has a historical basis: Microsoft announced on December 11, 2014, that users could exchange Bitcoin for digital content for Windows, Windows Phone and Xbox. Its current account-funding instructions instead point users to Microsoft gift cards, while its payment-method list names conventional options. The exact date Bitcoin support ended, if it did, is not established by the available Microsoft notices.
What Microsoft announced in 2014
Microsoft’s Windows Latin America blog published a post on December 11, 2014, titled “Ahora pueden cambiar bitcoins para comprar apps, juegos y más para Windows, Windows Phone y Xbox.” It described exchanging Bitcoin for apps, games and other content associated with Windows, Windows Phone and Xbox. That is evidence for a historical digital-content offer—not proof that Bitcoin worked at every Microsoft online store, for hardware, or across every product and region.
The announcement does not establish how long the option remained available. No authoritative Microsoft notice identified here specifies a Bitcoin-support end date.
Does Microsoft still accept Bitcoin?
Microsoft’s current account-funding instructions say to redeem a Microsoft gift card on the Redeem page to add money to a Microsoft account. Its payment-method guidance lists credit cards, debit cards, bank accounts, PayPal and mobile-phone billing, with availability varying by region. Neither current guidance page documents Bitcoin checkout. Based on those pages, do not assume you can pay Microsoft directly with Bitcoin.
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Can Bitcoin buy Xbox games or Windows apps today?
Microsoft’s current instructions describe account balance, rather than Bitcoin, as a way to pay for eligible purchases. Account money can be used for certain Xbox, Surface, phone and PC products, accessories, apps, games, movies and TV shows. Eligibility depends on region and product restrictions; Microsoft also says account balance cannot be spent at Microsoft Store retail locations or on cash, gift certificates and similar payment products.
Microsoft says account balance can buy an Xbox-related subscription, but not a Microsoft 365 subscription. If you are trying to use Bitcoin, the documented process does not provide a way to load it into a Microsoft account.
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How to add money to a Microsoft account
- Obtain a Microsoft gift card or Xbox gift card appropriate for your account’s country or region.
- Go to Microsoft’s Add money to your Microsoft account instructions and open the Redeem page.
- Sign in to the Microsoft account you intend to use, then redeem the gift-card code.
- Before buying, check whether the item is eligible for account-balance payment and whether local limits apply.
A gift card funds the account through Microsoft’s documented route; it does not mean Microsoft accepts Bitcoin. Whether a third-party seller lets you purchase a gift card using Bitcoin is a separate question, and it does not change Microsoft’s own payment methods.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Limits and restrictions on account balance
Microsoft says users can add or redeem up to USD 1,000 in a day and hold a maximum balance of USD 1,000. Its limits page also states a USD 5,000 combined limit for additional accounts. Local exceptions apply, so these U.S.-dollar figures are not universal: check Microsoft’s account spending limits for the relevant country and currency.
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