Microsoft’s $1 Million Edge and Bing Giveaway Was Real—but It Ended in May 2026

Yes, Microsoft really ran the promotion—but you cannot enter it now. The Microsoft Rewards Total Prize Drop accepted entries from March 12 through May 21, 2026, with a sweepstakes drawing scheduled for June 4. It offered one $1 million cash prize, three Mercedes-Benz vehicle budgets worth $170,000 each, and separate instant-win prizes. Edge was promoted, but it was not the only way to participate.

What the promotion actually offered

Microsoft announced the campaign as a $2 million prize opportunity tied to Bing searches and activity across its services. That headline combined several prize categories rather than promising $2 million in cash.

#	Preview	Product	Price
1		$10 XBOX Gift Card [Digital Code]	$10.00	Buy on Amazon
2		$100 XBOX Gift Card [Digital Code]	$100.00	Buy on Amazon
3		$25 XBOX Gift Card [Digital Code]	$25.00	Buy on Amazon
4		$50 XBOX Gift Card [Digital Code]	$50.00	Buy on Amazon
5		$30 XBOX Gift Card [Digital Code]	$30.00	Buy on Amazon

The official announcement is available from Microsoft’s Bing blog, while the detailed terms appear in the official sweepstakes rules.

Was Microsoft requiring Edge?

No. Edge was one promotional activity, not an exclusive entry requirement. The documented core mechanic involved completing qualifying Bing searches while Bing was set as the default search engine. Microsoft also promoted Edge browsing, Copilot, Xbox, Microsoft 365 and other Microsoft services.

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The most accurate description is a Microsoft Rewards campaign designed to increase engagement with Bing and the wider Microsoft ecosystem. It was not a guaranteed payment for downloading Edge, and the promotion did not establish that Edge was objectively better than Chrome, Firefox, Safari or another browser.

How entries worked while the promotion was open

Participation required a free Microsoft Rewards account, and no purchase or payment was necessary. The rules described these entry routes:

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1. Registration: completing registration produced one entry.
2. Daily Bing activity: qualifying Bing searches produced one entry per qualifying day when Bing was the default search engine.
3. Rewards-point redemptions: 1,000 points produced four entries; 2,000 produced seven; 5,000 produced 15; 10,000 produced 30; and 20,000 produced 60. Each listed level could be used once, for a maximum of 116 entries through this route.
4. Other promotions: Microsoft could offer additional eligible activities.
5. Mail-in method: an accepted handwritten request produced 10 entries.

All methods were subject to a maximum of 465 entries per person, account, email address and mobile phone number. The U.S. and Puerto Rico mail-in request had to be postmarked by May 21, 2026, and received by May 29, 2026, so that alternative is also closed.

The Mercedes-Benz prize was a budget, not a free car with no conditions

Each of the three vehicle winners received a $170,000 spending budget toward a Mercedes-Benz vehicle available through an authorized dealer in the winner’s jurisdiction. The selected vehicle had to cost at least $100,000, including trim and original-equipment-manufacturer accessories.

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• 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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• Vehicle availability, specifications and delivery timing were not guaranteed.
• Taxes, title, registration, insurance, transportation and other vehicle-related costs were generally the winner’s responsibility.
• Non-OEM upgrades and certain options could consume the budget or require additional payment.
• If eligible deductions left money unused, the remaining cash payment was capped at $30,000.
• The winner needed a valid driver’s license and insurance and had to accept delivery within 30 days after being told the dealer had received the vehicle.
• The rules said the prize was not sponsored, affiliated with or endorsed by Mercedes-Benz AG.

Who could enter, and what were the odds?

The sweepstakes covered legal residents of the 50 United States, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland, Austria, Greece, Finland, Luxembourg, Spain, Switzerland, Norway, Mexico, Peru, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, New Zealand, Japan, the Czech Republic, Romania and South Africa.

Entrants had to be at least the age of majority where they lived, maintain an active email address and mobile phone number, and belong to Microsoft Rewards. The instant-win promotion had a different geographic scope, so its eligibility cannot be assumed from the sweepstakes list.

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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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Microsoft did not publish a fixed probability. The rules said odds depended on the total number of eligible entries received across all participating jurisdictions. An independent judging organization conducted the random drawing, meaning daily activity increased entries but did not make winning likely or predictable.

How winners were contacted

Potential winners were to be contacted by phone, email and/or mail and required to complete eligibility and release documents within the stated deadlines. Microsoft identified IC Engage as its verified prize partner. The FAQ said winners would be posted after all prizes were awarded at rewards.bing.com/redeem/winners; that page may change as records are updated.

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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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The practical trade-off for participants

Although entry was free in the monetary sense, participants exchanged time, searches, account activity and potentially Microsoft Rewards points for chances with undisclosed odds. Redeeming points for entries also meant giving up alternatives such as gift cards, subscriptions, games or charitable donations. Microsoft’s Rewards information notes that members may receive emails about Microsoft and partner products; see Microsoft’s Rewards overview.

Microsoft’s support guidance also warns that automated activity, multiple accounts and attempts to manipulate Rewards can lead to invalidated points or suspension: Rewards support guidance.

Bottom line for anyone seeing the old headline

The giveaway was genuine, but “download Edge and get $1 million and a Mercedes” is an inaccurate summary. It was a closed, no-purchase-necessary Microsoft Rewards sweepstakes and instant-win campaign. The cash grand prize was one $1 million award; the three Mercedes prizes were restricted $170,000 vehicle budgets; and the broader $2 million figure included separate instant-win prizes. As of August 18, 2026, the entry period and scheduled drawing have passed.

Quick Recap

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

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Bestseller No. 5

$30 XBOX Gift Card [Digital Code]

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

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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.