Xbox Gift Game Not Working? 11 Common Errors + How to Fix Them

I had a bit of a rough time trying to gift games on Xbox. There was no straightforward guide out there, so I had to dig through numerous Reddit threads and gaming forums to figure things out. I decided to save you that trouble and put all the fixes and tips I found into this one post. So, let’s get into it.

How Do I Gift Games On Xbox?

Gifting digital Xbox games is pretty straightforward. Head over to the Microsoft Store, search for the game you want to gift, click on ‘Buy as gift’, and punch in the recipient’s email or Xbox Gamertag. If you don’t see the “Buy as gift” button, check out these solutions.

 

Can I Gift an Xbox Game Pass?

Yes, you can! The process is similar to gifting digital games. In the Microsoft Store, locate the Xbox Game Pass, select ‘Buy as gift’, and follow the instructions.

What About Gifting Xbox 360 Games to Xbox One Users?

Well, you can’t directly gift Xbox 360 games to Xbox One users. The workaround? Grab an Xbox gift card for them, and they can buy the game themselves.

What If I Run Into Issues When Gifting?

Now, if you come across the “gifted game not working” problem or encounter trouble with your Xbox gift card, here’s what you should do:

1. Check the Xbox Live service status. If there are alerts, hold off until the service is back up before trying again.
2. Make sure that the person you’re gifting to is in the same region as you. Xbox doesn’t support cross-region gifting.
3. If you’re gifting a game, double-check that your friend doesn’t already have it. Xbox doesn’t allow gifting of games that the recipient already owns.
4. For Xbox gift card issues, double-check you’re inputting the code correctly. If it still doesn’t work, it’s time to reach out to Xbox support.

Why Can’t I See the ‘Buy Game as Gift’ Option?

If the ‘Buy Game as Gift’ option isn’t showing up for you, first try checking for any system updates and then restart your Xbox. If this doesn’t solve the issue, take a shot at gifting the game via Xbox.com or the Xbox app. Lastly, check if the game is still in pre-order status. You can’t gift a pre-order through Xbox, but there are other ways to do it. Click here to read more on that.

My Friend Gifted Me a Game, But I Haven’t Received It. What’s Going On?

Don’t worry, there could be a few reasons for this:

1. Check the email your friend used to gift you the game. It might not be the one you’re checking. Also, if they used your gamertag to send the gift, be sure to check the email associated with your Xbox account.
2. Take a look in your email’s spam folder, the gift might’ve ended up there.
3. Sometimes it can take a couple of hours for the gift to show up in your inbox. In the meantime, your friend can find the code in their purchase history and send it to you directly if you’re really keen to get started.

If a long time has passed and your gifted game hasn’t appeared in your account’s game library, it’s time to contact Microsoft Support.

I’m Having Trouble with Xbox Gift Cards. What Should I Do?

If you’re getting an error message when trying to redeem an Xbox gift card, or if it says the code’s already been redeemed but your balance hasn’t changed, follow these steps:

1. Double-check you’ve entered the code correctly.
2. Make sure your gift card was actually purchased and activated.

If you’re still having trouble, it’s time to contact Xbox support. Follow these steps:

1. Visit: https://support.xbox.com/en-US/contact-us
2. Click the green “contact us” button.
3. Select “Subscription and Billing” from the first dropdown.
4. Select “I can’t redeem a code” from the second dropdown.
5. Explain your issue and be prepared to provide a copy of your purchase receipt.

Microsoft is usually pretty good at sorting these things out, but they might need a bit of time to look into it. So, be prepared to wait a bit.

What If I Can’t Redeem a Code from Another Region?

Gifting on Xbox is region-locked. If you’ve received a gift code that’s not for your region, the best thing to do is ask the gifter to contact Xbox support for a refund. Keep in mind, changing the region of your Microsoft Account isn’t ideal as digital games purchased in your current region won’t work once the region is changed. Also, you won’t be able to change your region again within 90 days of the change. You can visit https://support.xbox.com/en-US/my-account/microsoft-account/update-microsoft-account-country-region for more details.

My Xbox Game Share Isn’t Working. What’s the Deal?

Sometimes you want to gift a game you already own! Xbox game share is one way to make that happen, and allows you to share your library games with a chosen friend. When setting up Xbox game share, remember that you and your friend both have to set each other’s Xbox as your home consoles. That means your friend’s Xbox should be set as your home Xbox, and vice versa. Though your friend will not personally own the games you share via game share, they will be able to play all of them as if they did. 

And remember, Xbox allows you to change your game share partner only up to 5 times in a 365-day cycle from the date of the first game share.

How Can I Share My Xbox Live Gold Subscription?

If you’re an Xbox Live Gold subscriber, you can actually extend your subscription benefits to your friends and family. Here’s how:

Sharing Gold at Home

If you have more than one Xbox, designate your primary Xbox as your home Xbox. This allows anyone who signs into the console with their profile to enjoy your Gold subscription benefits.

Sharing Gold on the Go

You can also share your Gold subscription on other Xbox consoles, like at a friend’s place. All you need to do is sign in with your account, and everyone on that Xbox can use your Gold subscription as long as you remain signed in.

How Does Home Xbox and Game Sharing Work?

By setting an Xbox as your home Xbox, you’re enabling anyone who uses that console to play your downloaded games, regardless of whether you’re signed in. This also applies to using your Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass subscriptions. Just remember, you can only change your designated home Xbox five times per year.

This way, you can enjoy gaming with friends and family, whether you’re in the comfort of your own home or visiting others. And that, fellow gamers, is the beauty of sharing on Xbox.

Why Can’t I Preorder a Game to Gift to a Friend on Xbox?

If you’ve tried to preorder a game to gift a friend on Xbox and found you can’t, you’re not alone. Unfortunately, preorders can’t be gifted directly through the Microsoft Store. But, don’t fret! There are a couple of workarounds to this problem:

1. Wait until the game is officially released. Once it’s available, you’ll be able to gift it like any other game through the Microsoft Store.
2. If waiting isn’t your style, you can preorder the game from a third party, like Amazon, and send the game to your friend.
3. Alternatively, you could purchase a gift card for the amount of the preorder, so your friend can order it themselves when it becomes available.

Remember, preorders often come in different promotional packages – standard, deluxe, and so on. These packages often have different perks, and they aren’t always refundable. If you’re unsure which package your friend would like, a gift card might be the safest option. This way, they can choose for themselves, and you’ll avoid any potential preorder pitfalls.

That’s it for now! Hopefully, this guide will help you sail smoothly through any Xbox gifting challenges you might face. If you have another issue or a solution, feel free to comment (we are always happy to hear new fixes!) Thanks for visiting GiftAGamer.com and Enjoy your gaming!