How to Accept Gifts in Fortnite: A Complete, Stress-Free Guide for Players
Unlock generosity, avoid missed surprises, and master the art of receiving in-game presents with this step-by-step breakdown.
Picture this: You’ve just finished an epic Victory Royale with your best friend. As a thank-you, they send you a flashy new skin — maybe a Reaper or Galaxy — straight to your inbox. You’re excited… until you realize you have no idea how to actually accept it. Sound familiar? You’re not alone. Thousands of Fortnite players miss out on free cosmetics, V-Bucks, and bundles every week simply because they don’t know how to accept gifts in Fortnite. This guide removes the guesswork. Whether you’re a casual player or a seasoned Battle Royale veteran, we’ll walk you through how to accept gifts in Fortnite — clearly, safely, and without frustration.
Why Gift Acceptance Matters in Fortnite
Epic Games didn’t just add gifting as a fun feature — it’s become a core social mechanic. From holiday events to birthday surprises, gifting helps players express appreciation, celebrate milestones, or just spread joy in the community. But here’s the catch: gifts don’t auto-apply. They sit in your inbox until you manually accept them. Miss that step? The gift could expire or get lost in the shuffle — especially during high-traffic events like Winterfest or Fortnite’s Birthday celebrations.
Prerequisites: What You Need Before Accepting Gifts
Before diving into the “how,” let’s cover the “what you need.” Not every account can receive gifts — Epic has safeguards to prevent abuse and underage spending.
✅ Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
This isn’t optional. To protect your account and comply with Epic’s policies, you must have 2FA enabled. Without it, you can’t receive — or send — gifts. Go to your Epic Games account settings, navigate to “Password & Security,” and enable either email or authenticator app-based 2FA.
✅ Linked Payment Method (Sometimes)
While receiving gifts is free, Epic requires some accounts — especially newer ones — to have a valid payment method on file. It’s a fraud prevention measure. Don’t worry: You won’t be charged unless you initiate a purchase.
✅ Gift Notifications Enabled
Under “Account Settings > Communication Preferences,” make sure “Receive News and Special Offers” and “Game Notifications” are toggled ON. This ensures you get alerts when a gift arrives.
Step-by-Step: How to Accept Gifts in Fortnite
Now, the moment you’ve been waiting for. Here’s exactly how to claim your gift — whether you’re on console, PC, or mobile.
Step 1: Launch Fortnite and Go to the Item Shop
Open the game and head to the main lobby. Click the “Item Shop” tab — yes, even if the gift isn’t from the shop. Gifts are managed through this interface.
Step 2: Check Your Inbox
In the lower-right corner of the Item Shop screen, you’ll see a small envelope icon. Click it. This opens your gift inbox — your personal vault of pending presents.
Step 3: Review the Gift
You’ll see a list of unopened gifts. Each shows the sender’s username, the item name, and a thumbnail. Take a moment to verify the gift is from someone you trust. While rare, scams do happen — especially impersonating “Epic Support” or fake giveaways.
Step 4: Accept the Gift
Click “Accept Gift.” A confirmation pop-up will appear, summarizing what you’re about to receive. Read it — especially if it includes V-Bucks or a bundle with multiple items.
Step 5: Confirm and Enjoy!
Hit “Confirm” — and that’s it. The item is instantly added to your Locker. You can equip it immediately or save it for a special drop.
Pro Tip: If the gift includes V-Bucks, they’ll be added to your balance automatically. No redemption code needed.
Troubleshooting: “I Can’t Accept My Gift!”
Even with perfect steps, things can go wrong. Here are the most common issues — and how to fix them.
🔹 “You must enable 2FA to accept gifts.”
As mentioned earlier, this is non-negotiable. Go enable it now — it takes less than two minutes and boosts your account security.
🔹 “This gift is no longer available.”
Gifts expire after 14 days. If you waited too long, it’s gone. Set a reminder next time — or ask the sender to resend (if they haven’t hit their gifting limit).
🔹 “You’ve reached your daily gift limit.”
Epic caps gift acceptance at 5 per day. If you’ve hit the limit, wait until the next day. The counter resets at midnight UTC.
🔹 Platform Restrictions
Some gifts — especially those containing V-Bucks — can’t be accepted on iOS or Android due to Apple/Google store policies. Try logging in via PC or console to claim them.
Real-World Example: The Winterfest Gift Glitch (2023)
During Fortnite’s 2023 Winterfest event, hundreds of players reported being unable to accept “15 Days of Gifts” rewards. The issue? A backend server error that temporarily blocked inbox access. Epic’s fix? A simple game restart — and in some cases, unlinking and relinking their Epic account from their platform (PlayStation/Xbox/Nintendo). Lesson learned: When in doubt, restart the game or re-authenticate your account.