How to Receive Gifts in Fortnite: A Complete, No-Nonsense Guide for Players
There’s nothing quite like the thrill of logging into Fortnite and finding a surprise gift waiting in your inbox — maybe a rare skin, a V-Bucks card, or that emote you’ve been eyeing for weeks. But if you’ve ever stared blankly at your locker wondering why your friend’s gift never showed up, you’re not alone. Receiving gifts in Fortnite isn’t always automatic — it requires a few key settings, mutual trust, and yes, even some patience. In this guide, we’ll walk you through exactly how to receive gifts in Fortnite, troubleshoot common issues, and even share real player experiences to help you claim your goodies without a hitch.
Why Receiving Gifts in Fortnite Isn’t Always Straightforward
Before diving into the “how,” let’s address the “why.” Epic Games built its gifting system with safety and fairness in mind. That means receiving gifts in Fortnite isn’t just about clicking “accept” — it’s tied to account settings, platform permissions, and social connections. You won’t receive anything unless:
- You’re friends with the sender for at least 48 hours.
- Your receiving settings are turned on.
- You haven’t hit your daily or weekly gifting limits (yes, those exist).
- The item being gifted is currently available in the Item Shop.
Miss any of these? Your gift might be stuck in limbo — or worse, rejected automatically.
Step-by-Step: How to Receive Gifts in Fortnite
Step 1: Enable Receiving Gifts in Your Account Settings
This is the most common stumbling block. Many players assume gifting is enabled by default — it’s not.
- Go to the Epic Games website and log into your account.
- Click your profile icon → Account Settings → Privacy Settings.
- Scroll down to “Can receive gifts from friends?” and toggle it to Yes.
- Save your changes.
Pro Tip: If you’re on console (PlayStation, Xbox, or Switch), you’ll still need to do this via the web — not in-game.
Step 2: Confirm You’re Friends (and Have Been for 48 Hours)
Epic requires a 48-hour cooldown after friending someone before you can exchange gifts. This prevents spam and abuse.
- Open Fortnite → Go to the Social tab.
- Check that your friend appears under “Friends” — not “Pending” or “Blocked.”
- If you recently added them, wait two full days before expecting any gifts.
Real Case: Sarah (PSN: SarahPlaysFN) tried to receive a gift from her brother right after adding him. The gift failed. Two days later? Smooth delivery. Patience pays.
Step 3: Check Your In-Game Mailbox
Once a gift is sent, it doesn’t pop up instantly like a text message. You need to manually check.
- Launch Fortnite.
- Go to the Locker tab.
- Click the envelope icon in the top-right corner (your mailbox).
- If a gift is waiting, you’ll see a notification. Click “Accept.”
Note: Gifts expire after 14 days. If you don’t accept them, they’re returned to the sender — along with their V-Bucks.
Step 4: Platform-Specific Permissions (Console Users)
Console players, listen up. Even if your Epic account allows gifts, your platform account (PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, etc.) might block them.
- PlayStation: Go to Settings → Account Management → Privacy Settings → Personal Info → “Who can send you gifts?” → Set to “Friends Only” or “Everyone.”
- Xbox: Profile & system → Settings → Account → Privacy & online safety → Xbox privacy → View details & customize → Communication & multiplayer → “You can receive gifts” → Set to “Allow.”
- Nintendo Switch: Unfortunately, gifting is not supported on Switch at this time. You’ll need to use a PC or mobile device to receive gifts, even if you primarily play on Switch.
Case Study: Marcus, a longtime Switch player, was confused why his PC friend’s gift never arrived. After switching to his PC account (same Epic ID), he found and accepted the gift within minutes.
Troubleshooting: “I Didn’t Get My Gift!” — Common Fixes
Even when you’ve followed all the steps, things can go wrong. Here’s what to check:
❌ “Gift Failed to Send” or “Not Delivered”
- Cause: Recipient’s settings are off, or item is no longer in the shop.
- Fix: Ask your friend to double-check their “Can receive gifts?” toggle. If the item rotated out, the sender must choose something else.
❌ “You’ve Reached Your Gift Limit”
- Cause: Epic caps gift receipts at 5 per day and 100 per week.
- Fix: Wait until tomorrow — or next week. No workaround exists.
❌ “Gift Pending” Forever
- Cause: Sometimes, server delays or sync issues occur.
- Fix: Restart Fortnite. Log out and back in. Check again in 1–2 hours. If still stuck, contact Epic Support with the sender’s Epic ID and transaction time.
What You Can’t Receive (And Why)
Not everything in Fortnite is giftable. Here’s what’s off-limits:
- Battle Pass (you must purchase it yourself)
- Founder’s Packs or Limited-Time Bundles (unless currently in the Item Shop)
- Items already in your Locker (