Microsoft Rewards January 2026 tier rollout expands, Canada joins the list

Microsoft Rewards users in Canada are reporting a redesigned dashboard and new tier system that appeared during the daily reset. The update came as a surprise to many, especially since it deployed on a Friday rather than the expected Monday rollout.

Canada now joins Australia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines in receiving the tier refresh. Microsoft had sent notifications to these regions back in late 2025, stating the changes would arrive sometime this month without specifying exactly when. The rollout seems to be happening in waves rather than all at once.

This isn’t a brand new system, though. New Zealand, Colombia, India, and Mexico have been running the Member, Silver, and Gold tier structure for several months already, as noted by one user. What’s new is how many regions are now getting pulled into the updated program.

The biggest complaint showing up across multiple Reddit threads centers on search points. Users report that daily searches now cap at 60 points total, regardless of whether you search on PC or mobile. That’s a drop from the old system where Canadian users could rack up 90 points from PC searches plus 60 from mobile searches separately.

One user called it a “pretty massive nerf,” while others are still trying to figure out if monthly bonuses will make up the difference. The new Gold tier does come with perks like a 200-point monthly voucher and the Bing STAR Bonus, which promises up to 2,100 extra points per month based on search activity.

But there’s a catch. According to data highlighted by a commenter in one thread, for users in countries already on the new system, roughly 77% of people earn less than 300 points per month from the STAR Bonus. The “up to” part seems to be doing heavy lifting in Microsoft’s marketing.

Another thread has the OP asking whether this is actually a downgrade or just confusing at first glance. Some are losing half their daily earning potential, dropping from 210 points to 120 points per day after factoring in the daily set activities.

The redesigned interface is also getting pushback. One commenter described the new layout as having too many confusing menus and tables, saying it makes them want to quit the program entirely.

Reports are coming in from Pakistan, Indonesia, and the Philippines confirming the same changes hit their accounts as well. The United States hasn’t seen the update yet, and some American users are hoping it stays that way.