What happens if you do not use your McDonalds rewards points

Many regular app users collect points through the McDonalds Rewards programme, but a common question is: What happens if you do not use them? Do they expire, disappear, or stay on your account until you spend them? Understanding this can help you avoid losing rewards you have already earned.

This article explains how McDonalds Rewards points work, when they expire, how to keep them active, and what you should know about losing or reclaiming them. This information is based on publicly available sources and is for general informational purposes only.

How the McDonalds Rewards system works

When you make eligible purchases through the McDonalds app, you earn points that can later be exchanged for food rewards. The rewards are arranged in tiers, meaning the more you collect, the bigger the reward you can claim.

Points can only be earned and redeemed when you order using the official mobile app or by scanning your code in a restaurant or drive-thru.

Source: McDonalds Rewards Terms
https://www.mcdonalds.com/gb/en-gb/rewards.html

Do McDonalds points expire?

Yes. According to McDonalds’ Rewards terms, points expire after 12 months from the date they were earned if you do not redeem them.

So if you earned points on 10 February, they would expire after 12 months if not used. Many users are unaware of this expiry date because the app continues to display the balance until points are removed.

Source: McDonalds Rewards Terms — Expiry Rules
https://www.mcdonalds.com/gb/en-gb/rewards/rewards-terms-and-conditions.html

What happens when your points expire?

• Expired points are automatically deleted from your account.
• They cannot be reclaimed, even if you recently made a purchase.
• You will not receive a refund or compensation for expired points.
• Expiry happens in the background, and you may not receive a notification.

Once deleted, the expired points are permanently removed.

Can you stop points from expiring?

You cannot extend the expiry date of points once they have been earned. Each batch of points has its own expiration date that cannot be reset by making a new purchase.

Unlike some loyalty schemes, there is no system where spending or earning new points refreshes the expiry date. Each batch continues to follow its own one-year timer.

How to keep track of expiry dates

The McDonalds app does not show the expiry date of each batch of points. However, you can track expirations by:

• Checking your Rewards history in the app
• Monitoring your point balance regularly
• Using rewards as soon as you reach a tier

McDonalds displays five reward tiers (from 150 points up to 4,000 points). Choosing a reward earlier helps prevent accidental expiration in large chunks.

What happens if you stop using the McDonalds app?

If you stop using the app, your points will remain until their expiry date. However, if you do not open the app at all for long periods, you may miss the point expiry notifications.

Your account itself does not expire, but your points will still be lost when the one-year period ends.

Can using a reward reset the expiry date?

No. Redeeming some points does not reset or extend the expiry of other remaining points. Each portion expires 12 months after it was earned, regardless of activity.

Common questions

Can expired points be reinstated?

No. McDonalds does not restore expired points even if you contact customer service.

Does deleting or reinstalling the app delete the points?

No. Points are linked to your account, not your device or app installation.

Can family members share points?

No. Points are not transferable between accounts.

Key takeaways

• Every batch of McDonalds Rewards points expires 12 months after it is earned.
• Expired points are automatically deleted and cannot be recovered.
• Redeeming or earning more points does not extend the expiry of existing points.
• The app does not clearly show expiry dates, so checking your balance regularly is important.

This article is for general information only and does not represent advice. Always check the official McDonalds Rewards terms and conditions for the most up-to-date details.