How to Check Gifts on Fortnite: A Complete, Stress-Free Guide for Players
Ever sent a gift in Fortnite only to wonder—did it go through? Or worse, received a mysterious notification and have no clue where to find your surprise loot? You’re not alone. With millions of players exchanging V-Bucks, skins, and emotes daily, knowing how to check gifts on Fortnite is more than just handy—it’s essential. Whether you’re gifting a Battle Pass to a friend or hunting down that legendary skin someone just sent you, this guide breaks down everything clearly, step-by-step, with zero fluff.
Why Knowing How to Check Gifts Matters
Fortnite isn’t just about dropping into the Island anymore. It’s a social ecosystem. Gifting has become a core feature—used to celebrate birthdays, reward squad wins, or simply spread goodwill. But Epic Games doesn’t make the gift-checking process obvious. Miss a notification? Forget to open your mailbox? Your sweet new Outfit might sit unclaimed while you’re grinding Victory Royales elsewhere.
Understanding how to check gifts on Fortnite ensures you never miss out. Plus, it helps avoid awkward “Did you get my gift?” DMs. Let’s fix that.
Step 1: Accessing Your In-Game Mailbox
The first—and most crucial—step is knowing where Fortnite stores your gifts. Unlike email or mobile alerts, all gifts live inside the game itself, specifically in your Item Shop mailbox.
Here’s how to find it:
- Launch Fortnite and head to the main lobby.
- Click the “Item Shop” tab (the shopping bag icon).
- Look for a small envelope icon near the top-right corner of the screen.
- Click it. Boom—you’re in your gift inbox.
💡 Pro Tip: This mailbox only appears if you’ve received something. No envelope? No pending gifts… or you haven’t checked in a while.
Step 2: Understanding What You’ll See
Once inside, you’ll see a clean list of received items. Each entry includes:
- Sender’s Epic username
- Gift description (e.g., “Raven Outfit + Back Bling”)
- Date received
- A big, tempting “Accept” button
Important: You usually have 14 days to claim a gift before it expires. Don’t procrastinate!
Also, note that some gifts require ownership of specific content. For example, if someone sends you a Bundle that includes a Pickaxe only usable with a certain skin, you’ll need that skin unlocked—or the gift won’t activate.
Step 3: Accepting and Equipping Your Gift
Clicking “Accept” does more than just say thanks. It:
- Instantly adds the item(s) to your Locker
- Triggers a confirmation message
- Sometimes plays a little celebration animation (because why not?)
To equip your new gear:
- Go to Locker from the main menu.
- Scroll to find your gifted item.
- Click “Select” or drag it into your active loadout slot.
Voilà. You’re now flexing that Mythic Glider across Tilted Towers.
What If You Don’t See the Gift?
Sometimes, gifts vanish—or seem to. Before panicking, run through these quick checks:
✅ Did the sender actually complete the transaction?
Gifting costs extra V-Bucks (usually +
✅ Are you logged into the correct Epic account?
Cross-platform play is great—until you realize your PS5 account got the gift, but you’re checking on Switch.
✅ Is the item region-locked or restricted?
Some cosmetics are unavailable in certain countries due to licensing or age ratings. The sender might not have known.
✅ Did Epic flag the gift for policy violations?
Rare, but possible. If a gift contains inappropriate language in the attached message, Epic may block delivery.
🎮 Real Case: Sarah tried gifting her brother the “Galaxy” skin bundle but forgot to enable 2FA. The transaction failed silently. She re-sent it after enabling 2FA—and he found it waiting in his mailbox the next day.
Can You Track Sent Gifts?
Unfortunately, Fortnite doesn’t offer a native “sent gifts” log. Once you send something, you’re flying blind unless the recipient tells you they got it.
Workarounds? Sure:
- Ask your friend to screenshot their acceptance screen.
- Use Discord or in-game chat to confirm receipt.
- Check your V-Bucks purchase history (Settings > Account > Transactions). Sent gifts appear as separate line items with the recipient’s name.
It’s clunky—but better than wondering forever.
Common Mistakes When Checking Gifts (And How to Avoid Them)
Mistake #1: Assuming gifts show up as push notifications.
→ Reality: Only in-game. Always check your Item Shop mailbox manually.
Mistake #2: Trying to accept gifts during matchmaking or loading screens.
→ Reality: You must be in the main lobby. Pause mid-game? Nope. Not happening.
Mistake #3: Ignoring expiration dates.
→ Reality: 14 days fly by. Set a calendar reminder if needed.
Mistake #4: Not verifying platform compatibility.
→ Reality: Most cosmetics are cross-platform, but some legacy items or console-exclusive packs may behave differently. Double-check Epic’s support page if unsure.
Advanced Tip: Gifting Etiquette & Best Practices
Want to be the MVP gift-g