Hardware FixRecommendedDevice not working? Your driver may be the problemCheck updates for common hardware issues.Fix DriversHalloween DealsAmazon USHalloween week deals: useful picks before month-endAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.Check DealsClean PCRecommendedOne scan can reveal what keeps slowing WindowsLook for cleanup and repair opportunities.Run Scan×
FREEDOM251

Freedom251 › Blog › Epic Games Store

How to Claim a Free Game and Keep It in Your Library

By Freedom251 Team · · 4 min read

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

For an Epic Games Store weekly giveaway, sign in to the account you want to keep the game on, enable two-factor authentication, and complete the claim before the offer’s displayed deadline. You do not have to download the game during the giveaway: Epic says a claimed weekly free game stays in your account. The steps and rules differ by storefront and offer type, so check the specific promotion rather than assuming every “free” game works this way.

Claim the Epic weekly free game before its deadline

Epic’s weekly giveaway is a limited-time claim, not just a game that becomes free to play. Epic says a new weekly free game is available Thursday at 8 AM PT and can be claimed for seven days before it rotates. Check the live offer page for the title, platform, regional availability, and exact countdown or end date; the offer’s displayed deadline should take precedence over a general schedule.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

  1. Open the Epic Games Store free-games page and choose the current giveaway.

    Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
  2. Sign in to the Epic account where you want the game recorded. If you normally use an external sign-in, use the same method and associated account you used for earlier claims.

    #1 Best Overall
    GameStop Physical Gift Card
    • Redeemable at US GameStop, EB Games, Babbage's, Electronic Boutique, EBX, Planet X, and Software Etc. stores. Also redeemable online at and GameStop.com and EBGames.com.
    • Over 6,100 stores located throughout the United States.
    • GameStop. Power to the Players.
    • Redemption: Instore and Online
    • No returns and no refunds on gift cards.
  3. Enable two-factor authentication if it is not already active. Epic requires it for claiming a weekly free game.

  4. Review the offer details and finish the on-page claim flow before the displayed deadline. Merely viewing the page or installing a temporary event build is not a claim.

  5. Check your library or transaction history for the game. Downloading is optional for retaining a claimed weekly giveaway.

    Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
    Rank #2
    Xbox Physical Gift Card | $25
    • XBOX GIFT CARD: Buy full digital game downloads, game add-ons, in-game currency, memberships, devices, apps, movies, TV shows, and more.
    • DIGITAL GAMES: Choose from hundreds of games, from AAA to indie options. Start playing the moment your most anticipated game is available when you pre-order and pre-download it.
    • GAME AD-ONS: Extend the experience of your favorite games with add-ons and in-game currency.
    • MOVIES & TV SHOWS: Rent or buy new and popular movies and TV shows from a massive library.
    • PERFECT GIFT: Great as a gift for a friend or yourself. Xbox Gift Cards are easy to use, never expire, and give the freedom to pick the gift they want. Enjoy more ways to play without a credit card attached to your Microsoft account.

Epic’s support FAQ puts it this way: “Once claimed, the game is yours permanently – even if you don’t download it right away”. This refers to the Epic weekly free-game claim; it does not mean every free game or temporary offer has the same terms.

What happens if you miss the offer?

If the promotion ends before you complete the claim, you generally cannot add that offer’s game through the expired promotion. Epic says limited-time promotions have a set duration and advises watching for future offers if you miss one. A title may return in another promotion, but a future giveaway is not guaranteed.

Free giveaway, free-to-play game, or temporary build?

Stores use “free” for different kinds of access. Epic’s catalog lists weekly giveaways separately from free-to-play games and demos, and the distinction affects whether there is a claim window or lasting library entitlement.

Rank #3
Nintendo eShop Physical Gift Card | $100
  • Give the gift of fun with a Nintendo eShop gift code
  • It's easy—apply it to your Nintendo eShop account in seconds.
  • It ensures that you’ll always have funds on hand to help with purchases of new games and applications
  • It’s designed for your Nintendo eShop purchases—no credit card required.
  • The perfect gift for anyone who loves to play—including you. Choose from over 1,000 new, classic and indie games – delivered directly to your Nintendo Switch system.
Offer type What it means What to check
Weekly free giveaway A limited-time chance to claim a specific title for your account. For Epic’s weekly offer, claim it before the displayed expiry; Epic says the claimed game remains in the account without an immediate download. Offer deadline, account, platform, region, and whether the claim flow is complete.
Free-to-play The base game is offered for play without paying for access under the store listing. This is not necessarily a temporary giveaway or a separate claim-by date. Optional in-game purchases may still be available. The listing’s access terms and any optional purchases. Steam’s support page describes free-to-play games as downloadable and playable without a subscription or credit card, while noting that optional in-game purchases may exist: Steam Support: Free to Play Games.
Demo, beta, or press build A trial or event version may be temporary and may not grant permanent access to the full game. Epic says limited-time versions can be removed. Whether the offer is explicitly a full game giveaway or only a demo, beta, or event build.

If the claimed game is missing from your library

Work through these checks in order. Epic’s launcher labels and layout can change, but the underlying account and library checks remain useful.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
  1. Confirm the Epic account email and sign-in method. A claim made on another account will not appear in the account currently open.

  2. Reset or clear library filters, include uninstalled games, refresh the view, and check whether the library is hidden.

    Rank #4
    Fortnite Physical Gift Card
    • An Epic Games account is required to redeem an Epic Games Store Card code
    • If playing on a console platform (PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, Nintendo Switch or Mobile) you need to link your Epic Games account to that gaming platform (one time) to redeem your gift card code
    • The 16 digit code on the back of the card WILL NOT work if redeemed directly through your gaming platform (PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, Nintendo Switch, Mobile, etc.)
    • Note: Nintendo devices do not support Fortnite Shared Wallet, so V-Bucks purchased using your account balance will not show up on your Nintendo device. However, if you purchase items in the web Item Shop — or another platform where you play Fortnite — those items will be available in your Locker across all platforms.
    • Redemption: Online
  3. Check compatibility with your operating system and the platform on which you redeemed the offer.

  4. Check whether the item was refunded, sent as a gift to another player, or was only a temporary beta or press build. If you redeemed a retail key, it may have been revoked.

    Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
  5. If the transaction appears in your account but the title is still inaccessible, consult Epic’s library troubleshooting guide or contact Epic support.

    Best Value
    Nintendo eShop Physical Gift Card | $50
    • Give the gift of fun with a Nintendo eShop gift code
    • It's easy—apply it to your Nintendo eShop account in seconds.
    • It ensures that you’ll always have funds on hand to help with purchases of new games and applications
    • It’s designed for your Nintendo eShop purchases—no credit card required.
    • The perfect gift for anyone who loves to play—including you. Choose from over 1,000 new, classic and indie games – delivered directly to your Nintendo Switch system.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

What “keep it in your library” means

A game appearing in an account library is not the same as owning the software outright. Epic’s End User License Agreement says, “The Software is licensed, not sold, to you under the License.” The EULA also describes rare cases where software removed from the store may become unavailable for further download or access. So it is accurate to say a successfully claimed weekly giveaway is added to your account and, under Epic’s stated policy, remains there; it is not a guarantee against every extraordinary service or availability change. Consumer rights can also vary by jurisdiction.

For another storefront or a different kind of promotion, check its own current terms for the claim deadline and time zone, any account-security requirement, whether downloading is needed, and whether the offer is a persistent account license or a temporary build. Epic’s process should not be assumed to apply elsewhere.

Quick Recap

Bestseller No. 1
GameStop Physical Gift Card
GameStop Physical Gift Card
Over 6,100 stores located throughout the United States.; GameStop. Power to the Players.; Redemption: Instore and Online
$25.00
Bestseller No. 2
Xbox Physical Gift Card | $25
Xbox Physical Gift Card | $25
MOVIES & TV SHOWS: Rent or buy new and popular movies and TV shows from a massive library.
$25.00
Bestseller No. 3
Nintendo eShop Physical Gift Card | $100
Nintendo eShop Physical Gift Card | $100
Give the gift of fun with a Nintendo eShop gift code; It's easy—apply it to your Nintendo eShop account in seconds.
$100.00
Bestseller No. 4
Fortnite Physical Gift Card
Fortnite Physical Gift Card
An Epic Games account is required to redeem an Epic Games Store Card code; Redemption: Online
$30.00
Bestseller No. 5
Nintendo eShop Physical Gift Card | $50
Nintendo eShop Physical Gift Card | $50
Give the gift of fun with a Nintendo eShop gift code; It's easy—apply it to your Nintendo eShop account in seconds.
$50.00

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

What’s actually slowing this PC down?

Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Epic Games Storefree gamesGamingHow To

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Recommended PC Tool
Recommended PC Tool
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?Free scan - under a minute
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?Free driver scan

Two free Windows tools

One Free Minute Could Fix That PC

Before you go - each of these free tools takes about a minute and tackles what quietly slows a Windows PC down.

Special offer. View Outbyte info, uninstall instructions, EULA, and Privacy Policy.