Game Error Fortnite

Fortnite Gifting Bug - 48-Hour Friend Requirement Not Working Fix Guide

📅 Published: 2026-02-06 🔄 Updated: 2026-02-06 👥 Reports: 6 ⚡ Severity: 🟢 Low

🎯 Quick Answer

Ensure the recipient has been on your Epic Friends list for a full 48 consecutive hours and that both accounts have the "Allow Gifting" privacy setting enabled.

SECTION 1: OVERVIEW

The Fortnite gifting bug is a client-server synchronization error where the gifting system incorrectly calculates the duration a recipient has been on the sender's Epic Friends list. The system requires a 48-hour (two full calendar days) waiting period after adding a friend before gifting becomes available. The error manifests as the gifting interface displaying an incorrect remaining time, often extending the requirement to 72 hours or more, despite the chronological time threshold being met. This issue primarily affects the PC (Windows/Epic Games Launcher) and console (PlayStation, Xbox) versions of Fortnite. The bug occurs with common frequency following major game updates. Severity is classified as a minor functional annoyance, as it prevents a specific social feature but does not impact core gameplay. The exact error message presented is: "You need to be friends with [PlayerName] for another day before you can send them a gift."

SECTION 2: SYMPTOMS

The application presents a specific error message within the gifting interface when a user attempts to send a gift to a recently added friend. The error occurs during the gifting transaction initiation, specifically after selecting an item and a recipient from the friends list. The user interface displays a text prompt stating the 48-hour requirement has not been met, even when system time confirms the threshold has passed. The "Send Gift" button remains non-interactive (grayed out). No application crash or termination occurs. The error is reproducible when the gifting flow is initiated from the Item Shop or Locker menu.

SECTION 3: COMMON CAUSES

Category: Configuration Error Specific technical explanation: The recipient's or sender's account privacy settings have "Allow Gifting" disabled. This setting operates independently of the friends list requirement and acts as a hard block, preventing the gifting transaction from proceeding. Why this causes the problem: The gifting system checks privacy settings before evaluating the 48-hour rule. A disabled setting causes the transaction to fail with a generic time-requirement message. Category: Game Bug / Data Synchronization Specific technical explanation: A cache corruption or desynchronization between the local client's friend-list timestamp and the Epic Games backend servers. The local client may calculate elapsed time based on its cached data, while the server authorizes transactions based on its authoritative timestamp. Why this causes the problem: The mismatch in elapsed time calculation between client and server results in the server rejecting the gift request, returning the standard "another day" error. Category: Network Problem Specific technical explanation: Intermittent connectivity during the initial friend-request acceptance can cause an incomplete handshake. The server may not properly log the definitive "friends since" timestamp, defaulting to a later synchronization point. Why this causes the problem: An inaccurate "friends since" timestamp stored on the server makes the 48-hour countdown start later than the user's local observation. Category: Time Zone / System Clock Issue Specific technical explanation: The Epic Games server infrastructure uses Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) for all timestamp logging. A significant discrepancy between the user's local system clock/timezone and UTC can cause a miscalculation in perceived elapsed time. Why this causes the problem: The user calculates 48 hours based on local time, but the server's UTC-based calculation shows a shorter duration, leading to a rejection. Category: Game Bug / Update Conflict Specific technical explanation: A residual configuration file from a previous game version contains outdated parameters for the gifting service. This file conflicts with the current game build's gifting logic. Why this causes the problem: Outdated local configuration can cause the client to send incorrect metadata during the gifting request, prompting a server-side rejection. Category: Account Restriction Specific technical explanation: A temporary, account-specific restriction or shadow ban is in place on either the sending or receiving account, often due to chargeback or refund activity. This restriction can silently disable gifting capabilities. Why this causes the problem: The restriction overrides normal gifting permissions, and the interface may display the standard time-limit error instead of the accurate restriction message.

SECTION 4: SOLUTIONS

Solution 1: Verify and Configure Privacy Settings

Difficulty: Easy Time Required: 3 minutes Success Rate: High Prerequisites: Access to the Epic Games website or in-game settings. Steps:

Navigate to the Epic Games website (epicgames.com) and log into your account.
Click your account name in the top right corner and select Account.
In the left sidebar, click Privacy and Security.
Scroll to the Communication Preferences section.
Locate the setting labeled "Allow Gifting" and ensure the toggle is set to ON (blue/green).
Instruct the intended gift recipient to repeat Steps 1-5 on their own account to verify their setting is also enabled.
Restart the Fortnite client completely and attempt the gifting process again.

Technical Explanation: This solution ensures the fundamental account-level permission for receiving and sending gifts is enabled. The gifting service checks this flag before any other logic; a disabled setting causes immediate failure. Verification: After both accounts enable the setting, the gifting interface will either allow the transaction to proceed (if 48 hours have passed) or display an accurate countdown timer.

Solution 2: Perform a Full Client Cache Reset

Difficulty: Medium Time Required: 10 minutes Success Rate: High Prerequisites: None. Steps:

Completely exit the Fortnite application and the Epic Games Launcher. Verify via Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) that no processes named FortniteClient-Win64-Shipping.exe, EpicGamesLauncher.exe, or FortniteLauncher.exe are running.
Press Windows Key + R, type %localappdata%, and press Enter. This opens the C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local directory.
Locate and open the FortniteGame folder.
Within it, open the Saved folder.
Delete the entire webcache folder and the D3DGraphicsCache folder.
Navigate back to %localappdata% and open the EpicGamesLauncher folder.
Open the Saved folder inside and delete the webcache folder.
Relaunch the Epic Games Launcher, log in, and start Fortnite.

Technical Explanation: This clears locally cached friend data, gift shop assets, and invalid timestamps. Upon restart, the client performs a fresh synchronization with Epic servers, often correcting timestamp mismatches. Verification: The launcher and game will reload assets. Check the gifting interface for an updated and accurate timer or successful transaction capability.

Solution 3: Remove and Re-Add Epic Friend

Difficulty: Easy Time Required: 5 minutes Prerequisites: The recipient's current Epic username. Steps:

From the Fortnite lobby, open the main menu (Esc key on PC, Menu button on console).
Select the Friends icon.
Locate the friend in your list, select their name, and choose Remove Friend. Confirm the action.
Have the recipient send you a new friend request, or search for their Epic username and send a new request.
Ensure the recipient accepts the new request. Note the exact date and time of acceptance.
Wait for a full 48 hours (two calendar days) from the new acceptance time before attempting to gift.

Technical Explanation: This establishes a clean, unambiguous "friends since" timestamp on the Epic Games server, eliminating potential corruption from the initial friend request handshake. Verification: After 48 consecutive hours have passed, the gifting option for that friend will become available, provided all other settings are correct.

Solution 4: Verify System Time Synchronization

Difficulty: Easy Time Required: 2 minutes Success Rate: Medium Prerequisites: Windows administrative access. Steps:

On Windows, right-click the clock in the taskbar and select Adjust date and time.
Ensure "Set time automatically" and "Set time zone automatically" are toggled ON.
Click "Sync now" under the "Synchronize your clock" section.
Open Command Prompt as Administrator (search for cmd, right-click, select Run as administrator).
Execute the command: w32tm /resync
Restart your computer and launch Fortnite.

Technical Explanation: This forces your system clock to synchronize with Microsoft's time servers, minimizing any large discrepancy between your local time and the UTC time used by Epic's servers for logging events. Verification: Your system time will be accurate. This eliminates time calculation errors originating from the client side.

Solution 5: Clean Reinstall Epic Games Launcher

Difficulty: Advanced Time Required: 25 minutes Success Rate: Medium Prerequisites: Stable internet connection for re-downloading. Steps:

Open Windows Settings (Win + I), go to Apps > Installed apps.
Locate Epic Games Launcher, click the three dots, and select Uninstall. Follow the prompts.
Press Windows Key + R, type %localappdata%, press Enter, and delete any remaining EpicGamesLauncher folder.
Press Windows Key + R again, type %programdata%, press Enter, and delete any Epic folder.
Restart your computer.
Download the latest Epic Games Launcher installer from the official Epic Games website.
Run the installer. Once installed, log in and launch Fortnite.

Technical Explanation: A clean installation removes all corrupted configuration files, registry entries, and cached data associated with the launcher's social and gifting services, replacing them with fresh, default versions. Verification: A successful login and the ability to see your friends list confirms basic functionality. The gifting system will be reinitialized with the new installation.

SECTION 5: PREVENTION

Maintain regular synchronization of your Windows system clock with internet time servers. After adding a new Epic friend, verify both parties have the "Allow Gifting" privacy setting enabled immediately to prevent future configuration issues. Following major Fortnite updates, perform a routine cache clear by deleting the webcache folders in %localappdata%\FortniteGame\Saved\ and %localappdata%\EpicGamesLauncher\Saved\. Avoid interrupting the friend-request acceptance process (e.g., by going offline immediately after sending or accepting a request) to ensure a clean timestamp is logged on Epic servers.

SECTION 6: WHEN TO CONTACT SUPPORT

Contact Epic Games Player Support if all documented solutions fail and the 48-hour requirement is confirmed to have passed with correct privacy settings. Prepare to provide the following diagnostic information: the exact Epic usernames of both sender and recipient, the date and time the friend request was accepted, your platform, and any relevant transaction IDs. Include logs from %localappdata%\FortniteGame\Saved\Logs. Official support channels are accessible via the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of the Epic Games Help website.