> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.smile.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Configure reward expiry

> Set an expiry for the discount codes customers receive when they redeem rewards.

By default, rewards issued through your loyalty program do not expire, and customers can use the discount codes they receive at any point in the future. Adding an expiry period to a reward limits how long customers have to use the discount code after it's issued. Once the expiry period has passed, the discount code is no longer valid and cannot be applied to an order.

<Check>
  **Feature availability**: Reward expiry is available on **Growth, Plus,** and **Enterprise** plans.
</Check>

## Set an expiry period for discount codes generated by your rewards

Expiry can be set for rewards in your Points, Referral, and VIP programs. The expiry period must be configured within each individual reward you want to expire.

To configure an expiry for a reward:

1. In Smile Admin, navigate to **Program** > [**Points**](https://app.smile.io/reward-programs/points).
2. In the **Ways to redeem** card, find the reward you want to configure and click **Edit**.
3. In the **Reward expiry** card, select **Expire issued rewards after an elapsed time**.
4. Use the dropdown to select the reward expiry period.**Available expiry options are:**
   * **3 days**
   * **7 days**
   * **1 month**
   * **2 months**
   * **3 months**
   * **6 months**
   * **1 year**
5. Click **Save**.

To add an expiry for a Referral or VIP reward, follow the same steps in the [**Referral rewards**](https://app.smile.io/reward-programs/referrals) card or in rewards for your [**VIP tiers**](https://app.smile.io/reward-programs/vip).

<Note>
  **Note:** You cannot set an expiry for gift cards or POS rewards.
</Note>

<Info>
  **Important:** Once an expiry is set, only discount codes issued after that point will have an expiry date. Enabling expiry will not affect any discount codes already issued.
</Info>

## Reward expiry notifications

To ensure customers are aware of a discount code's expiry, they are notified at different points in their reward journey:

1. **Smile panel** - Before a customer redeems a reward, the expiry is shown alongside the reward details. This lets the customer know before they decide to spend their points.
2. **Reward email** - After a customer redeems points, or when they receive a referral or VIP reward, the expiry date appears in the reward email.
3. **Loyalty Hub** - If you have a [Smile Loyalty Hub](/en/articles/11325846-add-loyalty-hub-to-your-store) added to your store, customers can see their rewards and expiry dates in their customer account area at any time.
4. **Reminder email** - When a reward expiry is set, Smile automatically enables a reward expiry email. This email is sent to customers a few days before their discount code is set to expire. You can edit the email in the [Customer notification](https://app.smile.io/settings/customer-notifications) section.

## What customers see when a reward expires

What customers see depends on where they view their rewards.

### Smile panel

In the **Your rewards** section of the panel, expired rewards appear under **Past rewards**, below any active rewards. Each expired reward is displayed as a greyed-out, non-clickable item with the text **Expired on \[date]**. Customers can't view or redeem expired rewards.

### Loyalty Hub

Expired rewards aren't displayed in the Loyalty Hub. When a reward expires, it's removed from the customer's rewards list and is no longer visible to them.

## Important notes about reward expiry

* **Reward expiry does not delay when a reward becomes usable.**
* **Discount codes can be used immediately after they are issued.**
* The expiry period only sets the final date when the discount code will expire — it does not block customers from using it beforehand.