How to Activate Pirate Shop Access (Plunder the Shop)
Short answer: open the Item Shop tab in the lobby, choose Plunder the Shop at the bottom left, then press Activate Now — the 14-day free-claim window starts at that exact second, so do it on a day you will actually play.
The 3 activation steps
Activation happens entirely in the lobby, after you have found the token in a match.
- Open the Shop tab. Back in the lobby after the match, a reward screen confirms Pirate Shop Access; then go to the Shop tab.
- Select Plunder the Shop. The option sits at the bottom left of the Item Shop screen. On a controller, the prompt opens with a right-stick press (R3).
- Press Activate Now. Confirm, and your 14 days begin. V-Bucks prices switch to FREE on everything eligible.
- Reported Activation path: Shop tab → Plunder the Shop (bottom left; right-stick press on controller) → Activate Now.One outlet calls the button "Plunder the Shop" and another "Plunder the Item Shop" — the label may vary slightly by client.Sources: Beebom (Rishabh Sabarwal), Timesaver.gg (Sam Okonkwo), Shacknews (Aidan O'Brien)
When the 14 days start (and stop)
The timer starts only when you press Activate Now — nothing starts automatically when you find the token, and no pause has been reported.
- Reported The 14-day countdown starts at the moment you press Activate Now; finding the token does not start anything by itself.Sources: Dexerto (Callum Doyle), Timesaver.gg (Sam Okonkwo)
Practical timing: activate on a day off or the start of a playing week, claim the day-one shop immediately, and check the shop daily — Fortnite rotates items roughly every 24 hours, so a skipped day is a skipped rotation.
The activation deadline
The 2026 activation must be started by Tuesday, Dec 15, 2026 at 7 PM ET (Dec 16, 00:00 UTC) — after that, the 2026 half of the reward is gone and you wait for the 2027 window.
Full deadline breakdown with all time zones →
- Disputed Deadline shown in-game: Dec 15, 2026 at 6 PM GMT-6 (= 7 PM ET = Dec 16, 00:00 UTC), from an in-game capture.The 2027 window is reported as Jan 1 – Dec 15, 2027; one guide notes reports differ on the closing day, so confirm in-game.Sources: Beebom (Rishabh Sabarwal), Timesaver.gg (Sam Okonkwo), IGN wiki
What the shop looks like during the window
While active, V-Bucks-priced items display FREE instead of their price — you claim them like any purchase, at no cost.
What counts and what does not:
| Item | Free during your 14 days? |
|---|---|
| Outfits, emotes, pickaxes, wraps and other V-Bucks items | Yes |
| Jam Tracks | Yes (reported) |
| Sidekicks | One you don't already own |
| Real-money offers, gifting, Battle Pass and other pass levels | No |
Frequently asked questions
How do you activate the Pirate Shop in Fortnite?
Open the Item Shop tab in the lobby, select Plunder the Shop at the bottom left, then press Activate Now. The 14-day window starts the moment you confirm.
When should I activate the Pirate Shop?
Activate on a day you will actually play. The 14 days run in real time from the moment you press Activate Now, and the 2026 activation must be started by Dec 15, 2026, 7 PM ET.
Does the 14-day timer start automatically?
No. Nothing starts until you press Activate Now. Finding the token only puts the reward on your account; the window waits for you.
Can I pause the Pirate Shop once activated?
No pause has been reported. The 14 days run continuously once started, so claim what you want early rather than late.
What does the shop look like during the 14 days?
Prices on V-Bucks items show FREE instead of a V-Bucks amount while your window is active.
Keep reading: every deadline and time zone, or exactly what the Pirate Shop makes free. Back to the Fortnite shop token guide.