MTN Data Gifting: How to transfer and request data from friend

Last Updated on October 28, 2025 by admin

MTN Data Gifting is a convenient service that allows MTN users to share their data bundles with friends and family.

This feature is geared toward enhancing connectivity and ensuring that you and your loved ones stay online without interruptions.

Whether you’re looking to transfer some data to a friend in need or request a little extra to get you through the month, MTN makes the process simple and efficient.

The service operates seamlessly across the MTN network, making it a reliable choice for users who wish to promote shared internet access.

MTN Data Gifting Service provides a convenient way for subscribers to share their data with friends and family members on the network. This innovative feature allows users to transfer data bundles from their own accounts to the accounts of recipients, enabling seamless connectivity and communication.

Understanding the service and functionality of MTN Data Gifting is essential for maximizing the benefits it offers and enhancing the overall user experience. subcribers can transfer data, buy data for friends & family, and request for data . WithData Gifting, you can send and buy data bundles for other smartphones, modems, and tablets.

In this article, we will explore various methods to Buy data for a Friend, Request from a Friend, View Pending Request data and Automate Data Transfer

What is MTN Data Gifting

MTN Data Gifting is a service that allows MTN Nigeria customers to share, transfer, or buy data bundles for others directly from their own line. It’s available to all MTN prepaid users.

Here’s a full breakdown of how it works:

What You Can Do with MTN Data Gifting

  1. Transfer Data
    • Send data from your active balance to friends or family.
    • Maximum daily transfer limit: 5GB.
    • USSD Code: Dial *312*RecipientNumber*DataAmount# Example: *312*08031234567*500# to send 500MB.
  2. Buy Data for Someone Else
    • Purchase a data bundle for another MTN user using your airtime.
    • USSD Code: Dial *312*BundleCode*RecipientNumber# Example: *312*106*08031234567# to buy 1GB for someone.
  3. Request Data
    • Ask a friend to send you data.
    • USSD Code: Dial *312*7*RecipientNumber#

How to Access the Service

  • Dial *312# and follow the menu options for “Data Gifting.”
  • You can also use the MyMTN App for a more visual experience.

Read: How to share and transfer data to another Glo line

How to Transfer or share  MTN

 

To transfer or share MTN data in Nigeria, you can use MTN’s Data Gifting service. It allows you to send data from your active bundle to another MTN user or buy a data bundle for them. Here’s how:

Method 1: Transfer Data from Your Balance

You can send data from your existing bundle to another MTN number:

  1. Dial *312*RecipientNumber*DataAmount# Example: *312*08031234567*500# to send 500MB.
  2. You’ll receive a confirmation message once the transfer is successful.

Note: You can transfer up to 5GB per day, and only from active data bundles (not bonus data).

Method 2: Buy Data for Someone Else

You can purchase a data bundle for another MTN user using your airtime:

  1. Dial *312#
  2. Select “Data Gifting”
  3. Choose “Buy Data for a Friend”
  4. Enter the recipient’s MTN number
  5. Select the bundle you want to buy

Method 3: Use the MyMTN App

  • Download the MyMTN Nigeria app from the Play Store or App Store.
  • Log in with your MTN number.
  • Navigate to “Data Gifting” and follow the prompts to transfer or buy data.

How to Buy Data for a Friend on MTN

To buy data for a friend on MTN Nigeria, you can use the Data Gifting feature. It allows you to purchase a data bundle for another MTN number using your airtime. Here’s how:

USSD Method

  1. Dial *312# on your MTN line.
  2. Select “Data Gifting” from the menu.
  3. Choose “Buy Data for a Friend.”
  4. Enter your friend’s MTN number.
  5. Select the data bundle you want to buy.
  6. Confirm the purchase.

The cost will be deducted from your airtime, and your friend will receive the data instantly.

MyMTN App Method

  1. Open the MyMTN Nigeria app.
  2. Log in with your MTN number.
  3. Tap on “Bundles” or “Data Gifting.”
  4. Choose “Buy for a Friend.”
  5. Enter your friend’s number and select a bundle.
  6. Confirm the transaction.

 

How to Request MTN Data from a Friend:

You have two main options for requesting MTN data from a friend:

1. USSD Code:

  • Dial  *312*8*3#
  • Follow the on-screen prompts to enter your friend’s MTN phone number.
  • Your friend will receive a notification to either accept or decline your data request.

2. MyMTN App:

  • Open the MyMTN app on your smartphone.
  • Go to the “Data Gifting” or “Data Sharing” section.
  • Select the “Request Data” option.
  • Enter your friend’s MTN phone number.
  • Send the request.
  • Your friend will receive a notification within the app to either accept or decline your request.

Read: How to activate or change MTN transfer PIN

 

How to View MTN data pending Request

To View Pending MTN Data Request: simply dial *312*8*4# This will display a list of any pending data requests that you have made or that have been made to you. You will be able to see the details of each request, including the sender or recipient, the amount of data requested, and the expiry date of the request

 

MTN Automate Data Transfer

MTN Automate Data Transfer, also known as Auto-Renewal, lets you set up recurring data transfers to another MTN number. This is handy for ensuring a loved one or employee always has data without you having to do it manually each time.

How to Set Up Automate Data Transfer:

  1. Dial *312*8# on your MTN line.
  2. Select Option 5: “Automate Data Transfer.”
  3. Set Beneficiary: If you haven’t already, you’ll need to add the recipient’s MTN number to your beneficiary list.
  4. Select the amount of data you want to transfer automatically (e.g., 500MB, 1GB, etc.).
  5. Choose how often the transfer should occur (weekly or monthly).
  6.  You’ll get a summary to review. Confirm to activate the automated transfer.

The service is available to all MTN customers. Whether you want to surprise a friend with a data bundle or need to request data from someone, MTN Data Gifting has got you covered. However, there are a few limitations:

  1. Active Data Bundle: You must have an active data bundle on your line to be able to share it.
  2. Data Balance: You must have enough data in your balance after the transfer. MTN usually requires a minimum remaining balance of 50MB after each transfer.

What is the code to borrow data for a friend in MTN?

To Borrow Data on MTN via USSD code simply  Dial *303# and select XtraByte. The system will then display all the data bundles that you can borrow. You can then select your preferred data plan from the list.

Will I require a PIN to use the MTN’s Gift Data service?

No, you will not require a PIN to use MTN’s Gift Data service. You only need to enter your beneficiary’s phone number and choose a data plan to use the service.

What amount of data can I transfer at a time?

The amount of data you can transfer at time are 50MB, 100MB, 200MB, 500MB, 1GB, 2GB, 3GB and 5GB. However, you must ensure you have at least 50MB in your data balance after every transfer for your transfer to be successful.

How many times can I transfer data in a day

You can transfer data on MTN multiple times a day, but there’s a limit to the total amount you can transfer.The cumulative amount of data you can transfer in a day is 5GB.

How many times can I buy data for my loved ones?

You can buy data for your loved ones as many times as you’d like, as long as you have sufficient credit on your line to cover the cost of the data plans you choose.There is no daily or per-transaction limit on the number of times you can buy data for others using MTN’s gift data service.

How many times can I send a request for data?

MTN allows you to send multiple data requests to your friends and family in a day.  You will be able to send a request for data at most 5 times a day, but you shall be able to receive data request multiple times.

What are the types of bundle I can gift a friend?

You can only transfer data from your daily, weekly, and monthly access bundle plans. However, you will not be able to transfer data from certain customized / tariff-based data bundles like XtraValue and XtraSpecial bundles.

Can I transfer data from my Xtrabyte balance to a friend?

No, you cannot directly transfer data from your XtraByte balance to a friend.

XtraByte is a service that allows you to borrow data from MTN when you run out of your existing data plan. It’s essentially a credit facility for data usage .You can only transfer data from your active access bundle plans.

Can I enjoy bonus offers on the data bundle I am gifted?

You will only be able to enjoy bonus on the bundle that is bought for you if you are eligible for the offers, but you will NOT be able to enjoy bonus on data that is transferred to you.

How many beneficiaries can I have on my beneficiary list?

You can have a maximum of 5 beneficiaries on your MTN beneficiary list for data gifting and other services.

Can I stop Auto renewal at any time?

Yes, you can stop auto transfer by selecting “Stop auto transfer”, under manage beneficiary list menu. This will cancel auto transfer to all beneficiaries.

Can I transfer to multiple times in a day?

Yes, you can transfer data from your active data balance to your family and friends, multiple times in a day but the maximum amount you can transfer is 5GB, cumulatively or at once.

If I have multiple data bundles active and received a data gift, which bundle will deplete first?

If someone buys data for you with the multiple data bundles active on your line, the data bundle with the least validity will be used first.

Example: If you have an active 30-day bundle plan and received a gift of 1-day plan, the 1-day plan will be used first before the 30-day plan.

Will my gifted data auto renew on the day of expiry?

You will only be able to auto-renew the bundle that was bought for you by sending the opt-in keyword to 312, but the bundle that was transferred to you will not auto-renew and will be valid till the expiry date.

Will I be able to rollover my unused gifted data bundle?

You will be able to roll over any unused main data bundle that is bought for you as long as you buy or receive another bundle before the current bundle expires or within the allowed grace period after the bundle expires, but you will NOT be able rollover any unused data bonus and data that is transferred to you.

How do I check the balance of my gifted bundle?

You will be able to check your data bundle balance  via the following channels:

  • SMS: Texting 2 to 323
  • USSD: dialing *323*4#
  • myMTN NG App
  • Zigi

Will I be able to set MTN’s Gift Data service to automatically gift beneficiaries data bundles?

No, you can only gift your loved ones data bundle by accessing the service yourself.

Will I be able to edit or remove a beneficiary on my list?

Yes, you will be able to edit or remove a beneficiary on your list by selecting the Manage beneficiary option and going to view/remove beneficiary.

Can I automate data transfer from my data balance to my family and friends?

Yes, you can by selecting “Automate Transfer” under the Data Gifting menu, Dial *312*8# and select 5 or dial *321*2# and select option 5, then set a beneficiary. Select data volume to be transfer e.g. 50MB, 100MB, 200MB, 500MB, 1GB, 2GB, 3GB or 5GB and then set the frequency e.g. weekly or monthly.

 

How can I use the Gift Data service?

A. You can access the service by dialling *321*2# or *312*8# on your phone, or dialling direct short codes for the respective options:

  • Transfer from Data Balance:

Simply dial *312*Phone number*Data amount#

OR

Text Transfer<space>Phone number<space>Data amount to 312

i.e. If you want to transfer 100MB, simply text:

Transfer<space>08032008069<space>100 to 312

(Do not include MB or GB to the data amount)

  • Buy for a Friend: Simply dial *312*Bundle Activation Code*Beneficiary’s Phone number#
  • Request from a Friend: simply dial *312*8*3#
  • View Pending Request: simply dial *312*8*4#
  • Automate Data Transfer: simply dial *312*8#, then select option 5

or

Dial *321*2# then select option 5.

Meet Ogbeide Frank, also known as Perere, a blogger passionate about writing on finance and tech. He studied Business Administration from Ambrose Alli University in Ekpoma and Mobile Communication at Orange College in Malaysia. Frank has experience working as a banker and consultant for various agencies in Nigeria.
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