Two clocks: the address and each message
How long a temporary email lasts depends on the service, and many services use two separate limits: how long the address can receive mail, and how long each received message stays readable. Lifetimes range from minutes to days, so check the limits shown by the service you use.
On this site, a new address is valid for 24 hours by default; the exact expiry time is shown under the address. Each message remains available for up to 30 minutes from receipt, or until the inbox expires if that comes first.
An example timeline
Suppose you open an inbox at 10:00. The address keeps receiving new mail until 10:00 the next day. A message received at 10:05 can be read until 10:35, and one received at 11:00 until 11:30. A message that arrives at 9:50 the next morning is available for only ten minutes, because the inbox expires at 10:00.
- Address: from creation until the expiry shown under it, 24 hours by default.
- Each message: up to 30 minutes from receipt.
- Whichever limit comes first ends access to a message.
What happens when time runs out
When a message or inbox expires, the service stops showing it immediately. Stored data is then removed by background cleanup, which can finish later. An expired inbox cannot receive new mail, so a code sent after expiry will not arrive.
Refreshing the page or keeping it open does not extend either limit, and an address cannot currently be renewed. Clearing browser data does not delete stored mail either; it only removes that browser’s saved access to the inbox.
Plan the task around the limits
Request a code or download link only when you are ready to use it, and copy what you need while the message is available. Even if a sender says its code stays valid for longer, the message itself remains here for up to 30 minutes.
- Start the signup or download right after copying the address.
- Copy a code or link as soon as it arrives.
- Use a durable address for accounts you may need to recover later.
When you need longer access
A temporary inbox suits one-off messages. Password resets, receipts, security alerts and account recovery need an address you will still control later. For those, use your main email or a forwarding alias that you can switch off when you no longer want the mail.
Questions about temporary email lifetimes
How long does a temporary email address last here?
A new address is valid for 24 hours by default, and the exact expiry time is shown under the address. Until then it keeps receiving new messages.
How long can I read a message?
Up to 30 minutes from when it was received, or until the inbox expires if that is sooner. Copy anything you need before then.
Can I extend or renew a temporary inbox?
Not at present. Refreshing or keeping the page open does not extend the address or its messages. Use a new address for a later task, or a durable address when you need ongoing access.