Extend the lifespan
Your address stays the same. Each extension adds 3 hours, up to 24 hours from when the inbox was created. Extend it before it expires, then check the new countdown.
Extend in your current inbox →
Email lifespan planner
Plan the time for this task →
Plan inbox time around what your account needs next
First work out how long you need to keep the address, then consider whether the email will arrive in time.
A temp email’s lifespan is not a promise that a verification email will arrive.
How long does the address last?
New inboxes last 3 hours by default, with extensions available as needed. The clock starts when the inbox is created, and each inbox lasts up to 24 hours in total. When it expires, the address and its emails are permanently deleted.
How long do verification emails take?
There’s no standard delivery time for third-party emails. Sending queues, platform restrictions, and resend cooldowns can all affect delivery. Extending the address’s lifespan won’t make emails arrive faster.
How long you need it depends on what comes next
Estimate how long signup will take. If you’ll need to receive emails later, don’t treat the 24-hour limit as ongoing account protection.
How long will this signup take?
Include filling in your details, receiving a verification code, and activating your account. This is not an estimate of email delivery time.
What emails might you need after signup?
Select all that apply. Leave everything unchecked if you only need to complete this signup and won’t use this address for account recovery.
Your selections are only calculated on this page. They aren’t saved, and no inbox is created or its actual lifespan changed.
Your plan
A temp email may work for this task
Plan around the default 3 hours
The task should take no more than 3 hours, and you don’t need follow-up emails. You can use your current temp inbox, but check how much time is actually left and finish verification before it expires.
- Estimated task time
- 3 hours
- Recommended coverage
- 3 hours
- Extensions from a new inbox
- 0
The selected duration isn’t the time left on your current inbox. Go back to your inbox to check the actual countdown.
Each extension adds 3 hours; it doesn’t restart the clock
Say you create an inbox at 09:00 on Monday. It expires at 12:00 by default. Extend it once before it expires, and the expiry moves to 15:00; extend it again, and it moves to 18:00.
An extension keeps the same address but doesn’t reset the creation time. Starting with a new 3-hour inbox, you can add up to seven 3-hour extensions, reaching the 24-hour limit at 09:00 on Tuesday. You can’t extend an inbox after it expires.
Check the countdown and extension option in your inbox →- Address createdInitially active for 3 hours, until 12:00.
- Initial expiryExtend before this time to add 3 hours, until 15:00.
- 9 hours of total coverageThat’s 2 extensions beyond the initial duration.
- 24-hour limitThe limit is counted from creation; the inbox can’t be kept beyond this point.
This timeline is an example, not your inbox’s schedule. Check the expiry shown in your inbox.
Signup may be over, but you may still need email
These are possible email milestones, not fixed delivery times. The further out you may need access, the more important it is to use a reliable, recoverable email address.
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During signup
Verification code and activation link
Complete signup before the inbox expires. Verification codes may expire sooner, so use them as soon as you receive them and follow the platform’s instructions.
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First sign-in
Device and security confirmation
You may need email verification when signing in again or switching devices. Don’t assume you’ll never need the address again just because your first sign-in worked.
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Later
Delayed confirmation or review result
A queue, reward delivery, or manual review may take longer than 24 hours. If the sender hasn’t specified a timeframe, use a long-term inbox.
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Any time later
Account recovery and community replies
Don’t rely on an expired temp inbox. Use your usual email for important accounts, or an active forwarding alias you can manage.
Platforms may reject temp addresses or restrict forwarding addresses. Follow each platform’s rules. Tmpletter can’t guarantee that any platform will accept an address or send a verification code.Haven’t received your verification code? Troubleshoot delivery →.
Extend, change, or delete: each has different consequences
If you’re still waiting for an email sent to your old address, don’t assume that changing addresses will extend its lifespan.
Get a new address
A new 3-hour inbox makes the old address unusable. Emails won’t transfer to the new inbox, and any platform account linked to the old address won’t be updated. If needed, change the address in the platform’s settings first.
Check the address before continuing →Delete the inbox
The address and all emails in the inbox become unusable immediately. This can’t be undone, and deletion doesn’t pause incoming mail. Deleting one email only removes that email; it won’t extend the inbox’s lifespan.
Learn about email retention and deletion →For important accounts, update the linked address before changing inboxes
While you can still access the old inbox, use the platform’s official process to update your account to a reliable address, then verify the new address. Don’t switch inboxes or wait for expiry before trying to recover your account through the old address.
Take your plan back to your inbox
Estimated task: 3 hours; signup only. Recommended coverage: 3 hours. Check the actual time left on your current inbox.
The planner won’t extend your inbox automatically. Long-term forwarding requires passwordless sign-in with a real email address, and you can create up to 100 aliases. Keep aliases for security alerts or account recovery active. Emails sent while forwarding is paused are discarded, not delivered later.
Address is active, but the code hasn’t arrived? Troubleshoot delivery →