15, 20, or 30 minutes: how much time do you need?
People look for a longer timer when ten minutes has already let them down. The right length depends on the job, and it is hard to judge in advance:
- About 15 minutes: a sign-up from a site that sends its confirmation email a little late.
- About 20 minutes: a sign-up with two steps, such as a welcome email followed by a separate link.
- About 30 minutes: a longer form, a webinar registration, or a trial you want to look around before you leave.
- An hour or more: anything where a reminder or a second email comes later, or where you might step away.
You don’t have to choose here. Every inbox gets the same 24 hours, and Delete ends it early.
Coming back to the same inbox
The inbox is kept in this browser, so you can close the tab and return later to the same address and messages. That only works in the same browser. It won’t follow you to another device, and clearing your browser data or closing a private window loses access to it.
When 24 hours isn’t enough
The timer can’t be extended, and an ended address can’t be brought back. If you’ll need the address again next week, a temporary inbox is the wrong tool. An email alias keeps working for as long as you want it, while still hiding your main address.
What stays the same at any length
- Receive only: no sending, replying, or forwarding.
- Attachments are removed before a message is stored.
- Remote images stay blocked until you choose to load them.
- Some websites block temporary email domains, however long the inbox lasts.
Questions
Can I set the inbox to last exactly 30 minutes?
There is no timer to set. Press Delete after 30 minutes, and the inbox and its messages are removed straight away.
Do I lose the inbox if I close the tab?
No. Open the site again in the same browser and the inbox is still there until it ends.
Can I get the same address again after it ends?
No. Each new inbox gets a new random address, and an ended address can’t be reopened.