Temp mail for Steam
A Steam account usually ends up holding games and money. That makes it one of the worst places to use an inbox that disappears after a day.
Why Steam is different
Steam can protect your account with Steam Guard, which may send a code to your email when you sign in from a new computer. Your email is also how you recover the account and receive purchase receipts. All of those need an inbox that still exists months from now.
Our temporary inboxes end after 24 hours, and the address can never receive mail again. If Steam emails a Steam Guard code to it next week, you won’t get it.
When a temporary address is still fine
- Signing up for a game studio’s newsletter or a beta key giveaway you only want once.
- Registering on a game forum or wiki that isn’t tied to purchases.
- Testing a game launcher or store integration you are developing.
If you already made a Steam account with temp mail
- Open the temporary inbox again in the same browser, if it hasn’t expired.
- In Steam, go to your account details and change the contact email to a permanent address.
- Confirm the change from the temporary inbox if Steam asks.
- Check that the new address is verified before the temporary inbox ends.
If the inbox has already expired, use Steam Support’s account recovery. We can’t restore an expired inbox or its messages.
Questions
Can you recover a Steam account made with an expired temp mail?
Not through us. Expired inboxes and their messages are deleted. Steam Support may be able to help you prove ownership in other ways, such as purchase details.