Temp mail not receiving emails? Try this

By Riley Marsh · Last updated November 4, 2026

Most missing emails come down to one of five things. Work through this list in order.

1. Check the address you pasted

Copy the address with the copy button instead of selecting it by hand, and check that the site didn’t cut it off or change it. The whole address, including the part after the @, must match.

2. Give it two or three minutes

Some websites queue their emails, and some mail servers retry later if they are busy. The inbox checks every 12 seconds, so if the email is on its way, it will appear. Press Refresh to check immediately.

3. Make sure the page is still checking

To save battery, the page pauses while the tab is in the background and stops automatic checks after 30 minutes without activity. The status line under the inbox tells you which state it is in. Switch back to the tab or press Refresh.

4. The site may block temporary email

This is the most common cause. Many sites keep lists of temporary email domains and either reject the address on the form or silently never send the email. If a resend still doesn’t arrive after a few minutes, assume the domain is blocked. Pressing New address gives you a new address on the same domains, so it usually won’t help. Use a permanent address for that site. Why sites block temporary email explains more.

5. The inbox may have ended

Inboxes last 24 hours. If the countdown shows “Expired”, or the page says the inbox is no longer available, you can’t read mail sent to that address anymore. Also, opening the site in a private window, in another browser, or after clearing your browser data gives you a brand-new inbox, not your old one.

Things that won’t arrive by design

• Attachments. They are removed. The email’s text still arrives.
• Very large emails. They are rejected before they are stored.
• Replies to something you sent. The inbox can’t send, so there is nothing to reply to.