Temporary email, forwarding & privacy questions
Choose the right address type first, then understand expiry and storage limits. Here are the key answers to know before you start.
Temporary email
A short-term inbox for the task at hand.
Do I need to register for a temporary email?
No. Opening the homepage creates an address in your browser—no name, phone number, or password required.
How long can I use the address?
It is valid for 3 hours by default. You can extend it within the limits shown by the product, but its total lifetime is capped at 24 hours. The countdown shows the exact time remaining.
Can I receive registration verification codes?
Most standard emails can be received, but senders may block temporary email domains. Do not use it for important accounts that need long-term recovery.
Can I send emails from a temporary inbox?
No. The Tempcat temporary inbox is receive-only, helping prevent spam and impersonation of full email accounts.
Why isn't the attachment showing?
Temporary inboxes do not retain attachments, and messages over 100MB are rejected. Use a reliable long-term email address when delivering files.
Email forwarding aliases
For receiving messages long term without exposing your primary email address.
How is a forwarding alias different from a temporary email?
An alias delivers incoming mail to your real inbox and can be managed continuously after you sign in. A temporary inbox is viewed directly in your browser and is intended for short-term tasks.
How many aliases can I create?
Each account can have up to 100. Create separate aliases for different websites or purposes, so you can disable just one if it is exposed or abused.
What happens when I disable an alias?
New messages sent to that alias are discarded immediately—nothing is forwarded and no bounce is generated. Re-enabling it affects only messages that arrive afterward.
How long are emails archived?
Forwarded emails are kept on the site for 30 days so you can check their status. This is not a permanent backup; save important content in your destination inbox.
How are attachments handled?
Messages up to 50MB are forwarded and retained. Messages from 50–100MB are forwarded, but their attachments are not retained on the site. Messages over 100MB are rejected.
Security & privacy
Does using a temporary email make me completely anonymous?
No. It reduces exposure of your primary email, but websites may still collect your network address, browser information, and usage data. Do not receive highly sensitive information here.
Is verification-code login secure?
Login depends on your control of the real email address. Codes are 6 digits, with a 60-second resend cooldown. We recommend enabling authenticator-based two-factor authentication and securing your email account.
Who can view a temporary inbox?
Anyone with the current inbox access credentials may be able to view its contents. Do not share the address page, tokens, or email verification codes.
How do I report abuse?
Send the Tempcat address involved, the time, and any necessary evidence to support@tempcat.com. Please redact passwords, verification codes, and identity documents.
Still need help?
First check the address, expiry time, and attachment size against the diagnostic checklist, then contact support.
Open inbox diagnosticsContact support