Inbox help
Temporary email not receiving messages? Start here.
Fix missing verification emails and one-time passwords (OTPs): check the address, inbox timer, delivery connection, and sender requirements.
Waiting for a verification email or one-time password (OTP)? An empty inbox does not tell you where delivery stopped. Work through the address, the inbox, and the sender in that order before requesting more codes.
1. Compare the complete address
Compare the address shown on the signup screen with the address currently above your inbox. Check both the part before the @ sign and the domain after it. A message requested for an earlier address will not move to a newly generated inbox.
If you already changed the inbox, return to the sending site and update the recipient before requesting another message. Keep the inbox tab open while you finish. Copying an address again is usually more reliable than typing it from memory.
2. Check the timer and connection
Look at the remaining time and connection status. Use Refresh to check for messages. If the interface reports a connection problem, restore the connection before deciding that the sender failed. An expired inbox and a disconnected inbox are different problems.
This inbox has no built-in test message. To check delivery yourself, send a short email to the address from another mailbox you use. If your message arrives but the website’s does not, the address is receiving mail, and the next place to look is the website’s own response.
3. Read the sender’s response
Look for an error on the original form. A rejected address, a request to wait, and a “message sent” notice mean different things. Follow any waiting period shown by the service. Repeated clicks can make it harder to tell which request an arriving code belongs to.
This inbox has no spam or junk folder: every message the mail server accepts appears in the same list, so there is nowhere else to look. Google’s verification help suggests checking spam or bulk mail, which applies to mailboxes that have those folders. It also does not mean that every sender accepts temporary addresses.
- Address rejected: use an address type accepted by the service.
- Please wait: respect the displayed retry interval.
- Message sent, inbox still empty: confirm the recipient and check the sender’s delivery help.
- Code rejected: read the expiry instructions and use the code associated with your current request.
4. Know when a different address is the answer
For an account you intend to keep, a durable email address or a forwarding alias is a better fallback than trying an endless sequence of disposable inboxes. You may need that address again for a new device, a password reset, billing, or a security alert.
If you contact support, provide the approximate send time, the domain, and the error text. Never include your password or a usable verification code in a public bug report. A delivery issue can be investigated without exposing account access.
Worked example: How to read an email delivery-failure notice
Common questions
Does “message sent” guarantee it reached my inbox?
No. It may only confirm that the website accepted the request. Delivery and display happen afterward. Check the address, inbox connection, and sender guidance.
Will generating a new address bring back missing messages?
No. New mail must be requested for the new address. Messages sent to the earlier address do not follow it automatically.
Why does my own test message arrive but not my code?
Then the address is receiving mail. The sending website may not have sent the code, may still be waiting, or may refuse temporary addresses. Read its error message and retry rules before requesting another code.
How long should I wait before requesting another code?
Use the sending service’s stated retry interval. There is no universal delay that applies to every provider or verification system.
Sources & further reading
Provider requirements can change. Check the official source before relying on a particular feature or offer.