Your confirmation code isn't arriving? Here's how to fix it
You generated an address, entered it on some website to sign up, and now you're staring at an empty inbox waiting for the code. Don't worry — in almost every case this is quick to fix, and you won't need to understand anything technical. Work through the checks below in order; most people are sorted within a minute.
First, a quick reassurance about how this works: the address you generated is already live. Any message sent to it lands on this page automatically — the inbox refreshes on its own, so you don't have to keep reloading. If a code was going to arrive, it would simply appear.
The 30-second checks
- Check you copied the whole address. It's easy to miss the last few characters or add a stray space. Use the Copy button here rather than selecting it by hand, then paste it into the other site — that guarantees the full
name@domaingoes across. - Make sure the other site actually accepted it. Some forms show a small error (“please enter a valid email”) and never send anything. Glance back at the sign-up page for a message like “we've sent you a code.”
- Don't close or reload this page. If you refresh the whole browser tab, the address can change — and then the code is waiting at an address you're no longer looking at. Keep this tab as it is.
Still nothing? Here's the most common real reason
If you've waited and the inbox is still empty, the usual cause is simple: the website you're signing up to refuses temporary email addresses. Bigger services keep lists of throwaway-mail domains and quietly reject them. When that happens, the code is never sent at all — so no amount of waiting will help.
A few more things worth trying
- Generate a fresh address and use that one instead — a clean address on a different domain sidesteps most blocks.
- Open the message fully. Sometimes the code sits in the subject line; sometimes it's a button inside the email that says “Confirm.” Click the message in the list to see everything.
- Re-request the code on the other site (there's usually a “resend” link) — the first send occasionally just gets lost.
- Turn off the extra domain option if it's on. If you enabled sub-domain addresses in Settings and a site dislikes them, switch back to a plain domain and try again.
When a temporary email simply won't work
Some accounts are deliberately locked down and will never accept a throwaway address — banks, government portals, and anything tied to your identity or money. That's by design, and it's a good thing. For those, use your real inbox. A temporary address is perfect for the everyday stuff: trials, forums, one-off downloads, Wi-Fi sign-ins, and shops you don't want future spam from.
Frequently asked questions
How long should I wait for the code?
Usually just a few seconds, occasionally a minute or two. If nothing has arrived after two or three minutes, it's almost certainly not coming — move on to switching domains rather than waiting longer.
The code never arrives no matter what I try. Why?
The site you're registering with is blocking temporary email. Switch to a different domain from the drop-down, generate a fresh address, and try again. If it still refuses, that site requires a normal inbox.
Do I need to keep pressing refresh?
No. The inbox updates on its own. The Refresh button is only there for when you want to check immediately instead of waiting a few seconds.
My code was at an address I can't find anymore.
That happens if the page was reloaded and the address changed. Generate the address again first, then request the code on the other site — that way the code arrives at the address you're actually watching.