Inbox access guide
How to save and reopen a temporary inbox
You can reopen an eligible inbox while its access credentials, mailbox and messages remain available. Reopening an active inbox does not restore a deleted message or recreate an expired address.
Product rules reviewed: October 15, 2026
Can I close the tab and return to the same guest inbox?
Usually, yes, while the ordinary guest session is active and the same browser retains both its cookies and cached inbox details. Closing a tab alone does not necessarily remove them.
- Return to the same tool in the same browser profile.
- Keep cookies and site storage; private-browsing sessions may remove them when closed.
- Confirm the displayed address matches the address you used before requesting another message.
- Do not generate a replacement address while waiting for mail to the previous address. Timed tools use their displayed deadline; Email Test uses its own session.
How do I open an account-saved inbox?
Sign in to the TempHotmail account that owns the inbox, open the Dashboard, and select an active inbox from the list.
- Sign in before creating the inbox you want associated with your account.
- Open the Dashboard and find the address in the inbox list.
- Select that inbox to read available messages and check its expiration.
- If the address is absent, do not assume signing in imported a previous guest or provider-alias session. These are separate access paths.
Can I use a second browser or device?
For account-saved inboxes, sign in to the same account and select an eligible active inbox in the Dashboard. Paid plans include cross-device inbox history. Guest browser sessions and provider-alias cookies do not provide account-based cross-device recovery.
Check the current plan and inbox expiry before relying on future access. A familiar address domain does not change these access rules.
What happens if access changes?
| Situation | What to expect | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Same browser, ordinary guest session still active | Reopening can work if cookies, cached details and provider access remain available. | Return to the same tool and confirm the address. |
| Cookies or local storage cleared | The guest session or cached details needed to reopen can be lost. | Do not assume the address alone can restore access. Use an eligible account-saved inbox for future tasks. |
| Different browser or device | The original guest session is not transferred automatically. | Sign in and open an eligible account-saved inbox; paid plans include cross-device history. |
| Gmail / Outlook / Hotmail temporary-address session | Its cookie lasts up to 60 minutes; upstream retention is separate. | Return in the same browser before session expiry. Do not treat it as a saved Dashboard inbox. |
| Message deleted or retention ended | Reopening is not deleted-message recovery. | Treat the lost content as unavailable; do not expect an upgrade to restore it. |
| Mailbox or paid entitlement expired | Access may end even if a message’s nominal retention window is longer. | Check the expiry and current plan. Important accounts need a permanent mailbox. |
How long can messages remain available?
Signed-in free users can save up to 3 inboxes for up to one day, subject to provider availability. The 7-Day Pass supports up to 10 inboxes and up to 7-day message retention; Pro supports up to 25 inboxes and up to 30-day message retention.
Message access is limited by the applicable mailbox and entitlement expiry. Retention is not permanent address ownership or a guarantee that a third-party sender accepts the address. The separate provider-alias session lasts up to 60 minutes.
Does saving an inbox make its messages private?
Account-saved access checks do not turn temporary email into end-to-end encrypted mail. Service providers process messages, and the temporary Gmail, Outlook and Hotmail tool has a public upstream inbox on temp.tf.
Anyone who knows a provider-alias address may read its messages on temp.tf. An encrypted TempHotmail session cookie does not remove that upstream route or prove upstream deletion.
What should I do before an inbox expires?
- Finish the low-risk task and record only the non-sensitive test evidence you need.
- Use a permanent mailbox you control for recovery, purchases and important records.
- Do not share session credentials, cookies or message contents.
- Treat deletion as permanent. Paying for a plan is not a recovery service for already deleted content.