Missing a confirmation email? Don’t change your address just yet
Follow the email from the signup form to your inbox to find where it got stuck before requesting another.
First, check whether the website actually sent the email
Some websites send an email only after you complete all required fields, pass a CAPTCHA or accept the terms of service. If the page still says your email address is invalid or the signup button is still available, finish the form first. Don’t mistake an email that was never sent for one that never arrived.
If the website says the email was sent, note roughly when you submitted the form. Requesting several new emails in quick succession may invalidate the previous verification code. Wait a moment, then refresh your inbox.
Check the address you entered
Return to the signup page and check the full email address: the username, @ sign and domain should all match the address shown in your inbox. Don’t type it from memory—copying the temporary address is more reliable.
If you clicked “Change address,” the new inbox won’t receive messages sent to the old address. Try updating your email address on the website and requesting a new confirmation email. If you can’t change it there, contact the website’s support team.
Make sure the address is still active
The time remaining above your inbox shows how long the address is available, not how long a verification code remains valid. If the process takes a while, you can extend the address while it’s still active. Don’t assume extending it after expiration will restore earlier emails.
When you open the inbox, sample emails are just examples—they don’t mean the signup website has sent a real message. When an actual email arrives, the list will show its sender and subject. If you’re reading another message, a new email won’t replace it automatically.
Still nothing? Check the most likely causes first
| What you see | Possible cause | What to do next |
|---|---|---|
| The website says the email address isn’t allowed | The platform doesn’t accept disposable email addresses | Use an email address you control long-term and follow the platform’s rules |
| The website says it sent the email, but nothing arrived | Delivery is delayed, the address was entered incorrectly or the sender blocked it | Check the spelling, wait a moment, then request a new email |
| The email arrived, but the code doesn’t work | A newer code replaced the old one, or the code expired | Read Troubleshooting verification codes |
How to spend less time waiting next time
Before copying the address, check whether the platform allows temporary email and whether you’ll need long-term access to the account. Keep the inbox open while you sign up, and don’t leave the page until the email arrives and you’ve completed verification.
If you need to keep receiving messages from the same service, you can use a forwarding alias to keep your public address separate from your personal inbox. For more tips on what to do before and after filling out a form, see the signup email checklist.