The code never came: six reasons and what to try
October 12, 2026 · 2 min read
You typed the address, pressed "Send code", and the inbox stays empty. Before blaming anything, it helps to know that a missing code almost always falls into one of a handful of buckets.
1. The address is not quite right
A missing letter, an extra space or the wrong domain is the most common cause by far. Copy the address with the Copy button and paste it into the form. Then compare the domain on the form with the one selected on the page.
2. The sender is slow
Not every site sends mail the instant you click. Some queue it, some send in batches, and some retry later if a server on the way asked them to. Waiting two minutes solves a surprising number of "missing" codes.
3. You asked too many times
Clicking "Resend" five times in a row can backfire. Many services rate-limit verification mail to stop abuse, and a burst of requests can push you into a cool-down where nothing is sent at all. If you did resend, use the newest code: older ones are often cancelled when a new one is issued.
4. The site does not accept temporary addresses
Some services keep lists of disposable email domains. Some refuse the address on the form. Others accept it quietly and never send anything. If the service clearly wants an address you will keep, that is their call to make. Use an address you own (the plus-address trick is a tidy way to do that).
5. The message is too big
A verification email is normally small, but marketing-heavy messages with lots of embedded images can be large. Messages around 2 MB and up are not stored here.
6. The code expired
Codes often expire after five to fifteen minutes. If the email arrived while you were away, request a fresh one rather than typing an old code.
What to try, in order
- Paste the address with the Copy button and confirm the domain.
- Wait two minutes and press refresh.
- Request the code once more and use the newest email.
- If nothing arrives, the site probably does not send to temporary addresses. Use an address you control instead.
For accounts you intend to keep, skip the temporary address entirely. Here is why.