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NullPaste

How to create a temporary paste that expires

Create a paste that automatically deletes itself after a set time — from 10 minutes to never. A guide to temporary and expiring pastes.

A temporary paste expires automatically after a set time and is then deleted from the server permanently. This is useful any time you want to share something without it living online forever. NullPaste supports expiry times from 10 minutes to a week, as well as burn-after-read — where the paste self-destructs on the first view.

  1. Open a new paste

    Go to nullpaste.org — no account needed.

  2. Enter your content

    Paste in your text or code. Everything works the same whether the paste expires in 10 minutes or never.

  3. Choose an expiry

    Use the Expires dropdown to pick how long the paste lives: 10 minutes, 1 hour, 1 day (the default), or 1 week. NullPaste deletes it automatically when the time is up — no action needed from you.

  4. Or enable burn-after-read instead

    Toggle Burn after read to destroy the paste the first time someone opens the link and confirms, regardless of time. Useful for one-time secrets or links meant for a single person.

  5. Create and share

    Hit Create paste and share the link. The paste will vanish automatically according to your chosen setting.

Which expiry to choose

  • 10 minutesQuick one-off shares — API keys, one-time codes
  • 1 hourShort-lived config snippets or meeting notes
  • 1 dayOvernight reviews or next-day handoffs
  • 1 weekSprint-length sharing or temporary documentation
  • NeverPermanent pastes — remove any time with the delete code every paste receives

Burn-after-read vs. timed expiry

Burn-after-read and timed expiry solve different problems. A timed paste stays available until the clock runs out — anyone with the link can open it multiple times during that window. A burn-after-read paste is deleted the first time someone opens the link and confirms, after which the link shows a burned notice — the link works exactly once. Keep in mind that whoever opens it first is the one who burns it, and the reader can still copy or forward what they saw.

You can combine them: enable burn-after-read on a paste that also has a time limit, and it will disappear whichever comes first.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a temporary paste last?
You choose the duration when creating the paste: 10 minutes, 1 hour, 1 day (the default), or 1 week. NullPaste deletes the paste automatically once the timer expires. You can also set it to never expire — and since every paste gets a one-time delete code at creation, you can remove any paste manually whenever you like.
Does NullPaste notify me before a paste expires?
No. There is no notification system. Set a reminder yourself if you need to act before expiry. The paste page shows a countdown to the expiry time so you can check it any time before it expires.
Can I extend the expiry of a paste?
No. Once a paste is created, its expiry cannot be changed. If you need a longer-lived paste, create a new one with the correct expiry and share the new link.
What happens to a paste after it expires?
The paste content is permanently deleted from the server. Accessing the URL after expiry returns a not-found page. There is no way to recover an expired paste.
What is the difference between burn-after-read and a timed expiry?
A timed expiry deletes the paste after a fixed duration regardless of views. Burn-after-read deletes it after the first person opens the link and confirms — the confirmation step also stops link-preview bots from consuming it. You can combine both: the paste disappears whichever trigger fires first.
Can I create a temporary paste without an account?
Yes. All expiry options are available on every paste with no account or sign-up required.

Related guides

Create a paste