How to create a temporary paste that expires

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. 1

   Open a new paste

   Go to nullpaste.org — no account needed.

2. 2

   Enter your content

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

3. 3

   Choose an expiry

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

4. 4

   Or enable burn-after-read instead

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

5. 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 with a delete code for manual removal

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 instant the first person opens it, so only one person ever sees the content.

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

Related guides

• Burn-after-read pastes — delete on first view
• Anonymous pastes — no account, no tracking