Temp Mail Gmail: How to Use Gmail as a Temporary Email with Dots
Many people want to protect their email from spam and unwanted messages. Often, they use temporary email (temp mail) services that give them a special address for short-term use. However, you can do something similar with Gmail. You can add dots in your Gmail address to create different “versions” of the same email. In this article, we will explain what “temp mail gmail” means, why it is useful, and how to set it up so even beginners can understand.
What Is “Temp Mail Gmail” and Why Do You Need It?
Temp mail is a temporary email address you use when you do not want to give out your main address. It helps you avoid spam and advertising emails.
But if you already have a Gmail account, you can use a trick with dots in your address. For example, Gmail treats [email protected] and [email protected] as the same address. This means you can give out a “different” address when you sign up for a website, but all emails will still come to your normal inbox. You can then filter these emails or see which sites might be sharing your address.
Why Do Dots Work in Gmail?
Gmail ignores all dots in the part of your email that comes before the “@”. For example:
All these addresses are the same in Gmail’s system. So, any email sent to them will appear in the same inbox.
How Is This Like Temp Mail?
1. Register on websites with a “different” address. For example, instead of writing [email protected], you can write [email protected].
2. Track unwanted emails. By creating different versions of your Gmail for different websites, you can see which site might have shared your email or caused spam.
This method acts like a “temp mail gmail” solution because for other people, it looks like different addresses. However, it all goes to the same place on your side.
Step-by-Step: Using Dots for “Temp Mail Gmail”
Know your main address. Let’s say it is [email protected].
Add dots when you sign up for a new site. For example, use [email protected] or [email protected].
Remember which address you used where. Make a small list or note so you know which version you used on each website.
Set up filters in Gmail to organize or remove these emails as needed.
How to Create Filters in Gmail
Filters help you automatically label, archive, or delete emails that come to a specific version of your address.
Open Gmail and click the gear icon (Settings).
Select “See all settings.” (1)
Go to the “Filters and Blocked Addresses” tab. (2)
Click “Create a new filter.” (3)
In the “To” field, type the version of your email with dots (for example, [email protected]). (1)
Click “Create filter”. (2)
Choose what you want Gmail to do with these emails, such as:
Apply a label (e.g., “Temp Mail”),
Skip the Inbox (Archive it),
Delete it, or Any other action. (1)
Click “Create filter”. (2)
From now on, any message sent to that dotted version will get the filter actions you set.
Other Useful Tips
Blocking Senders
If you keep getting unwanted emails, you can block the sender:
Open the email, click the three dots in the top-right corner.
Select “Block [sender]”.
Now, any future messages from that sender will go to your Spam folder.
Unlimited Variations
You can create an unlimited number of dotted or plus variations. This helps you easily identify where spam is coming from and keep your main inbox clean. In fact, you use one email, but create dozens of “virtual” versions, which gives the effect of temp mail gmail.
Pros and Cons of Using Gmail as Temp Mail
Pros
Easy to Use: You already have Gmail, so no extra signup is needed.
One Inbox: All emails come to the same place, just with different “versions” of the address.
Better Control: You can quickly see which site is sending spam and block or filter it.
Filters and Labels: Automate how you handle emails.
Cons
Not Fully Anonymous: True temp mail services often do not link any personal information, but Gmail is usually linked to you.
Emails Remain: Unlike real temp mail, emails do not auto-delete. You must delete or archive them yourself.
Site Restrictions: Some websites may not accept addresses with many dots or plus signs.
Conclusion
Using temp mail gmail by adding dots (or using “+”) is a great way to protect your main inbox from spam. While it is not the same as a self-destructing temp mail service, it gives you more control over your email:
You can create different “virtual” addresses for different sites.
You can track where unwanted mail is coming from.
You can use filters to keep your inbox clean.
You can easily block any sender who spams you.
Try it out the next time you sign up for a new website. You will see how simple it is to organize your mail and keep spam under control!
FAQ
Can I use Gmail as a real temporary email?
Gmail does not automatically delete emails, so it isn’t a true “temp mail” service. However, using dots or plus signs and setting filters can give you many of the same benefits, such as keeping spam out of your main inbox.
Why does Gmail treat dotted addresses the same?
Gmail ignores dots before the “@” symbol. This means [email protected] and [email protected] lead to the same inbox. All messages are delivered to your main Gmail account, even if the email looks different.
How do I set up filters for dotted addresses?
1. Go to “Settings” → “See all settings” → “Filters and Blocked Addresses.”
2. Click “Create a new filter.”
3. Enter the dotted version of your email (e.g., [email protected]) in the “To” field.
4. Choose your actions (e.g., apply a label, skip the inbox, or delete).
This automates how incoming messages are handled.
Will I remain anonymous with “temp mail gmail”?
A Gmail account is often linked to your personal information (like phone verification), so it’s not fully anonymous. Specialized temp mail services can offer more anonymity, as they generally don’t collect personal data and may auto-delete emails.
What if a site doesn’t accept dotted or plus emails?
Some websites block registrations with unusual addresses. You can try a different variation or use a dedicated temp mail service. Most sites, however, do accept dotted or plus sign addresses.
How can I protect my Gmail from spam?
Block unwanted senders when you notice spam. And consider creating dotted or plus-addressed variations for different websites to track and filter unwanted messages.