An expiring message is sent as a secure link instead of the message itself. The link stops working when the message expires.
Send one#
- Open the composer.
- Click Expire in the toolbar.
- Turn on Expiring message.
- Under Expires after, pick 1 hour, 1 day, 1 week or 4 weeks. The default is 1 week.
- Optionally enter a password.
- Click Done, then send.
The toolbar chip then shows the choice, for example "Expires in 1 week · password".
Password or no password#
| Setup | Who can open it | Can the server read it |
|---|---|---|
| Expiry only | Anyone with the link | Yes |
| Expiry and password | People with the link and the password | No |
With a password, the message is encrypted with AES-256-GCM using a key derived from the password, so SipherMail cannot read it. The password must be at least 6 characters. Share it another way, such as a call or text.
Limits#
- The expiry options are fixed to the four above.
- You cannot combine an expiring message with end-to-end encryption. Turn off one to use the other. The mobile composer shows a message if you try both.
- On the web the Expire control is greyed out while end-to-end encryption is on.
Mobile#
The iPhone and Android composers have the same expiry and password options.