Temporary Image Hosting - Uploads That Delete Themselves
Sometimes you don't want a link to stick around forever. YourImageShare's temporary image hosting lets you upload an image or video and set it to delete itself automatically after 1 hour, 1 day, 1 week, or 1 month - no account required, no need to remember to come back and clean it up.
Regular uploads stay permanent. Auto-deletion is entirely opt-in - turn it on per upload, from that upload's own page or through the API. Nothing changes for uploads you don't set an expiry on.
What Is Temporary Image Hosting?
Normal image hosting keeps your files up until you delete them yourself. Temporary hosting flips that around: you attach an expiry time when you upload (or any time after, before it expires), and the platform handles the deletion for you. Once the time is up, the file is removed from storage and the link starts returning a "Gone" page instead of your content.
It's the same upload flow, the same direct links, embeds, and BBCode you'd get from any other upload on YourImageShare - the only difference is a self-destruct timer attached to the file.
How to Set an Expiry
Upload an image or video as you normally would. On the item's own page, you'll see an Edit details button below the file (the same place you'd change its title or description). Open it, check Auto-delete this upload, and pick how long it should last:
| Option | Deletes after |
|---|---|
| 1 hour | 60 minutes from when you save |
| 1 day | 24 hours from when you save |
| 1 week | 7 days from when you save |
| 1 month | 30 days from when you save |
You can change your mind any time before it expires - reopen Edit details to pick a longer duration, or uncheck the box to remove the expiry and make the upload permanent again. Once it actually expires, though, that's final - the file is gone and can't be recovered.
If you're uploading through the API, you can set a custom
expiry directly at upload time with the expires_in parameter - anywhere from 60 seconds to
30 days, in whole seconds instead of a fixed preset.
Use Cases
One-Time Shares
Send a screenshot, ID, or document to one person and know it won't sit online indefinitely afterward.
Support Tickets
Attach a screenshot to a support conversation without leaving a permanent public link once the issue is resolved.
Promo Codes & Giveaways
Post a code or coupon image that stops working on its own once the promotion ends.
CI & Test Artifacts
Upload a build screenshot or test-run capture via the API with a short expiry, so debug output doesn't pile up.
Marketplace Listings
Post photos for something you're selling and have them disappear on their own once the listing's run its course.
Event Passes & QR Codes
Share a ticket, invite, or access QR code that expires right after the event so it can't be reused or reshared later.
Web vs. API
| Web (Edit details) | API | |
|---|---|---|
| Account required | ~ No - works on anonymous uploads too | ✗ Yes, API key required |
| Duration options | ~ 1 hour / 1 day / 1 week / 1 month | ✓ Any value, 60s-30 days |
| Set at upload time | ✗ Set it after uploading | ✓ Set with expires_in on upload |
| Change or remove later | ✓ Yes, from Edit details | ✗ Not yet - re-upload instead |
Full API reference, including the exact expires_in parameter and response fields, is on
the API documentation page.
How It Works Behind the Scenes
Every few minutes, a background job checks for uploads whose expiry has passed. When it finds one, it
deletes the actual file and thumbnail from storage right away, and the upload's page starts returning a
410 Gone response - the standard way to say "this used to exist, and it's not coming
back," rather than a generic "not found."
Because deletion happens on a short cycle rather than instantly at the exact second, there can be a gap of a few minutes between the time you picked and the moment the file actually disappears. Don't rely on it for split-second timing - it's built for "gone within the hour," not "gone at 3:00:00pm exactly."
Frequently Asked Questions
What is temporary image hosting?
How long can a temporary upload last?
Can I undo or extend an expiry after the file is deleted?
Do I need an account to use temporary uploads?
Is regular image hosting on YourImageShare permanent?
Does an expired upload's link show an error?
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