Frequently Asked Questions

What is OneTimeView?

OneTimeView is a secure, privacy-focused platform designed for sharing sensitive information such as passwords, confidential notes, private links, and files. The core philosophy of our service is "zero knowledge" and "ephemerality," meaning we don't know what you are sending, and once it's viewed, it's gone forever.

How does it work?

When you create a secret (a note or a file), our system generates a unique, cryptographically random link. You send this link to your recipient. Once they click the link and view the content, the data is immediately and permanently deleted from our servers. If you set a view limit greater than one, it deletes after the limit is reached. If the link is never opened, it automatically self-destructs after your specified expiration time.

Is it really free?

Yes, the core features of OneTimeView are completely free to use. You can send text secrets and files up to 100MB without any cost or account registration. We believe privacy should be accessible to everyone.

How secure is my data?

Security is our top priority. We use industry-standard encryption protocols to protect your data in transit (TLS/SSL) and at rest.

• Data in Transit: All communications between your browser and our servers are encrypted using TLS 1.3.
• Data at Rest: Your secrets are stored in our secure database with encryption.
• Auto-Deletion: The strongest security feature is deletion. Data that doesn't exist cannot be stolen. Once a secret is viewed or expired, it is hard-deleted from our storage.

Can OneTimeView read my secrets?

We design our system to minimize access. While the encrypted data passes through our servers, we do not inspect or monitor the contents of your secrets. Our automated systems handle the creation, storage, and deletion without human intervention. We have a strict privacy policy preventing us from accessing user data unless required by law (which is rare given the ephemeral nature of the data).

What happens if I send a password to the wrong person?

If you accidentally send the link to the wrong person, you have a few options depending on how you configured the secret:

• If you set a password on the secret itself, the unintended recipient cannot view it without that secondary password.
• If you realize the mistake immediately, you can try to "view" the link yourself. Since the link self-destructs after one view, you clicking it effectively deletes it, preventing anyone else from seeing it.

What types of files can I upload?

You can upload images, videos, documents, archives, and more. Common formats like PNG, JPG, PDF, ZIP, TXT, and MP4 are fully supported. The maximum file size for free users is 100MB.

How long do secrets last?

You have full control over the lifespan of your secret.

• Views: You can set the secret to delete after 1 view (default) or up to 10 views or even up to 100 custom views.
• Time: You can set an expiration time ranging from 1 hour up to 30 days.

Whichever limit is reached first triggers the deletion. For example, if you set "1 View" and "7 Days", but someone views it in 5 minutes, it is deleted in 5 minutes.

Can I recover a deleted secret?

No. Once a secret is deleted, it is permanently removed from our database and file storage. There are no backups and no "trash" folders. This is intentional to ensure your privacy and security. Please make sure you have your own copy of the data if you need to keep it.

Do you use cookies?

We use essential cookies to ensure the website functions correctly and to prevent abuse. We may also use non-intrusive analytics to understand aggregate usage patterns, but we do not track individual user behaviour across the web. Please refer to our Privacy Policy for detailed information.

How do you handle abuse?

We have strict policies against using our service for illegal activities, phishing, or harassment. We employ automated rate limiting and threat detection systems. If you encounter a suspicious link using our domain, please do not open it and report it to us immediately.