Write a time capsule letter to open within a year

Choose a lock

Timelock. Timelock protects the letter shared through the link. It cannot erase copies or keys you retained.

Timelock costs $3 USD per Postdate. This covers opening dates within one year and 100 MB including encryption and file packaging. Opening depends on drand and Postdate being available, and on the encryption remaining secure. Senders can keep original copies. Postdates can still expire or be removed for abuse. You see the price before you create the link. Read about Timelock.

Send it before it opens

A letter in a folder can be read whenever you feel curious. Naming the folder for a future date does not stop you opening it early.

Set the letter to open on the date you choose. The link keeps it locked until then; any original copies you keep remain readable.

What people see

Before opening

They see a countdown. Any public teaser you wrote also appears.

After opening

They can read the text and download attached files until the link expires. Files supported by the browser can also be previewed.

Before opening, the link shows a countdown. You can add a calendar event and copy the link. Any public teaser you wrote also appears. The letter stays encrypted until opening. File names and sizes stay hidden too. On the chosen day, the letter opens in the browser. The link expires after the availability period you chose, measured from the scheduled opening time.

Adding a calendar event downloads a file to import into your calendar. Set any reminder there. Postdate does not send opening notifications.

Create your Postdate

1. 01

   Write the letter, and attach photos if you want.

2. 02

   Set the opening time to the date you have in mind.

3. 03

   Choose Timelock to protect the link until opening.

4. 04

   Save the link somewhere you will still have it.

Write a time capsule Timelock: $3. No delete link.

Limits

Standard is free for letters that open within 7 days and are 1 MB or less. Timelock, later dates, or more than 1 MB cost $3 once. You can choose a date up to a year away. Your text and up to 10 files must fit within 100 MB after encryption and packaging. You cannot delete a Timelock letter.

Compare Postdate with scheduled email

A scheduled email is sent later. A Postdate link can be shared now, with the same opening time for every reader. Postdate does not send the link or an opening notification for you. It shows when the Postdate was created.

Common questions

What if I lose the link?

You cannot recover the message without the link. Save it somewhere you can find again. A browser tab may close before the opening date.

Can I open a Timelock letter early?

The link has no early-open option. Copies or keys you retained can still give you access. Timelock uses drand, a network that publishes public random numbers every three seconds. Your letter needs a future number to open. It relies on drand operators releasing that number on schedule.

What about a capsule longer than a year?

You can choose an opening date up to one year away. You cannot extend a Timelock message. Creating a replacement does not stop the original from opening on schedule. For a later date, keep your own copy until that date is within a year.

More guides

Send a letter to your future self, Send a birthday link that opens at midnight

Browse all guides or read about Postdate.