When you request a data export from your Mastodon account, the server generates a compressed archive and sends you a download link. That link expires after a short period, typically 24 hours or less, depending on your instance’s configuration. If you try to download the archive after the link has expired, you will see an error message stating the link is no longer valid. This article explains why the link expires, how to request a fresh export, and how to avoid encountering this problem in the future.
Key Takeaways: Mastodon Data Export Link Expiration
- Preferences > Import and export > Request your archive: Initiates a new data export request, generating a fresh download link.
- Check the email inbox for the export notification: The download link is sent via email; if missing, check spam or the Notifications tab in Mastodon.
- Download within 24 hours of receiving the link: The archive is deleted from the server after this window, and the link becomes invalid.
Why the Mastodon Export Download Link Expires
Mastodon generates a data export archive as a compressed file containing your toots, media, lists, bookmarks, and account settings. The archive is stored temporarily on the server. To protect your privacy and reduce server storage load, the server deletes the archive after a set period. The default expiration time is 24 hours from the moment the archive is created. Some Mastodon instance administrators may shorten this window to 6 or 12 hours.
The download link you receive in the email or notification is a unique, one-time URL. Once the archive is deleted, the URL no longer points to a valid file. Attempting to open the expired link typically results in a blank page, a 404 error, or a message that the file is unavailable. This is not a bug; it is a deliberate security measure. The system prevents unauthorized access to your data if someone else intercepts the link.
You can identify an expired link by the timestamp in the email. If the email was sent more than 24 hours ago, the link is almost certainly expired. The only way to obtain a valid archive is to request a new export.
Steps to Request a New Data Export and Download It
To fix the expired link, you must generate a fresh export. The following steps work on all Mastodon instances, including mastodon.social, mastodon.online, and self-hosted servers.
- Open Preferences
Log in to your Mastodon account. Click the gear icon in the right sidebar or the Preferences link in the user menu at the top right. - Go to Import and export
In the left navigation panel, click the Import and export section. This page shows options for importing data from another service and exporting your Mastodon data. - Click Request your archive
In the Export data section, click the blue Request your archive button. A confirmation message appears, stating that the export will be prepared and a download link will be sent to your email. - Check your email inbox
Open the email account associated with your Mastodon profile. Look for an email from your instance with the subject line “Your archive is ready for download”. If you do not see it within 5 minutes, check the Spam or Junk folder. Some instances also show a notification in the Mastodon Notifications tab. - Click the download link in the email
The email contains a direct download link. Click it immediately. The archive downloads as a ZIP file with a name like “mastodon-archive-YYYY-MM-DD.zip”. Save it to a secure location on your computer. - Extract the archive
Use your operating system’s file extractor to open the ZIP file. Inside, you will find folders named “outbox”, “media_attachments”, “likes”, and other data sets. You can now use this data to migrate, back up, or analyze your account.
If the Export Request Fails or You Do Not Receive the Email
Export request button does nothing when clicked
If clicking Request your archive does not produce a confirmation message, your browser may have a script blocker active. Disable browser extensions that block JavaScript, such as uBlock Origin or NoScript, temporarily. Reload the page and try again. If the issue persists, try a different browser or clear your browser cache.
Email with the download link never arrives
First, verify that the email address on your Mastodon account is correct. Go to Preferences > Account and check the Email field. If the address is wrong, update it and confirm the change via the verification email. Then request the export again. If the address is correct, check all email folders, including Promotions and Social tabs in Gmail. If the email still does not appear, your instance may have a delivery delay. Wait 30 minutes and check again. As a last resort, contact your instance administrator to confirm that the email server is working.
Download link opens a blank page or shows a 404 error
This confirms that the link has expired. The archive was deleted from the server. Return to Preferences > Import and export and click Request your archive again. This time, download the file as soon as the email arrives. Do not wait more than a few hours. If the same error occurs immediately after clicking a fresh link, the server may have a temporary issue. Wait 15 minutes and request another export.
Mastodon Data Export vs Email Notification: What Each Contains
| Item | Data Export Archive | Email Notification |
|---|---|---|
| Description | ZIP file containing all your Mastodon data | Message informing you that the archive is ready |
| Contents | outbox.json, media_attachments, likes, bookmarks, lists, followers, following | Download link, date of creation, file size estimate |
| Expiration | Deleted from server after 24 hours | Link becomes invalid after archive deletion |
| Storage location | Server temporary directory | Your email inbox (does not expire) |
Once you have successfully downloaded the archive, store it in a safe place. The email notification itself does not contain your data; it only holds the download link. If you delete the email, you cannot retrieve the link. Keep the downloaded ZIP file as your backup.
To avoid the expired link problem in the future, set a reminder on your phone or calendar to download the archive within 6 hours of requesting it. This gives you a generous buffer before the 24-hour deletion window closes. If you need to export data regularly, schedule a monthly export request on the first day of each month. Mastodon does not offer an automatic recurring export feature, so you must perform the request manually each time.
If you are migrating to a new Mastodon instance, request the export immediately after creating the move request in Preferences > Account > Move from a different account. This ensures the archive contains the most recent follower and following data before the old account is disabled.