See Photos of Your Mail Before It Arrives, Free
Start your mornings with a preview of your day's USPS® mail and packages with Informed Delivery® notifications:
- Get Daily Digest emails that preview your mail and packages scheduled to arrive soon.
- See images of your incoming letter-sized mail (grayscale, address side only).1
- Track and manage your packages in one convenient place.
Sign Up for Informed Delivery
1 Create Your Account
Use your personal or business USPS.com account or sign up for one today.
2 Verify Your Identity
Protect your privacy and personal information by verifying your identity and address.
3 Watch for Updates
Look for mail and package updates via email, the online dashboard, or the USPS Mobile® app.
Maximize Your Informed Delivery Experience
After you set up and verify your account, go to your Informed Delivery settings to adjust your notification preferences:
Set Package Tracking Notifications
Turn on package tracking notifications and you’ll automatically get text and/or email alerts with the status of your package and delivery details.
Schedule & Receive Mail Reminders
Schedule email reminders for important mailpieces: From your Daily Digest email, click "Set a Reminder" to get additional notifications for mail you don’t want to miss.
USPS Electronic Signature Online
If you can't sign for a package in person, register your digital signature online, and we'll drop off your Signature Required package in your mailbox or preferred delivery location.2
Do More with Your Packages
Now that you can automatically see the status of your packages in one place, it’s easier to manage deliveries from your Informed Delivery dashboard. You can:
- See your package details and tracking history
- Leave USPS Delivery Instructions® for your carrier3
- Schedule a Redelivery for another day
- Add a unique package nickname
- Remove a package you no longer wish to track
- Automatically track the status of Click-N-Ship® packages you send to other people
- Manually add other USPS Tracking® numbers that you want to track
More on Informed Delivery
What is Informed Delivery?
Informed Delivery is a free service from USPS that shows you preview images of incoming mail, as well as status updates about your incoming and outbound packages. You can see those notifications in a morning Daily Digest email, or at any time via the dashboard from your phone, computer, or the USPS Mobile® app. Informed Delivery also has other features that make tracking and receiving your packages easier and more convenient.
How does Informed Delivery work?
As mailpieces travel through the USPS® network, they go through high-speed sorting machines, which take a picture of the front (the side with the address). Informed Delivery shows you grayscale images of those mailpieces arriving soon to your address. (You’ll also see color images of some things, like catalogs or magazines.) Informed Delivery will also show you the status of incoming and outbound packages.
How much does Informed Delivery cost?
Nothing: Informed Delivery is free to customers.
Who is eligible for Informed Delivery?
If you have a residential address, business address, or PO Box™ in an eligible ZIP Code™ (most ZIP Codes™ are), you may be eligible for Informed Delivery. Note: You must have a "uniquely coded" mailbox, and some apartment buildings or condos may not have uniquely coded addresses. Check to see if your address is eligible for Informed Delivery. If your address isn't yet eligible, please check back later.
How do I sign up for Informed Delivery?
- If you already have a USPS.com® account: Go to your account preferences, scroll to the Informed Delivery section, and opt in to Informed Delivery.
- If you do not have a USPS.com account: Go to the Informed Delivery page and click the sign up link.
- Enter your address to check if it's eligible for Informed Delivery.
- Provide your account information.
- Verify your identity.
- Receive Informed Delivery notifications.
What if I can't verify my identity online?
To register for Informed Delivery, USPS needs to verify your identity to ensure your security and privacy. If you can't verify your identity online, you can go to a USPS® location that offers Identity Verification Services. See the Informed Delivery FAQ for more information.
How soon after I register will I start getting images of my mail and package notifications?
Activation time may vary, but you will typically start getting notifications within 3 business days.
I signed up, but I'm not getting mail images or package notifications.
You'll only get mail preview notifications on days that you're getting mail. (You won't get them on Sundays or federal holidays, either.) Also, check your Email Opt-In settings to make sure your email notifications are turned on and are using the right email address. If you still aren't seeing any emails, please check your spam filter settings and make sure that you add the Informed Delivery email address to your email contacts: USPSInformeddelivery@email.informeddelivery.usps.com
What if I'm moving and need to change my address?
Save time: Set up your permanent mail forwarding and update your Informed Delivery at the USPS Change of Address® site.
Need More Help?
You can always access our Email Support and FAQs links from the top of your dashboard.
If you’re a business interested in creating digital marketing campaigns integrated with your mail or packages, go to Informed Delivery for Business Mailers.
1. Images are only provided for letter-sized mailpieces that are processed through USPS's automated equipment. Mail and packages may not arrive the same day you get a notification—please allow several days for delivery.Back^
2. You can use USPS Electronic Signature Online® with Priority Mail Express®, Signature Confirmation™, and insured items over $500. You'll still need to sign for other services that require signature upon delivery (like Registered Mail®, Certified Mail®, and Adult Signature Required). See USPS Electronic Signature Online for full details.Back^
3. Not all packages are eligible; see USPS Delivery Instructions® - The Basics for full details.Back^
FAQs
Does Informed Delivery ever miss packages? ›
Informed Delivery® provides notifications for mailpieces arriving soon - not necessarily mailpieces arriving that same day. Pieces can be delayed in getting to your mail carrier. Or, unfortunately, a mailpiece could be misdelivered. We ask that you allow several days for delivery after receiving the notification.
Why does my Informed Delivery only show packages? ›Also, Informed delivery is limited to previewing letter-sized mail only, so if you're receiving magazines, newspapers, catalogs, and other large-sized mail, you won't get a preview. Since informed delivery is a USPS service, it doesn't also scan mail arriving from other carriers like UPS, DHL, or FedEx.
Is Informed Delivery sometimes wrong? ›Informed delivery is a United States Postal Service application which shows you an actual scanned image of every letter that you are to receive that day. While usually pretty accurate, letters shown on informed delivery could possibly show up up to a week later than you receive the image.
What is the downside of USPS Informed Delivery? ›The first downfall of USPS Informed Delivery feature is that some envelope formats are impossible to read.
How often is USPS Informed Delivery wrong? ›The reality is, Informed Delivery is typically 1-2 days delayed and not all items that are scanned have a preview image coming up for it. Overall however, its accuracy could be rated at well over 95%.
Is USPS Informed Delivery always correct? ›Informed Delivery doesn't show all your mail and doesn't always accurately predict when items arrive.
Does USPS Informed Delivery always work? ›You may have mail coming in, but it doesn't always show up on the USPS Informed Delivery dashboard. Even if you receive an email notification with a mail preview, there have been instances where the mail is still delayed and stays in your dashboard for days without delivery.
Does Informed Delivery tell you what the package is? ›Informed Delivery is a free service from USPS that shows you preview images of incoming mail, as well as status updates about your incoming and outbound packages. You can see those notifications in a morning Daily Digest email, or at any time via the dashboard from your phone, computer, or the USPS Mobile® app.
Is Informed Delivery being canceled? ›The dedicated Informed Delivery mobile apps have been discontinued, but the service works within the official USPS Mobile app on iOS or Android.
How long does it take for Informed Delivery to update? ›Informed Delivery will send you updates once per day, usually before 9 a.m. It updates every day that you have mail due, but will not update if there is no mail to be delivered, or on Sundays and federal holidays (when there is no mail).
Why is my mail showing up in Informed Delivery but not mailbox? ›
USPS Informed Delivery Missing Mail
It can take up to a week after you've received the notification for the item to show up. Sometimes mail could be scanned automatically by machinery but your actual letter might not have been passed on to your mail carrier before they left for their delivery round.
Once sent, a direct mail piece is scanned by the Post Office™ facility and entered into a tracking system. Senders can then track pieces using the Informed Visibility tool, which shows when a mail piece has entered different stages in the delivery cycle.
How far back can Informed Delivery go? ›The Informed Delivery® dashboard displays mail images for a seven-day period, and package information displays for 15 days after each package has been delivered. Users can opt-in to receive separate email or text notifications with status updates for incoming packages, too.
Can some mail not show in Informed Delivery? ›Some of the mail I receive does not show up in my Informed Delivery® notification. Only mail processed on USPS automated equipment is included in the Informed Delivery Notification. Not all mail (e.g., magazines and catalogues) is processed this way, so they cannot appear in the notifications.
What is the most reliable way to mail a package? ›UPS is one of the most reliable shipping carriers available. At any time, you can track your package to find out exactly where it is. In my experience, they are almost always on time.
How many people use USPS Informed Delivery? ›The Informed Delivery feature stands at about 53M users and a 3.8% year over year (YoY) growth. Survey responses indicate user satisfaction to be strong, with the Informed Delivery feature's NPS score at +60.
Why do I keep getting the wrong mail? ›Why am I getting mail that isn't mine? Most of the time, if you're getting mail intended for someone else it's for one of two reasons: (1) it's for a neighbor and your postal carrier made a mistake, or (2) it's for the previous tenant or homeowner who lived at your address.
Does Informed Delivery work for more than one address? ›You can set up USPS informed delivery for multiple addresses as well. There's the option to have one primary address and a secondary PO Box address linked in the same account.
Can USPS expected delivery be wrong? ›Sometimes packages are delayed or rerouted because of unusual circumstances. Before contacting us, please check the mail delivery standards, USPS Tracking® page (if available), and/or contact the shipper for further information on your expected mail.
Does Informed Delivery show packages without tracking? ›Without a tracking number the system does not know where parcels are and they don't take pictures of them that will be shown in Informed Delivery. Without tracking the small parcels cannot be paired with your delivery address.
What replaced Informed Delivery? ›
The best alternatives to USPS Informed Delivery are Shop, Fly Holly, and MailThis. If these 3 options don't work for you, we've listed a few more alternatives below.
Is Informed Delivery a good idea? ›Informed Delivery can be very useful in a number of ways, it's a free service, and as I'll discuss in detail, signing up for it can help prevent mail identity theft by giving you information to get a leg up on thieves (and if you don't – they could get there first).
Can a USPS package be delivered without being scanned? ›The package may not have been scanned at the last checkpoint when it was loaded onto the mail truck. The item will be in the truck and will probably be delivered on time, but without being scanned before loading it up, the tracking page will still show the delivery scan holdup.
Why hasn t USPS scanned my package? ›There are a few reasons why your package status may not be updated right away: If you drop your package off after hours, USPS or UPS won't scan it in until the next day. It's in queue at a USPS or UPS facility. The postal workers or UPS workers scanning packages simply didn't get to it that day.
Why is my package not in my mailbox? ›A blocked receptacle could be due to a parked vehicle, local utility work in the area, weather conditions or emergency responders impeding access. Please check the area for any obstruction that may prevent delivery OR you may use Postal Locator to pick up the item at your local Post Office™ facility.
Why did USPS disable my Informed Delivery account? ›"Too many incorrect login attempts" is usually the culprit for accounts being disabled. Wait 24 hours until your account is enabled again, then log in. If you can't use the automated system to reactivate your account, you can call USPS.
Do they scan all packages in the mail? ›Is Mail X-Rayed? Some of the mail that is sent through the United States Postal Service will pass through an X-Ray machine. There are no specific guidelines as to what may or may not be x-rayed, though mail sent to or through larger cities is likely to pass through an X-Ray machine.
How do I verify Informed Delivery? ›Verify your identity by completing the mobile phone verification process: a. Provide your mobile phone number and then enter the one-time numeric passcode sent to you via text message. 6. Once you successfully verify your identity, you will be shown a confirmation page.
Does Informed Delivery take pictures of checks? ›With Informed Delivery, you can check the delivery status of your packages and when they're scheduled to arrive. The post office doesn't capture an image of your packages, however. You can use the service to create an electronic signature so you can receive packages when you're not at home.
What happens to Informed Delivery when you move? ›Your access to Informed Delivery will be discontinued at your old address and you will be able to complete identity verification at your new address to restore your access.
Is Informed Delivery accurate for packages? ›
Informed Delivery doesn't show all your mail and doesn't always accurately predict when items arrive. The USPS also began offering direct mailers an upgrade to include digitized images, sometimes in full color, sent to the Informed Delivery customers' email inboxes.
Does USPS Informed Delivery really work? ›How does Informed Delivery work? As mailpieces travel through the USPS® network, they go through high-speed sorting machines, which take a picture of the front (the side with the address). Informed Delivery shows you grayscale images of those mailpieces arriving soon to your address.
Is Informed Delivery worth it with USPS? ›Informed Delivery can be very useful in a number of ways, it's a free service, and as I'll discuss in detail, signing up for it can help prevent mail identity theft by giving you information to get a leg up on thieves (and if you don't – they could get there first).
How long does a package stay on Informed Delivery? ›The Informed Delivery® dashboard displays mail images for a seven-day period, and package information displays for 15 days after each package has been delivered. Users can opt-in to receive separate email or text notifications with status updates for incoming packages, too.
Does everything get scanned in Informed Delivery? ›USPS Informed Delivery scans are limited to letter-size or smaller items. Therefore, you will not be able to see magazines, larger ads, and catalogs on your ID notifications. Because this is a USPS service, you won't receive scans for items arriving via UPS, FedEx, or similar services.
Why does Informed Delivery show mail but not delivered? ›USPS Informed Delivery Missing Mail
It can take up to a week after you've received the notification for the item to show up. Sometimes mail could be scanned automatically by machinery but your actual letter might not have been passed on to your mail carrier before they left for their delivery round.
After signing up for Informed Delivery® you will receive a Welcome Letter in the mail. If you recognize the account information listed in the letter, no further action is required.
What is the most reliable way to send mail? ›How Does Registered Mail Work? Registered Mail is the most secure way to send a package through the USPS. As part of the security conditions for this mail class, Registered Mail must be sent with proof of mailing which requires a trip to the Post Office (you cannot deposit your package in a collection box).
Is Informed Delivery always updated? ›Informed Delivery will send you updates once per day, usually before 9 a.m. It updates every day that you have mail due, but will not update if there is no mail to be delivered, or on Sundays and federal holidays (when there is no mail).
Who scans mail for Informed Delivery? ›Once sent, a direct mail piece is scanned by the Post Office™ facility and entered into a tracking system. Senders can then track pieces using the Informed Visibility tool, which shows when a mail piece has entered different stages in the delivery cycle.