Receive Mail & Packages | USPS (2024)

Receive Mail & Packages | USPS (1)

Enter a USPS Tracking® number in the search box to check the status of a package.

Track Your Package

Going out of town or want to change where your mail is delivered? Learn about all the ways to handle your incoming USPS® mail and packages and choose the best option.

Receive Mail & Packages | USPS (2)

Receive Mail & Packages | USPS (3)

Get Informed Delivery

Now both business and personal accounts can preview images* of mail and manage incoming packages on one dashboard without entering tracking numbers. From the Informed Delivery® dashboard, you can also sign up for text or email notifications, schedule delivery alerts, request Redelivery, enter USPS Delivery Instructions®, and more.

USPS Electronic Signature Online

Informed Delivery for personal accounts includes USPS Electronic Signature Online® (USPS eSOL®), a feature that allows you to digitally sign for incoming packages that require a signature including Priority Mail Express®, Signature Confirmation, and those insured for $500 or more. USPS carriers will leave your packages in your mailbox or at your preferred delivery location if they are too large to fit in your mailbox.

Get Started Nowwith Informed Delivery

*NOTE: Black and white (grayscale) images show the front of the outside of letter-sized envelopes and mailpieces that are processed through USPS® automated equipment.

Receive Mail & Packages | USPS (4)

Simple Ways to Manage Your Mail

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Standard Forward Mail & Change of Address

USPS is taking steps to increase security, combat identity theft, and further protect our customers' information. When you submit a change of address request online, you need to take additional steps to verify your identity:

  1. Opt in online to receive a verification code or link on your mobile phone OR go to a Post Office location with an acceptable photo ID to complete the identity verification process in person.
  2. Pay the $1.10 identity verification fee.

After your change of address request is approved, you'll get confirmation as well as instant access to valuable coupons provided by third-party retailers in your area. Your change of address request lasts for 12 months, but you can pay to extend it for 6, 12, or 18 more months.

Learn More about changing your address.

Premium Forwarding Mail

Taking a long vacation or an out-of-town assignment? For a weekly fee, you can have most mail sent to you each week with our Premium Forwarding Service Residential®. The temporary service is available for periods as short as 2 weeks and up to 1 year.

Learn More about Premium Forwarding Service Residential

Start Premium Forwarding

USPS Package Intercept

With USPS Package Intercept® service, you can redirect domestic packages, letters, and flats with a tracking or extra services barcode as long as the items have not yet been delivered or released for delivery. Either the sender or the recipient can request to have a shipment redirected as Priority Mail® back to the sender's address or to a Post Office™ location as a Hold For Pickup.

Learn More about USPS Package Intercept

Redirect a Package

Reserve a PO Box

Want to separate home and business mail or keep your address private? Reserving a PO Box™ is a great way to get your mail when and where you want it. PO Boxes are available in a range of costs and sizes. Just find one online near you, complete the application, pay with a credit card, and bring the printed form, your emailed receipt, and two IDs to the Post Office.

Reserve a PO Box

USPS Hold Mail

If you're going out of town for a while, you can submit a USPS Hold Mail® request online and we'll keep your mail safely at your local Post Office until you return. You can schedule the service up to 30 days in advance of your date or by 2 AM CST (Mon.–Sat.) on the start date.

For enhanced security, USPS now requires you to create or sign in to your USPS.com account to verify your identity and current address before submitting a new online USPS Hold Mail request.

Learn More about USPS Hold Mail service

Hold Your Mail

Hold For Pickup

Whether you’re shipping from a retail store or printing your own shipping label with postage, you can always elect to Hold For Pickup. Hold For Pickup allows the recipient to collect a package at the local Post Office. If you're the recipient and you'd like to redirect an incoming package to a Post Office for pickup, you can select Hold For Pickup using USPS Package Intercept®.

Get Started with Hold For Pickup

Schedule Redelivery Service

If we missed you when we tried to deliver your package or mail, you can get it redelivered by making a request online. Use the tracking barcode for your item and schedule Redelivery on a day that's more convenient for you. In select markets, recipients can also schedule Redelivery to a USPS® Smart Locker. If you have your tracking number, you can also schedule Redelivery via USPS Tracking®.

Schedule a Redelivery

USPS Delivery Instructions*

If your package doesn’t fit in your mailbox and you won’t be home to receive it, you can provide USPS Delivery Instructions online and authorize your carrier to leave it in a specified location. Just track your package and select “Delivery Instructions.” You can request that your package be left with a neighbor or held at a Post Office for pickup. For the cost of additional postage, you can have your package sent to a different domestic address. You can also change your shipping service option, upgrading to Priority Mail Express® service or Priority Mail® service, as well as add insurance and extra services.**

* Service is only available for packages sent domestically.
** Not available for packages sent to APO/FPO/DPO addresses. Other restrictions may apply.

Get Started with Delivery Instructions for your package

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Receive Mail & Packages | USPS (2024)

FAQs

Why am I not getting Informed Delivery emails anymore? ›

If you are not receiving notifications by email and would like to, check your Email Opt-In settings on your dashboard at informeddelivery.usps.com.

What does package acceptance mean? ›

When the individual package gets scanned, the tracking status will change to “Accepted at USPS Origin Facility. This is when the package will move between the USPS sorting centers. Shippers receive further updates once the shipment gets sorted. The sorting process decides the time and route of the shipment.

Why can't I get Informed Delivery at my address? ›

While most addresses are uniquely coded, not all are, especially in high density areas (e.g., apartment buildings or condos). If your address is not uniquely coded, you will not be able to sign up for Informed Delivery. Visit informeddelivery.usps.com to sign up and check if your address is eligible.

Do some packages not show up on Informed Delivery? ›

In general, letter-sized mailpieces are the focus of Informed Delivery, but not all will show up. Standard envelopes tend to appear reliably, while bigger packages, magazines, and some advertising materials may not.

Is USPS eliminating Informed Delivery? ›

Although the Informed Delivery app, top, will be discontinued soon, customers will still be able to access Informed Delivery notifications through the regular USPS Mobile app.

What's up with 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.

Why is my USPS package not being accepted? ›

Packages that are dropped off may not see processing or another scan for several days as USPS staff works through their backlog. Sometimes packages get lost. This means that package "acceptance" is delayed, or sometimes never updates past the "acceptance pending" status.

Why hasn't my USPS package moved in 3 days? ›

A USPS package may not be moving because it's stuck in customs. If the package is crossing borders, the delay may be because of incomplete documents or unpaid taxes. The package may also contain prohibited items, which also may cause delays.

Why is my package waiting to be accepted? ›

“Package Acceptance Pending” means USPS received the package, but hasn't sorted it. This is a common occurrence when shipping packages with USPS. If you check your package's shipping status and it says “Package Acceptance Pending,” it means that the package was taken by USPS but is waiting to be shipped out.

Why is mail not being delivered to my address? ›

Make sure there are no inconveniences for the carrier that limit access. Postal workers are not obliged to deliver mail if free and safe access to the mailbox is not provided. A vehicle may be parked in front of it, or a fallen tree limb, a huge pile of snow, or some other object could be blocking the way.

Why am I ineligible for Informed Delivery? ›

Note: You can only proceed if you have a valid address and live in eligible ZIP Code. If you do not meet these requirements, you cannot enroll in Informed Delivery at this time.

How accurate is Informed Delivery? ›

USPS email notifications aren't always accurate

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 show all mail coming? ›

Some of the mail I receive do 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.

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.

What mail does not get scanned for Informed Delivery? ›

If you have local mail not routed through a major facility your mail may not get scanned for Informed Delivery. If your mail is routied through a major facility each mailpiece is scanned by a high-speed scanner, which captures an image of the front and back of the mailpiece.

Why haven't my emails been coming through? ›

Your inbox could be full, and therefore turning away new messages. Or maybe you've got a forwarding setting turned on that's redirecting incoming emails to another inbox. Sometimes emails don't come through because you've previously added that sending email addresses to a blocked list.

Is the Informed Delivery app being discontinued? ›

The dedicated Informed Delivery mobile apps have been discontinued, but the service works within the official USPS Mobile app on iOS or Android. When the post office processes mail with its automated sorting equipment, it creates a digital image of every letter-size piece of mail.

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.

Why am I not getting my mail from the post office? ›

Delivery service may be suspended when there is an immediate threat (including, but not limited to, threats due to loose animals) to the delivery employee, mail security, or postal property. Delivery service may be temporarily withdrawn when animals interfere with our ability to complete mail delivery.

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