More than 67 million people use USPS Informed Delivery, a free, opt-in service from the United States Postal Service.
Informed Delivery grants you the ability to digitally preview mail before it arrives at your mailbox, helping you track your mail, plan for deliveries, and stay updated on packages scheduled to arrive without checking your physical mailbox or going to the post office.
What is USPS Informed Delivery?
Informed Delivery launched in most of the U.S. in 2017, and today, more than 67 million people use the service.
USPS Informed Delivery is a free service that lets you digitally preview your mail before it arrives. You will receive daily emails that show scanned images of the exterior of your mail. You can also track packages that are scheduled to arrive soon.
It’s important to note that Informed Delivery does not have a mechanism to open users' mail to show them what's inside envelopes or do anything with the contents.
Additionally, Informed Delivery does not filter out junk mail and the notifications aren’t always 100% accurate.
And because of its affiliation with USPS, Informed Delivery only shows incoming mail and packages from the postal service. It will not show incoming mail from other carriers, such as FedEx, DHL, or UPS.
How to sign up for Informed Delivery
Opening an Informed Delivery account is easy to do online. Skip the post office and follow these steps to start previewing your incoming mail.
1. Check if you’re eligible
The postal service limits who is eligible for Informed Delivery. Currently, it isn't offered to businesses. It’s available for residential addresses and P.O. boxes for personal use only.
USPS will check if your address is eligible during the signup process. Some residents in some densely populated urban areas may have difficulty signing up if they live in apartment complexes or buildings, but it’s always worth checking.
2. Make an account on USPS.com
Visit the Informed Delivery website and click “Sign Up for Free.” You’ll enter your email address, choose your account time, and enter your address. If your address is eligible, you’ll be prompted to opt in.
3. Verify your identity
You must verify your identity by completing a mobile phone verification process, or you can request the code by mail. When you verify your identity, you will be moved to the confirmation page. You can click “Go to Dashboard" or wait for the web page to automatically redirect you to your Informed Delivery account. You’ll also get a letter in the mail confirming your account.
4. Choose your notification settings
You can choose your Informed Delivery notifications within your dashboard. For example, you can opt-in to package tracking notifications like Day of Delivery, Available for Pickup, and Package-in-Transit updates. You can also opt in or out of the Daily Digest email notifications. You should start receiving notifications within three days of signup.
5. (Optional) Download the USPS phone app
The USPS mobile app is available on iOS and Android, giving you access to Informed Delivery mail previews, package tracking, and notifications. You can also take care of mail tasks like checking delivery status, scheduling pickups, and creating shipping labels without going to your local post office.
