Managing daily correspondence doesn't have to mean guessing what's waiting in your mailbox. USPS Informed Delivery gives residential consumers a digital preview of their incoming letter-sized mail and package shipments before physical delivery occurs. Knowing how to set up and manage your account helps you monitor shipments, spot missing items early, and secure your deliveries against porch piracy.
The service captures grayscale images of the exterior address side of incoming letter-sized mailpieces processed through automated postal sorting equipment. It pairs these scans with tracking barcode data for larger packages, consolidating everything into a single dashboard accessible via web browser or mobile app.
What USPS Informed Delivery Offers
The platform provides several core digital features designed to streamline household mail management without requiring complicated software or paid subscriptions.
- Grayscale Mail Previews: Receive daily email notifications or log into your dashboard to view black-and-white images of letter-sized mail pieces arriving that day.
- Package Tracking Integration: Automatically track incoming packages associated with your shipping address, complete with real-time status updates and delivery confirmation.
- Notification Preferences: Choose whether to receive daily digest emails, text alerts for specific package updates, or both.
- Dashboard History: Access up to seven days of past mail images and a thirty-day archive of package tracking numbers.
Account Requirements and Eligibility
Before creating a profile, certain address and identity verification criteria must be met. The United States Postal Service restricts the service to eligible residential addresses.
- Address Verification: The system verifies your physical residential mailing address against official postal databases. P.O. Boxes are eligible if they meet specific criteria, but business addresses are generally routed through commercial portals.
- Identity Check: Online identity verification uses credit bureau data or security questions based on public records. If online verification fails, users can complete an in-person identity check at a local post office with an official photo ID.
- Household Limits: Each address can support multiple individual user accounts, but every adult resident must set up their own separate login credentials rather than sharing a single profile.
Step-by-Step Setup Guide
Getting started takes just a few minutes if your address passes automated identity and security checks.
- Navigate to the official USPS Informed Delivery portal.
- Click the registration or sign-up button and enter your primary residential address to confirm service availability in your ZIP code.
- Create a secure username, provide a valid email address, and choose a strong password meeting complexity requirements.
- Answer the identity verification security questions carefully to confirm your association with the address.
- If online verification succeeds, your account activates immediately. If prompted to verify in person, bring a valid driver's license or state ID to your local USPS Location Finder counter.
Common Account Management Mistakes
Avoiding common pitfalls ensures uninterrupted access to your daily mail digests and package tracking alerts.
- Sharing Logins: Couples or roommates who share a single login often run into notification conflicts. Each person needs a unique account linked to their own email address.
- Ignoring Address Updates: If you move, updating your address with the standard Change of Service is separate from updating your dashboard profile. You must re-verify your new address.
- Spam Filter Blocks: Daily digest emails sometimes land in spam folders during initial setup. Whitelisting the official USPS domain prevents missed notifications.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Informed Delivery show every piece of mail I receive?
The service displays exterior scans of letter-sized flats and envelopes processed through automated sorting equipment. Large catalogs, magazines, and items processed on manual sorting lines may not trigger a daily scan image, though associated packages will still appear in your dashboard tracking list.
Is USPS Informed Delivery completely free to use?
Yes, the standard consumer version is a free service provided by the postal service for eligible residential addresses.
What should I do if a piece of mail appears in my daily digest but doesn't arrive?
Mailpiece images are captured at regional sorting facilities up to several days before local delivery. If an item appears in your morning digest but doesn't show up in your physical mailbox, wait one to two business days, as mail carriers occasionally run behind schedule or deliver items on the following delivery cycle.
Can I use Informed Delivery for a business address?
The standard consumer portal is built exclusively for residential households. Businesses must utilize enterprise shipping and commercial tracking tools provided through the USPS Business Customer Gateway.
