Informed Delivery® - The Basics

Overview What is Informed Delivery®? Informed Delivery is a free and optional online notification feature that gives residential, business and eligible PO Box™ consumers the ability to digitally preview their letter-sized mail and manage their packages scheduled to arrive soon. The United States Postal Service® (USPS) digitally images the front of letter-sized mail that runs through our automated mail sorting equipment. USPS uses those images to provide digital notifications in advance of the delivery of physical mail.
Who is eligible for Informed Delivery®? Informed Delivery is available to most residential and PO Box™ addresses, as well as some business addresses. Visit informeddelivery.usps.com to check if your address is eligible and sign up.

Note: In rare instances, you may live in an eligible ZIP Code location, but can't sign up because your individual mailbox is not uniquely coded; this coding determines which images are provided to each Informed Delivery user and ensures that users can only view mail destined for their 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.

What will Informed Delivery show me? Incoming Mailpieces: You will receive daily emails to the email address associated with your USPS.com® account containing images of the address side of up to 10 pieces of incoming letter mail. You can also view these images on your Informed Delivery online dashboard, where there is no limit on the number of images that will be shown.

Note: Some mailpieces (e.g., catalogs or magazines) are not imaged by our automated equipment and will not appear in your Informed Delivery email or dashboard. If a scan is detected on these types of mailpieces, you will see a message stating, "There is one or more mailpieces for which we do not currently have an image that is included in today's mail."

Incoming and Outbound Packages: You will also status updates for packages arriving at your address and packages you have sent at the bottom of your Informed Delivery Daily Digest email and within your Informed Delivery dashboard. Informed Delivery Interactive Content: Mailers and shippers can supplement their physical mailpiece or package with a custom image and call-to-action known as an interactive campaign. From your Daily Digest email or dashboard, you can slick the image (color image below the grayscale image) or the "Learn More" button to access the mailer or shipper's digital content. H ow are my Informed Delivery notifications delivered? Informed Delivery notifications are delivered via Daily Digest email, on your online Informed Delivery dashboard, and on the USPS Mobile® application. Informed Delivery can only be sent to one email address per account. However, multiple accounts can have Informed Delivery for the same address.

To change or opt out of any Informed Delivery notification:

Signing Up / Welcome Letter

How do I sign up for Informed Delivery®?

To sign up for Informed Delivery with a new account:

  1. Visithttps://reg.usps.com/informeddelivery/welcome
  2. Create your account: Select "Sign Up for Free"
  3. Verify your identity: Protect your privacy and personal information by verifying your identity and address
  4. Watch for updates: Look for mail and package updates via email, the online dashboard, or the USPS Mobile® app

Existing Personal Account Customers:

  1. Visithttps://reg.usps.com/informeddelivery/welcome
  2. Select "Sign In"
  3. Enter your email address, then enter your username and password
  4. The system will verify your mailing address is eligible for Informed Delivery and will guide you through the process of enrolling in Informed Delivery
  5. If you are unable to verify your identity online, the system will present options to "Request Code by Mail" or "Verify at Post Office" via in-person verification at a local Post Office
  6. Click on "Informed Delivery"
  7. Select the checkbox to opt-in for Informed Delivery and agree to the Terms and Conditions
  8. If your identity cannot be verified online, the system will automatically present options to either "Request Invitation Code by Mail" or "Verify at Post Office" via in-person verification at a local Post Office

Request Code:

    1. Click "Request Code by Mail"
    2. Check the box "I acknowledge that I warrant and represent that I am eligible to receive mail at this address indicated in my profile"
    3. Click "Request Code"
    4. You should receive your code in the mail within 3-7 postal business days
      • Once the code is received, sign into https://reg.usps.com/informeddelivery/welcome. The system will determine a code was requested and will provide a form for entering the code. An alternate method is to sign into your USPS.com personal account and go to Account Preferences > Informed Delivery > "Click here if you have already received an invitation code" and enter your code.

    Verify at Post Office:

      1. Click "Find Post Office"
      2. You will be presented with a list of nearby participating Post Offices, or you can search for a Post Office by ZIP Code™
      3. Select "Continue to In-Person Verification". You will be redirected to a page that contains detailed instructions and receive an email with further instructions

      Existing Business Account Customers:

      1. Sign into your USPS.com business account
      2. From your account's Preferences page, Click on "Informed Delivery"
      3. Select the checkbox to opt-in to Informed Delivery and agree to the Terms and Conditions
      4. Request and Informed Delivery Verification Code by checking the box next to disclaimer, "By checking this box and accepting, I acknowledge that I warrant and represent that I am eligible to receive mail at this address indicated in my profile."
      5. Your code will be received by mail within 3-7 postal business days
      6. When the code is received sign into your USPS.com business account, go to your account's Preferences page and under Informed Delivery enter the code to finalize the verification process. Any profile updates for your account will invalidate the code. You will have to request a new code via mail after completing all profile updates for your account.

      Notes: If you have an existing personal account with Informed Delivery and change the account type to business, you must opt back in to Informed Delivery under Account Preferences. A business account cannot be changed to a personal account.

      What if I can’t verify my identity online?

      If you are unable to verify your identity online, the system will provide options to Request a Code by Mail or Verify at a Post Office. If you want to verify your identity in person at a USPS retail location, please see above section titled "Verify at Post Office".

      Bring all required documentation and forms of acceptable forms of identification to the facility you select. If you do not follow the steps above immediately after failing the identity verification process, for security purposes you will need to wait 72 hours before you may attempt online identity verification again.

      Note: Most post office retail locations offer in-person identity proofing. In-person Identity Proofing will not be offered if the closest post office is more than 50 miles away from the address on the account.

      Welcome Letter

      A Welcome Letter is sent as a part of our mail-based verification of new Informed Delivery accounts. 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.
      • Visit https://reg.usps.com/idremove .
      • Enter the alphanumeric unsubscribe code provided in the letter. The code is case-sensitive and must be entered exactly as it appears in the letter.
      • Select a reason for unsubscribing in the drop-down menu.
      • Click the “Submit” button.
        • Upon your submission of this code, the account associated with the unsubscribe code is unenrolled from Informed Delivery and access is disabled.

        Dashboard

        Your Informed Delivery ® dashboard displays serves as your central hub for Informed Delivery. It displays mail images for a seven-day period , and package information for 15 days after each package has been delivered . View scan history, leave delivery instructions, or schedule a redelivery. Outbound packages can only be viewed on the dashboard by manually inputting the tracking number. There is no limit to the number of packages that appear on your dashboard.

        You can also use the Informed Delivery dashboard to update your Informed Delivery settings. From the settings page:

        • Update your Daily Digest email preferences and email address
        • Update your SMS (text) tracking notifications and mobile phone number
        • Update package tracking notifications
        • Enroll in USPS Electronic Signature Online®

        To explore the features of the dashboard, select the "Packages" tab to see a list of your incoming and delivered packages. Then select the blue arrow on the right side of the package entry to:

        • View the tracking scan history
        • Leave USPS Delivery Instructions® if the package is eligible
        • Schedule a redelivery if the package is eligible
        • Add a nickname to the package
        • Remove the package from the dashboard

        If you wish to add additional packages to your dashboard that are not currently displayed, click "Add USPS Tracking® Number or Traceable Indicia ID+" and enter the tracking number.

        Daily Digest & Mail Delivery Notifications / Issues Receiving Notifications

        Daily Digest Notifications

        As an Informed Delivery user, you can opt-in to receive daily emails to the email address in your USPS.com account containing images of the address side of up to 10 pieces of incoming letter mail as well as the status of incoming and outbound packages.

        While only the first 10 pieces of mail appear in your Daily Digest email, the remaining mail images can be viewed on your dashboard for a 7-day period. The Daily Digest email will not always show all packages destined to your address that day (e.g., items scanned into our system after the email has been sent). Outbound packages will only display on your Informed Delivery email if your account return address is included on the package and the package is within 3 days of its expected delivery date. There is a limit of 20 outbound packages that can be displayed on your email each day.

        Mail Delivery Notifications

        The Mail Delivery Notification feature sends an email notification alerting you that your daily letter mail has been delivered to your mailbox. These notifications rely on data from our letter carrier's scanning devices and are sent within approximately 30 minutes of your mail being delivered. These emails are separate from your Informed Delivery Daily Digest emails, and will not appear in your Informed Delivery dashboard.

        To opt in to receive Mail Delivery Notification emails, or to manage other Informed Delivery notifications, log into your Informed Delivery account and go to "Settings". You can opt out at any time in Informed Delivery settings, or by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of the Mail Delivery Notification email.

        If your Mail Delivery Notification is not accurate, you may complete the survey found at the bottom of the email. You may also email USPSInformedDeliveryQuestions@usps.gov.

        Please note the following:

        • Notifications are not available for PO Box addresses
        • Notifications do not guarantee that a specific piece of mail seen in your Daily Digest was delivered that day
        • Notifications can only be sent by email
        • Notifications will only be sent if you have mail content in your Daily Digest email; mail could still be delivered to your home even if you did not receive a Daily Digest email or have any mail displayed on your Informed Delivery dashboard that day.

        Issues Receiving Notifications

        Issue

        Solution

        I did not receive mail that was in today’s Daily Digest.

        Not all mail seen in the Daily Digest will be received the same day.

        If you have additional questions, please see the Privacy & Security Concerns section below.

        My mail is on Hold.

        If you have submitted a USPS Hold Mail® request, your physical mail will be held but you will still receive Informed Delivery notifications.

        I'm not receiving email notifications.

        You should begin to receive notifications within three business days, but in rare instances it can take up to 7 days for activation to complete.

        • Check your email spam filter settings and your deleted items or junk email folders. You should also check the email address in your USPS.com profile for accuracy
        Note: We recommend adding USPSInformeddelivery@email.informeddelivery.usps.com to email contacts as a trusted source to help prevent your email spam filter from blocking Informed Delivery email digests.
        • Verify that the email address in your USPS.com profile is accurate
        • Verify that you have chosen to opt-in for Daily Digest Email notifications
          • Login to your account at informeddelivery.usps.com
          • From your dashboard, go to "Settings"
          • Select "Yes" to turn on Informed Delivery email notifications

          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.
          • There are also instances where automated equipment is moved or shut down temporarily for maintenance. In some rare cases, pieces of mail may overlap when the image is taken. Any of these issues may result in images not matching the actual mail delivered that day.

          I can't log into my dashboard.

          • You could encounter this issue if you signed up for Informed Delivery through an Official Internet Change of Address (COA), or if a USPS employee helped sign you up using a mobile enrollment app. During initial sign up, you should have received an email from us. It contains a one-time link that can be used to complete the sign up process (complete the account registration process by selecting a username and password). Completing these steps will grant you full access to your Informed Delivery dashboard.
          • If the link in the email has expired or if you can no longer locate the email, you must create a new account on USPS.com in order to sign up.

          Why am I receiving notifications for my roommate’s mail?

          I updated my account profile and lost Informed Delivery.

          Viewing Package Details / Fraudulent Package Notifications

          Within your Daily Digest Email:

          You can view the delivery status of both incoming packages (i.e., packages arriving at your address) and outbound packages (i.e., package you have sent) at the bottom of your Informed Delivery email. the Daily Digest email will not always show all packages destined to your address that day (e.g., items scanned into our system after the email has been sent). Outbound packages will only display on your Informed Delivery email if your account return address is included on the package and the package is within three days of its expected delivery date.

          On your Informed Delivery Dashboard:

          On the Informed Delivery dashboard, you can select "Packages" to see a list of your incoming and delivered packages. Click on the blue arrow on the right side of the package entry to expand the field and see the scan history, leave delivery instructions, or schedule redelivery. Outbound packages can only be viewed on the dashboard by manually inputting the tracking number. If you wish to add additional packages to your dashboard that are not currently displayed, click "Add USPS Tracking® Number or Traceable Indicia ID+" and enter the tracking number.

          Will I see images of packages?

          No. Package information will be presented as status updates, not images.


          What does the color coding indicate for packages?

          Packages are sorted into four categories:

          Packages that have been delivered are displayed in green text for 15 days after delivery.

          Packages currently in transit are displayed in blue text.

          Packages for which USPS cannot yet accurately predict a delivery date are displayed in gray text. This may occur when USPS has received pre-shipment information and is pending determination of a delivery date.

          Packages for which action is required are displayed in red text. For instance, a package requiring redelivery appears in red.

          Package Tracking Emails
          Informed Delivery customers are automatically opted-in to email notifications from USPS Tracking® when there is an update on your package's delivery status ("Expected Delivery Updates"). They provide enhanced package visibility and security, keeping you informed on your package's status.

          You can opt-in to several additional package notifications by going to your Informed Delivery Settings page:

          • Day of Delivery
          • Package Delivered
          • Available for Pickup
          • Delivery Exception updates
          • Package In-Transit updates

          Package tracking email notifications will be sent to the email address used to enroll in Informed Delivery. If you have updated your email address for Informed Delivery Daily Digest emails, this will not automatically update the email address for package tracking notifications. To update the email address for package tracking notifications, you must manually enter the email address within Informed Delivery Settings under "Package Notification Options".

          To opt out of the automatic tracking emails, log into your Informed Delivery account, go to "Settings" and uncheck the box "Expected Delivery Updates". You can also choose to receive text notifications in addition to or instead of email notifications.

          Packages Destined to USPS Smart Lockers

          If you have a package coming to you that is destined for delivery to a USPS Smart Locker, you will see the following notification in your Daily Digest email:

          • The email address associated with the package must match the email address for your Informed Delivery account.
          • Tracking information beginning when the USPS Smart Locker package is within 3 days of delivery.
          • Indication that the USPS Smart Locker package has been delivered to a locker.
          • A one-time use QR Code to open the locker.
            • The QR Code will be displayed in the Daily Digest until the package is picked up from the locker
            • The QR Code will expire after 5 calendar days. After 5 days, your package will be removed from the Smart Locker and held at the Post Office retail counter for retrieval during their normal business hours.

            For additional information about USPS Smart Lockers, please visit USPS Smart Locker (uspssmartpackagelockers.com)

            Fraudulent Package Notifications
            Fraudulent package alerts provide Informed Delivery customers notification that a package being shipped to you has been determined to have counterfeit or fraudulent postage. These are similar alerts to what is seen on the USPS Tracking page on USPS.com

            Please see our FAQ Counterfeit Postage for additional information on items with counterfeit postage.

            Change of Address

            After you submit an Official Change of Address (online at moversguide.usps.com , in-person at a Post Office™, or through your mail carrier), you will receive an email and a physical letter with a 9-digit alpha-numeric code requesting confirmation of your change of address. If USPS determines that there is a usps.com ® account that corresponds to the information in the change of address submission, access to Informed Delivery® will be temporarily suspended. If your new address is within a participating ZIP Code™ location and the feature is available at your new address, you will be able to resume notification emails once you confirm your change of address by following the instructions in your Change of Address validation letter.

            It is likely that your usps.com ® profile is not updated with your current address. The best way to prevent this issue is to submit an Official Change of Address online at moversguide.usps.com , in person at a Post Office™, or through your carrier. This will allow you to easily transfer your Informed Delivery® account to your new address if the United States Postal Service® can match your Change of Address and online usps.com account details.

            If you have already moved and did not submit an Official Change of Address, please update your address in your usps.com profile. Once you update your address, the Informed Delivery notifications from your old address will be discontinued.

            When the Postal Service detects that a permanent Official Change of Address has a corresponding usps.com account, access to your Informed Delivery account will be temporarily suspended. Access is suspended to prevent unauthorized access to your mail or package information until your permanent change of address is confirmed. You will be able to easily resume access at the address where you currently reside by following instructions in the change of address confirmation letter(s).

            When the Postal Service® detects that an Official Change of Address submission has a corresponding usps.com ® account, access to Informed Delivery for the online account will be temporarily suspended until the change of address is confirmed. Two confirmation letters containing unique validation codes will be mailed to each address listed on your official change of address submission (these are referred to as your "old address" and "new address" on your Official Change of Address form). The letters should be received within 3-5 business days of when the services were suspended. The Official Change of Address process is associated with a physical move of an individual or family, the Postal Service® needs to ensure that you are able to receive mail at the address where you intend to use Informed Delivery®. Email cannot be used to verify your physical residence.

            • If you have already moved to your new address, visit reg.usps.com/restoreaccess to enter the validation code listed on the physical letter that was mailed to your new address. This will automatically restore your access to Informed Delivery at your new home, if the feature is available at your new address. Only enter the validation code pertaining to the address where you reside, which is where you receive Informed Delivery notifications. If you received a letter at your “old address,” and you are not the addressee, you may discard the letter for the address and no action is required.
            • If you did not move and need to restore your Informed Delivery access at your “old address”, visit reg.usps.com/restoreaccess to enter the validation code listed on the letter that was mailed to you at your current address.
            • If you recently submitted an Official Change of Address and have completed your move, but still have access to Informed Delivery, you must edit the profile on your usps.com account to match your current address. 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.
            • Validation codes are active for 60 days from the move date on your Change of Address. Informed Delivery® will remain suspended until one of the validation codes received at the old or new address is entered online. If your validation code expires, you have to go through the identity verification process for your current address on reg.usps.com/preferences to restore your access to Informed Delivery, if available at your address.
            • Only enter the validation code for the address where you reside, which is where you will receive Informed Delivery® notifications. Only use the validation code associated with the old address if you do not actually move or if you did not request an Official Change of Address.
            • If you received a Change of Address validation code letter at your address that is not addressed to you or anyone in the household, no action is required from you. Your mail information and any online accounts you have with the Postal Service® are safe and have not been affected.

            Get a new Change of Address validation code

            If you misplaced your validation code or never received it, a second set of validation codes are automatically sent 30 days after the original Change of Address was submitted. A reminder email is sent after 15 days. If you do not receive the second set, you may submit a new Change of Address either online at moversguide.usps.com or in person at a local post office, which will generate a new set of confirmation codes to be mailed to you.

            If you submit an Official Change of Address with the intent to move to a new address but do not actually move, enter the validation code in the letter you received at your current address (“old address” from your change of address submission) to restore your access to Informed Delivery®. You can always submit a new Change of Address if you plan to move again in the future.

            Redelivery

            Redelivery is only available after a failed delivery attempt. You will not see a redelivery option for your item if an initial delivery attempt has not happened. Additionally, once a delivery attempt is marked as final notice, there are set timelines for when the item will be returned to the sender. Your items will be returned to the sender on the date indicated in this set timeline unless you arrange a redelivery or come to pick them up at your local Post Office™ facility before this date.


            Change or Cancel a Redelivery Request placed via Informed Delivery®

            To modify your redelivery request through your Activity History:

            1. Sign in to your account.
            2. Hover over your name in the top navigation bar and click "My Profile."
            3. Click "Activity History" from the left navigation.
            4. Find the redelivery from the list of previous orders and click "View Details."
            5. Within the "View Details" page, you can see the information on Redelivery and click "Edit" which will take you to the editable Redelivery page. You can modify the article number, type of mail, how and when you want to get your items, packages, and additional instructions.
            6. After making updates, scroll to the bottom of the page and click the "Make Changes" button. Then select "Yes" to verify.
            7. A confirmation page will be displayed to indicate your request has been updated and a confirmation email will be sent. The update will also be in your "Activity History."

            Issue

            Solution

            How do I update my email address?

            I forgot my password.

            1. Go to USPS.com and click “Register / Sign In” located in the top right hand corner.
            2. Select the “Forgot your password?” link.
            3. Enter your username.
            4. Select the “Continue” button.
            5. Select "Answer secret questions" or "Send temporary password to validated mobile number" (if you have enabled mobile device account recovery) and follow the instructions.

            I forgot my username.

            1. Go to USPS.com and click “Register / Sign In” located in the top right hand corner.
            2. Select the “Forgot your username?” link.
            3. Enter the email address associated to your username.
            4. Select the “Continue” button.
            5. If your username is eligible for retrieval, you will receive an email containing your username.

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            Privacy & Security Concerns / Missing Mail

            I received a letter saying that someone at my home address signed up for Informed Delivery®.

            This letter is sent as a part of our mail-based verification of new Informed Delivery ® accounts.


            If you or other adult members of your household do not recognize the masked username or email address referenced in the letter, please follow these steps:

            1. Visit https://reg.usps.com/idremove.
            2. Enter the alphanumeric unsubscribe code provided in the letter. The code is case-sensitive and must be entered exactly as it appears in the letter.
            3. Select a reason for unsubscribing.
            4. Click the "Submit" button.

            Upon your submission of this code, the Informed Delivery access is disabled.


            How can I be sure that notification emails are from USPS® and not spam?

            All emails from the U.S. Postal Service® originate from our mail system and the contents are strictly images of the mailpieces associated with your delivery address or notifications for packages arriving soon. Email messages will be sent from USPSInformeddelivery@email.informeddelivery.usps.com to the email associated with an Informed Delivery user's usps.com® profile.

            The U.S. Postal Service® takes the privacy of customers’ mail very seriously and takes measures to ensure that all personal information is protected. Because Informed Delivery gives you increased visibility into both mail and packages being delivered to your address, USPS® follows industry best practices to verify your identity, including the use of a mail-based verification letter.

            • The scanned mail images are of the external markings, showing only the exterior, address side of letter-sized mailpieces. Package notifications do not include images, only information on the delivery status of the package.
            • Your mail is protected by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service ® , whose sole mandate is to safeguard the entire U.S. Postal Service ® system, including the employees who deliver and process the mail and millions of customers who use it.
            • The U.S. Postal Service adheres to the privacy requirements of the Privacy Act established by the federal government which controls when and how the USPS shares personal information and limits the conditions in which that information can be disclosed externally to outside parties.

            Missing Mail / Did not receive a mailpiece shown in today’s alert

            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.

            Unfortunately, an occasional piece of mail may fail to reach its destination. Reports of mail loss greatly concern us. Regrettably, when such instances are brought to our attention, there is no sure way of determining what may have happened. With the large volume of mail moving through our network each day, it is not feasible to trace a single piece of letter-sized mail.

            Report Mailpiece Not Received
            With the Informed Delivery feature, there is an option to report instances where you've received an image of a mailpiece, however, the physical mailpiece has not arrived in your mailbox.
            • Users can click the link "Report missing mail" near the bottom of their daily Informed Delivery email to report a specific mailpiece was not delivered.
            • Alternatively, users can sign into their Informed Delivery dashboard on USPS.com and check the box "I did not receive this mailpiece" below the image of the mail not received.
            • We recommend that you contact the sender to request re-delivery of the mailpiece if warranted.
            Referrals, Reminders & Sharing Feature

            Referrals Feature

            Refer your friends and family to Informed Delivery so they can experience the benefits. You can click the referral banner that appears at the bottom of the Daily Digest to refer a friend via text or email. Once selected, a pre-populated email or text message with a link to enroll in Informed Delivery will be generated.

            Reminders Feature

            The Informed Delivery Reminders feature allows you to view your Daily Digest and select the "Set a Reminder" button beside an eligible mailpiece. Select a date to receive a reminder email including the mailpiece image and any associated digital content. You will receive an email reminder on the selected day.

            Social Sharing Feature

            To share links to the digital content via text, email or social media, you can click the social media sharing icons that appear alongside digital content. Once you click an icon, a pre-populated message will appear and include the link associated to the digital content. The sender will manually enter the recipient's phone number or email address. When the recipient receives the email or text message, it will appear from the sender's phone number or email address.

            • Click the icon to share digital content via email
            • Click the icon to share digital content via text