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The United States Postal Service bridges the gap between physical mail and online convenience with Informed Delivery. This free service lets you digitally preview incoming mail and manage packages before they arrive at your mailbox.
Launched nationwide in 2017, the service provides grayscale images of letter-sized mailpieces and tracking information for upcoming packages.
The service is available to residential customers and personal P.O. Box holders, who can view these previews through daily emails, an online dashboard, or the USPS Mobile app. Beyond mail previews, users can track packages, schedule redeliveries, provide delivery instructions, and manage their mail remotely.
The service now reaches approximately 31.8% of eligible delivery points, with high satisfaction rates—about 89% of users report being satisfied, and roughly 90% would recommend it to others.
How Informed Delivery Works
The Scanning Process
Mail pieces travel through USPS automated sorting machines that take grayscale pictures of the front (address side) of letter-sized mail. These images are captured during normal mail processing.
Letters and postcards are automatically photographed during sorting. Larger items like magazines, catalogs, and packages use different processing equipment and typically don’t generate preview images.
Digital Delivery
Once mail is processed, USPS uploads these digital images to their system. Users receive images in their daily email digest, typically delivered by 9:00 AM on the expected delivery day, before physical mail arrives.
Digital notifications include:
- Grayscale images of letter-sized mail (address side only)
- Information about upcoming packages
- Optional promotional images and clickable links from participating businesses
Package Tracking
For packages, Informed Delivery integrates with USPS tracking systems to provide status updates in one convenient location. Users can track delivery status, receive notifications, and manage delivery preferences for both incoming and outbound packages.
Eligibility Requirements
Address Requirements
- Residential addresses in eligible ZIP codes (most are eligible)
- Personal P.O. Box addresses (business P.O. Boxes require a USPS.com business account)
- Uniquely coded mailboxes (individual delivery points)
Current Limitations
- Not available for business street addresses without a USPS.com business account
- Not available in all ZIP codes, though coverage continues to expand
- Some apartment buildings or condos may not be eligible due to shared mail delivery systems
You can check your address eligibility during sign-up on the USPS website. If your address isn’t currently eligible, check back later as coverage expands.
Sign-Up Process
Setting up Informed Delivery takes just a few steps:
Step 1: Create or Sign Into Your USPS.com Account
Sign in if you already have a USPS.com account, or create one if you don’t.
Step 2: Check Address Eligibility
Enter your residential address or P.O. Box to verify eligibility for Informed Delivery.
Step 3: Accept Terms and Conditions
Review and accept the service terms.
Step 4: Verify Your Identity
This security step ensures only authorized individuals can access mail previews. Verify through:
- Mobile phone verification (one-time passcode via text)
- Request an invitation code by mail
- In-person verification at a participating USPS location if online verification isn’t possible
Step 5: Set Notification Preferences
Choose how you want to receive notifications (email, app, or both) and customize your settings.
You’ll typically start receiving notifications within three business days. If you don’t see them, check your spam folder and add [email protected] to your contacts.
Features and Benefits
Daily Mail Previews
See grayscale images of upcoming letter-sized mail, helping you anticipate important documents and correspondence.
Package Management
Track and manage packages in one place:
- View package details and tracking history
- Provide delivery instructions
- Schedule redelivery for missed deliveries
- Add package nicknames for easy identification
- Remove packages you no longer want to track
Delivery Notifications
Get alerts when mail has been delivered to your mailbox, providing peace of mind when traveling or expecting important items.
Digital Signature Registration
Register your electronic signature for packages requiring signatures, allowing delivery to your mailbox when you’re not available to sign in person.
Enhanced Security
Knowing what mail to expect helps identify missing items, adding security for your postal deliveries.
Convenience
Access your mail information from anywhere via email, the USPS website, or the USPS Mobile app, staying connected to your physical mail regardless of location.
Maximizing Your Experience
Customize Notifications
Adjust how and when you receive notifications in your Informed Delivery settings. Choose daily emails, app alerts, or both.
Enable Package Alerts
Turn on automatic package tracking notifications to receive text or email updates about delivery status.
Use the Mobile App
Download the USPS Mobile app for on-the-go access to your Informed Delivery dashboard, allowing you to manage mail and packages from your smartphone.
Add Package Names
Assign unique nicknames to packages to easily track multiple items, especially useful during busy shopping periods.
Combine with Mail Hold
Use Informed Delivery with USPS Hold Mail service when traveling. Monitor incoming mail digitally while preventing physical mail accumulation in your mailbox.
Service Limitations
Image Availability
Only letter-sized mailpieces processed through automated equipment generate preview images. Magazines, catalogs, and larger items typically don’t appear in notifications.
Timing Differences
Sometimes mail appears in notifications before physical delivery. Various factors in mail processing can cause this timing discrepancy.
Image Quality
Preview images are grayscale and may not always be perfectly clear, making some mail difficult to identify.
Incomplete Coverage
Some mail items might not be captured by the scanning system, resulting in a message stating “A piece of mail that we do not have an image for is included in today’s mail.”
Verification Challenges
Some users may face difficulties with identity verification during signup, requiring additional steps like in-person verification.
Comparison to Other Mail Services
Virtual Mailbox Services
Unlike full-service virtual mailboxes, Informed Delivery:
- Does not open or scan mail contents
- Cannot forward mail to different addresses
- Is completely free rather than subscription-based
- Shows only mail exteriors, not contents
Mail Forwarding
Informed Delivery complements but doesn’t replace USPS mail forwarding. When moving, you need to set up mail forwarding separately from updating your Informed Delivery address.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will I start receiving notifications after registering?
You’ll typically start receiving notifications within 3 business days after completing registration and verification.
Why am I not seeing mail images?
You’ll only receive previews on days when you’re getting mail. Check your spam filters and make sure you’ve added the Informed Delivery email address to your contacts. Also verify your notification settings are properly configured.
What if I can’t verify my identity online?
Visit a USPS location offering Identity Verification Services to complete the process in person.
How does Informed Delivery work when I move?
Set up mail forwarding through the USPS Change of Address service first. Once forwarding is established, update your Informed Delivery account with your new address.
Is the service secure?
Yes, USPS implements security measures including identity verification during signup to protect your privacy and personal information, ensuring only authorized individuals can access mail previews.
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