How to Sign Up for Informed Delivery: A Simple Guide

In today’s fast-paced world, knowing what to expect in your mailbox can save you time and provide peace of mind. Informed Delivery by USPS is a free service that allows you to preview your incoming mail and manage your packages digitally. This guide will walk you through the simple process of signing up, ensuring you can take full advantage of this convenient service.

What is Informed Delivery?

Informed Delivery is a complimentary service from the United States Postal Service (USPS) that provides eligible users with a digital preview of their household’s incoming mail. You receive daily email notifications containing grayscale images of the exterior, address side of letter-sized mailpieces that are scheduled to arrive soon. It also allows you to track packages and reschedule deliveries.

Benefits of Using Informed Delivery

Signing up for Informed Delivery offers several practical advantages for managing your mail and packages:

• Preview Mail: See images of your incoming letter-sized mailpieces before they reach your physical mailbox. This helps you anticipate important documents, bills, or even personal letters.
• Track Packages: Easily view the delivery status of incoming packages, reschedule deliveries if needed, and leave delivery instructions for the carrier.
• Enhance Security: Knowing what mail is expected can help you identify missing mail or potential fraud more quickly. If you see something in your digest that doesn’t arrive, you can follow up.
• Convenience: Access your mail information anywhere, anytime, from your computer or mobile device. This is especially useful when you’re traveling or away from home.
• Digital Actions: In some cases, you can take action on certain mailpieces, like opting in to receive digital versions of magazines or catalogs, directly from your digest.

Eligibility Requirements

Before you begin the signup process, ensure you meet the basic eligibility criteria for Informed Delivery:

• Residential Address: The service is primarily available for residential addresses. Business addresses are generally not eligible.
• Eligible ZIP Code: While widely available, Informed Delivery might not be offered in all ZIP codes. The USPS website will confirm eligibility during signup.
• USPS.com Account: You need an existing USPS.com account, or you will create one during the signup process.
• Identity Verification: To protect your privacy and security, USPS requires a robust identity verification process.

Step-by-Step Guide to Signing Up for Informed Delivery

Follow these straightforward steps to enroll in Informed Delivery:

Step 1: Visit the USPS Website

Open your web browser and go to the official USPS Informed Delivery page. You can typically find this by searching for “USPS Informed Delivery” or directly visiting informeddelivery.usps.com.

Step 2: Create or Log In to Your Account

On the Informed Delivery page, look for the “Sign Up For Free” or “Sign In” button.

• New User: If you don’t have a USPS.com account, you will be prompted to create one. This involves providing your name, address, phone number, email, and creating a username and password.
• Existing User: If you already have a USPS.com account, simply log in with your credentials.

Step 3: Verify Your Address Eligibility

After logging in or creating your account, you’ll be asked to enter your residential address. The system will then check if Informed Delivery is available in your ZIP code.

Step 4: Complete Identity Verification

This is a critical security step to ensure only authorized individuals can access your mail information. USPS offers a few ways to verify your identity:

• Online Verification: This is the quickest method. You’ll answer a series of personal questions based on public and credit report data. These questions are designed to be known only by you.
• In-Person Verification: If online verification isn’t successful or preferred, you can choose to verify your identity at a local Post Office. You’ll need to bring valid photo identification.
• Mail Verification: In some cases, USPS might send a verification letter with a unique code to your address. You’ll then enter this code online to complete the process.

It’s important to complete the verification accurately to proceed.

Step 5: Activate Informed Delivery

Once your identity is successfully verified, you will be able to activate the Informed Delivery service. You’ll typically confirm your desire to receive daily email digests.

What to Expect After Signing Up

After successfully activating Informed Delivery, here’s what you can anticipate:

• Daily Email Digest: Each morning, usually before your mail is delivered, you’ll receive an email containing grayscale images of the front of letter-sized mailpieces scheduled for delivery that day.
• Package Updates: Any packages sent to your address that are processed by USPS will also appear in your daily digest, along with tracking information.
• Interactive Dashboard: You can log into your USPS.com account anytime to view your mail and package dashboard, access past digests, and manage your preferences.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

While the signup process is generally smooth, you might encounter a few common issues:

• “Informed Delivery Not Available” Message: Double-check your address for typos. If it’s correct, your ZIP code might not yet be eligible for the service.
• Identity Verification Failure: If online verification fails, try answering the questions again carefully. If it continues to fail, consider the in-person verification option at a Post Office.
• Not Receiving Daily Emails: Check your spam or junk mail folder. Add the USPS email address to your safe sender list. Also, log into your USPS.com account to ensure the service is active and your email preferences are correct.

Managing Your Informed Delivery Account

You can manage your Informed Delivery preferences by logging into your USPS.com account. From your dashboard, you can:

• Adjust Email Settings: Change the email address where digests are sent or opt out of daily emails while keeping the service active to view mail online.
• Manage Packages: Access detailed tracking information, leave delivery instructions, or reschedule deliveries for eligible packages.
• Unsubscribe: If you no longer wish to use Informed Delivery, you can easily unsubscribe through your account settings.

Conclusion

Signing up for Informed Delivery is a simple and effective way to gain more control and visibility over your incoming mail and packages. By following these steps, you can start receiving daily previews of your mail, enhancing your security and convenience. It’s a valuable free service that brings a bit more predictability to your daily routine. For more helpful tips on managing your daily life and online services, explore other articles on AnswerHarbor.com.