USPS tracking lets you follow a package from acceptance to delivery by entering its tracking number at usps.com, in the USPS Mobile app, or by texting the number to 28777 (2USPS). Tracking is included free with most domestic package services, including Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, USPS Ground Advantage and Media Mail, but not with ordinary First-Class Mail letters, flats or postcards.
This guide covers where to find your tracking number, what each status means, how long scans and records last, and what to do when a package stalls or shows delivered but never arrived.
How Do You Track a USPS Package?
Enter the tracking number on the USPS Tracking page, in the USPS Mobile app, or send it by text to 28777. The carrier’s own tracker is the authoritative record, and USPS says scanning information is updated throughout the day as scans become available.
From the tracking results you can sign up for text or email updates. USPS keeps those update requests active for two weeks after you ask for them and stops sending notifications once the item is delivered. To end text alerts, reply STOP to 28777, which cancels every active text tracking request on your phone.
If you shipped through ParcelPath, the ParcelPath order tracking page shows the status of your shipment in one place, and the tracking numbers for every label you buy are stored in your account.
Where Do You Find a USPS Tracking Number?
- Your receipt. Retail, kiosk, insurance and eReceipts list the number; our guide to finding your USPS tracking number on a receipt shows exactly where it prints.
- The label. The number is printed below the barcode on the package.
- Your label history. If you bought postage online, the number is saved with the label record.
- The sender. Recipients without a number can ask the seller or sender, who has it on their receipt or order confirmation.
- A missed-delivery notice. The redelivery barcode on PS Form 3849 can be entered at usps.com to pull up every tracking number tied to that delivery attempt.
Most domestic USPS tracking numbers are 20 to 22 digits and usually begin with 92, 93, 94 or 95. Some Priority Mail Express and international items use a 13-character code that starts with two letters and ends in “US.” Our breakdown of what a USPS tracking number starts with lists the common prefixes by service.
Which USPS Services Include Tracking?
USPS Tracking is included with most domestic mail products large enough to carry a barcode, and with many international services, subject to restrictions in the destination country. First-Class Mail letters, flats and postcards do not include it unless you add an extra service such as Certified Mail or Registered Mail.
| USPS service | Tracking | Typical delivery | Included insurance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Priority Mail Express | Included | 1–3 days, money-back guarantee (exceptions apply) | Up to $100 on most shipments |
| Priority Mail | Included | 2–3 days | Up to $100 on most shipments |
| USPS Ground Advantage | Included | 2–5 days | $100 of insurance coverage |
| Media Mail | Included | 2–8 days | Not included |
| First-Class Mail letters and flats | Only with an extra service | 1–5 days | Not included |
Delivery times are USPS estimates, not guarantees, except for the Priority Mail Express money-back guarantee. The USPS delivery policy guide explains the service standards behind these windows, and our explainer on how long Priority Mail takes covers the business-day math.
What Do USPS Tracking Statuses Mean?
Each status is created by a physical scan, so it tells you where the package was last handled rather than where it is at this moment.
- Label Created, Not Yet in System: the shipper bought the label, but USPS hasn’t scanned the package yet.
- Accepted / USPS in Possession of Item: the package has been dropped off or picked up and is in the network.
- In Transit / Arrived at or Departed USPS Facility: the package is moving between processing plants.
- Out for Delivery: it is on the carrier’s vehicle for delivery that day.
- Delivered: the carrier scanned it at the address, a mailroom, a parcel locker or another safe place.
- Notice Left / Delivery Attempted: no one was available or no safe location existed, so a PS Form 3849 was left.
- Alert: something needs attention, such as an addressing problem, weather or a facility delay.
Our full USPS tracking status guide explains every status code, and the USPS tracking map guide shows how to read the location history on a map.
When Does USPS Tracking Update?
Updates appear whenever a scan is uploaded, at any hour, because processing plants run overnight and carriers deliver into the evening. Gaps of a day or more between scans are common on long routes, since a package can ride a truck between plants without being scanned. Our article on USPS tracking hours covers when scans usually post, and the guide to USPS tracking that isn’t updating covers stalled packages.
How Long Does USPS Keep Tracking History?
USPS keeps tracking records for 120 days for USPS Tracking, one year for Signature Confirmation, and two years for Priority Mail Express, Certified Mail and Registered Mail. If you need proof of delivery for longer, USPS Tracking Plus extends access, which USPS says can reach up to 10 years for domestic products.
Keep your own record of anything you may need for a claim or dispute. Our guide to USPS Delivery Confirmation and free proof of delivery shows how to save the delivery record before it expires.
What Should You Do If USPS Tracking Is Stuck?
Give a package one full business day after the label is created before worrying about a missing first scan; labels are often printed well before the package is handed to USPS. If the item was dropped off and still shows no acceptance scan, the guide to USPS tracking that isn’t updating after drop-off walks through the usual causes.
When a package has passed its expected delivery window, follow these steps:
- Recheck the tracking number for typos and confirm it is a USPS number, not an order reference.
- Look for an Alert status explaining an address problem or weather delay.
- Starting seven days after the mailing date, submit a USPS Missing Mail search request with the addresses, the package description and photos if you have them.
- If the package was insured, file a claim once the waiting period for your service has passed.
The USPS lost package recovery steps cover what happens after a search is submitted, and the USPS tracking support tips list the questions to have ready before you call.
What If Tracking Says Delivered but the Package Isn’t There?
Check the delivery location in the tracking details, then look around the property, in a parcel locker, with a building mailroom and with neighbors. Carriers occasionally scan a package as delivered moments before placing it, so wait until the end of the day. If it still hasn’t turned up, contact your local Post Office or submit a Missing Mail search.
Can You Change Where a Tracked USPS Package Goes?
Yes, with USPS Package Intercept, as long as the package is not yet out for delivery or delivered. It works for domestic items with a USPS Tracking or extra services barcode. Retail senders can redirect a package back to themselves or to a Post Office for Hold For Pickup, and commercial senders can also send it to a new address. PO Boxes aren’t allowed as a redirect destination, and the service isn’t guaranteed. Our USPS Package Intercept guide covers eligibility in detail.
If a delivery attempt was missed, schedule redelivery or pick the item up at the Post Office before the hold period printed on the notice runs out; the USPS redelivery guide explains both options.
How Do You File a Claim for a Lost or Damaged USPS Package?
Claims apply to insured items, including the coverage built into Priority Mail and Ground Advantage. For a lost Priority Mail or Ground Advantage package, USPS lets you file 15 days after the mailing date, and for Priority Mail Express after 7 days. Every domestic claim must be filed no later than 60 days from mailing, and you can file for damage right away.
Have the tracking number, proof of insurance such as the mailing receipt, proof of value such as an invoice, and photos of any damage ready. Keep the box and contents until the claim is settled. Our USPS claims and support guide walks through the online form.
How Can You Get Tracked USPS Shipping for Less?
ParcelPath is a free shipping platform with no subscription, no per-label fee and no minimums, and it offers up to 89% off USPS and up to 85% off UPS. Every USPS label includes the tracking that comes with the service, and you can schedule free USPS pickups. You can also print without a printer using USPS Label Broker at the Post Office or UPS Mobile Barcode at The UPS Store.
To see what a tracked shipment will cost, compare live USPS and UPS prices for your package in the ParcelPath rate calculator, or read how the USPS shipping calculator works. Packing well also keeps tracking clean; the guide to shipping labels covers label placement so scanners can read the barcode. ParcelPath ships parcels with USPS and UPS only.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is USPS tracking free?
Yes. USPS Tracking is included at no extra charge with Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, USPS Ground Advantage and Media Mail. Ordinary First-Class Mail letters, flats and postcards don’t include tracking, so you need an extra service like Certified Mail to track one. You can follow included tracking at usps.com, in the USPS Mobile app or by texting the number to 28777.
Can I track a USPS package without a tracking number?
Not on the USPS Tracking page, which needs a number. Ask the sender, check your receipt or label history, or enter the barcode from a PS Form 3849 missed-delivery notice at usps.com. If you’re signed up for Informed Delivery, USPS can also show packages headed to your address in its free Daily Digest and dashboard.
How long does USPS tracking history last?
USPS keeps USPS Tracking records for 120 days, Signature Confirmation records for one year, and Priority Mail Express, Certified Mail and Registered Mail records for two years. If you may need delivery proof for longer, buy USPS Tracking Plus when you ship, or save a copy of the tracking page as soon as the package is delivered.
How do I get USPS tracking updates by text?
Text your tracking number to 28777 (2USPS) for the latest status, or sign up for text or email alerts from the USPS Tracking results page. USPS keeps each update request active for two weeks and stops once the package is delivered. Reply STOP to 28777 to cancel all active text tracking requests at once.
When can I report a USPS package with no tracking updates as missing?
USPS accepts Missing Mail search requests starting seven days after the mailing date. Before you submit one, confirm the tracking number and look for an Alert status. If the package was insured, you can file a lost-package claim 15 days after mailing for Priority Mail or Ground Advantage, or 7 days for Priority Mail Express.
For broader questions about mail classes, hours and delivery days, the USPS frequently asked questions guide collects the most common answers, and the USPS tracking app guide covers mobile features. If you’re weighing whether to trust the scans, our look at how reliable USPS is uses USPS’s own on-time data.
Sources
- USPS Tracking
- USPS FAQ: USPS Tracking – The Basics
- USPS FAQ: How to find your tracking number
- USPS Text Tracking FAQs
- USPS: Mail & Shipping Services
- USPS Package Intercept
- USPS Missing Mail
- USPS: File a Claim
- USPS Informed Delivery
Related: USPS Tracking Not Updating, USPS Tracking Not Updating After Drop Off, USPS Shipping: Rates, Tracking & Services.
