One of the most convenient services USPS provides outside of shipping packages worldwide is the ability for people to track their packages.
But what if you don’t have a tracking number? Can you still see where your package is? Here is what I discovered!
Can You Track a USPS Package Without a Tracking Number?
The easiest way to track a USPS package without a tracking number is by making a USPS Informed Delivery account. When making an account, be sure to register using the address your packages are delivered to. After registering for Informed Delivery, information about all packages sent to and from the address used to register will populate, and you’ll be able to track them.
There’s so much more to understand about which services can be tracked and how to use Informed Delivery to track packages, so be sure to keep reading to learn more!
What Types Of USPS Services Can Be Tracked?
USPS has a multitude of services available to consumers to help meet specific shipping needs.
The services USPS provides that come with a built-in tracking feature are services such as First Class Mail, First Class Package, Priority Mail, and Priority Mail Express.
All of these options come with a tracking number at no extra charge, and the tracking number associated with your package can be found on the confirmation email received from USPS or on the receipt from your USPS purchase.
While not all USPS mail comes with a tracking number, you are able to add a tracking feature to any package with USPS for an additional charge.
Even if you didn’t pay extra for a tracking number or aren’t able to find the tracking number for your package, it can still be tracked using USPS Informed Delivery.
What Is USPS Informed Delivery?
USPS Informed Delivery is a service USPS provides to give customers more autonomy when handling shipping and receiving packages, including tracking any packages you’re expecting or that you’ve shipped.
USPS Informed Delivery is an entirely optional and free service that can be found on USPS’ website.
When using Informed Delivery, you also have access to a variety of other tools, such as mail preview, which allows you to preview the exterior of certain mail, such as letters and postcards.
To use Informed Delivery, you must be within an eligible zip code, be able to verify your identity at sign-up and have a uniquely coded mailbox.
To read more on what USPS Informed Delivery is and how it works, as well as all of the eligibility requirements, you can click here.
How To Track a Package Using USPS Informed Delivery
To sign up for USPS Informed Delivery, you can go to this page and fill out your personal information.
Be sure to register using the address that’s associated with the package you want to track, as the only way packages will populate for tracking is if the address matches.
Once you’ve registered for your account and signed in, you can click “Track And Manage” on your USPS dashboard and then scroll down to “My USPS”.
This page will act as your home base for tracking all packages you’ve sent and received in the past two weeks that are associated with the address you used to register for your account.
You should see a list of packages pop up, and from there, you can click on an individual package to view its course and any tracking information available.
How To Track a Package Without Using USPS Informed Delivery
While USPS Informed Delivery is likely the best and easiest way to track a package you don’t have a tracking number for, there are other options available to you, though not all of them are guaranteed to yield results.
If you’re looking to track a package that you’re receiving from an online store, you can reach out to the merchant and see if they have the tracking information handy.
Even if your package wasn’t sent using a service with a tracking number, they should be able to give you enough information to reach out to USPS and see where your package is in transit.
If the package you’re trying to track is one that you sent out or one you’re receiving from somewhere where you can’t get in touch with a merchant to help you, you can always reach out to your local post office.
It’s not guaranteed that they’ll be able to help, but trying never to hurt anyone!
To find out more about USPS delivery services, you can also read our posts on whether or not USPS tracking numbers expire, whether USPS updates tracking, and if USPS first-class has tracking.