Perhaps this is a peculiar trait for someone who is definitely Gen Z, but I love snail mail. I mailed fifteen pieces of mail last week. Really. I recently relocated to a different state, so I mailed postcards to everyone of my friends and family to welcome them to my new home. (In addition, I wanted a reason to utilize the manatee-printed stamps.)

I usually spend a significant portion of my week mailing things. I always send handmade cards for birthdays and thank you notes; Sydney, my best friend, and I write each other letters all the time because we live 1,119 miles away. As a fun little travel custom, I’ve even started sending myself a postcard while I’m on vacation. I’m excited to see what’s coming in since I’m sending and getting a lot of letters.

Like me, you might have wished to know what letter was on its way before it arrived. Or perhaps you wish you could check your mailbox without going outside. You may accomplish that using USPS Informed Delivery. Sort of.

You may view grayscale preview photos of your incoming letter-sized mail before it ever arrives with the USPS’s free service. Additionally, you will receive shipment and outgoing mail tracking updates. From your computer or phone, it’s like receiving a preview of your actual mailbox. Here’s how to configure and use it.

Also read: USPS Testing a Standalone App to See What Mail Is Coming

Step 1: Determine your eligibility

First things first: Verify that your address and area are eligible for USPS Informed Delivery. While the majority of home addresses are OK, certain apartment complexes or PO boxes could not be.

To find out if Informed Delivery is available at your address:

Visit the page for USPS Informed Delivery.
Press the “Sign up for free.” button.
To check if the service is accessible to you, first enter your email address and then your physical address.

Step 2: Open a USPS account.

You must create a USPS.com account (or log in if you already have one) if you qualify:

Go to the USPS website and select “Sign in.”
If you don’t currently have an account, select “Create account”.
Enter your details, such as your name, address, phone number, and email.
Verify that the address you type accurately corresponds to your mailing address.

An image of the mobile website for informed delivery
You may find out exactly what is being delivered to your house in a few easy steps.

Step 3 for the USPS: Confirm your identification

USPS will require you to confirm that you reside at the address you are registering at in order to safeguard both your mail and your identity. The majority of individuals may accomplish this by completing an online identity verification procedure, which may include responding to a few questions about your credit history (much like a credit check, but without your score being impacted).

If it doesn’t work, USPS could urge you to go to a local post office and finish the procedure in person.

Step 4: Launch the USPS Informed Delivery smartphone app by taking a screenshot of it.

After you’re set up, USPS will send you emails every day that include pictures of the mail that is in route. The Informed Delivery dashboard may also be seen online or via the USPS Mobile app, which is compatible with iOS and Android.

This is what you will observe:

Letter-sized postal pieces (typically the face of the envelope) in grayscale.
updates on package monitoring for inbound packages.
If you’re utilizing USPS tracking services, you’ll receive notifications regarding outgoing mail.
Not all mail is scanned, please note. The majority of typical letters will be visible in previews, but larger objects, periodicals, or handmade envelopes might not.

Expert advice on utilizing informed delivery

From someone who frequently utilizes Informed Delivery, here are some more pointers to have in mind.

Look out for interactive materials. Some companies’ scanned mail previews contain links or offers that can be clicked.
To identify lost mail, use it. Something can be delayed or misdelivered if it appears in your preview but not in your mailbox.
Obtain notifications while on the go. For real-time package delivery notifications, the USPS smartphone app is very helpful.