How to File a Missing Mail Search Request

A Missing Mail search asks USPS to look for a package or letter that hasn't arrived by its expected delivery date. You file it online at MissingMail.USPS.com, starting 7 days after the mailing date. The search only looks for the item; getting money back is a separate insurance claim or refund.

Check USPS Tracking first

If the package has a tracking number, USPS asks you to check its status on USPS Tracking before you file. If the status doesn't make sense, our guide to decoding delivery tracking statuses explains what each one means. Then ask your customer to confirm it hasn't arrived.

When you can file

The Missing Mail form accepts a request from 7 to 365 days after the original mailing date. USPS strongly suggests filing as early in that window as you can.

Two services need a longer wait. For Registered Mail, USPS says to allow 14 or more days from mailing for the item to arrive. For Parcel Select, file once 14 or more days have passed since mailing.

What to have ready

USPS asks for these details on the request:

• Sender and recipient mailing addresses
• The mailing date, from your mailing receipt or Click-N-Ship label receipt
• The USPS Tracking number, if you have one (USPS highly recommends including it)
• The size, type, and color of the box or envelope. USPS's example: a 12 x 10 brown box covered in stickers
• A description of each item inside: what it is, plus the brand, model, color, or size
• Photos that could help USPS recognize the item

If you pack your own orders, photograph each item and the packed box before it ships. Then, if a package goes missing, you already have the photos and description the form asks for.

How to file

1. Go to MissingMail.USPS.com and sign in or register for a USPS.com account.
2. Fill out the search request form with the details above and select Submit. USPS emails you a confirmation.
3. If you aren't ready to submit, save the form as a draft. Drafts expire after 7 days.

Each package needs its own request. If one package held several items, list all of them in the same request with a description for each. USPS Customer Care can't submit the request for you, so you'll need to file it online yourself.

After you file

USPS emails status updates to the address you entered under "Whom can we contact about this search?" and sends a final email when the item is returned or the search expires. You can also check any request on the Missing Mail Search History page. Each request shows one of six statuses:

• Accepted: USPS received your request and is searching its inventory.
• Mailpiece Found: USPS found the item and is rewrapping it to mail to the address on your request.
• Expired: the request reached the end of its retention period and USPS has stopped searching. You'll get an email saying the item couldn't be found.
• Saved as Draft: you started the form but haven't submitted it.
• Rejected: a USPS clerk rejected the request, for example because it was a duplicate.
• Canceled: you canceled the request.

To edit a request, open it in Search History and select Edit. You can add, remove, or change the items listed, but nothing else. If another detail is wrong, such as an address, cancel the request and submit a new one.

To cancel, select the X next to the request in Search History, or open it and choose Cancel.

Filing doesn't guarantee USPS finds the package. USPS says it sometimes can't find missing items, and some items aren't recovered because they weren't safe to forward.

What USPS won't search for

For safety reasons, USPS won't search for or return these items:

• Hazardous materials
• Live ammunition
• Opened hair and beauty products
• Over-the-counter and prescription drugs
• Perishables and food
• Handguns, which USPS returns only to a licensed dealer on your behalf

A search isn't a claim or a refund

A Missing Mail search doesn't pay you anything, but if the package was insured you can file an insurance claim, which USPS says must be filed no later than 60 days from the mailing date. If you paid for a service with a money-back guarantee, such as Priority Mail Express, you may also be able to request a refund. Our guide to what to do when USPS loses your package covers claim windows by service and how refunds work.

Missing Mail search FAQ

How long does a Missing Mail search take?

USPS doesn't publish a set time. A search keeps running until USPS matches the item or the request expires, and USPS emails you status updates along the way plus a final email either way.

How do I check the status of a Missing Mail search?

Sign in at MissingMail.USPS.com and open the Missing Mail Search History page. It lists every request you've submitted with its current status. USPS also emails status updates to the contact address on your request.

Can I cancel a Missing Mail search request?

Yes. On the Missing Mail Search History page, select the X next to the request, or open the request and choose Cancel. USPS stops searching and stops sending emails about it.

Do I need a USPS account to file a Missing Mail search?

Yes. MissingMail.USPS.com asks you to sign in or register before you can fill out the form, and USPS Customer Care can't submit the request for you.