What Do the USPS Tracking Status Updates Mean?

A USPS tracking status answers two questions: does USPS have the package yet, and does anyone need to do something? Most statuses need no action. A few come with a set wait before you contact USPS, and the first few statuses mean USPS hasn't received the package at all. The status names, meanings and wait times here come from USPS's tracking status help page (checked September 29, 2026) and match what USPS shows on USPS Tracking.

Not every USPS mail piece carries a tracking number. If you're not sure yours does, see Does all USPS mail have tracking?

Label created is not the same as USPS having it

The first status is the easiest to misread. "Shipping Label Created, USPS Awaiting Item" means a label with a USPS Tracking number exists, but the package has not yet been given to USPS. For this status, USPS tells recipients to contact the shipper.

USPS has the package once you see "USPS In Possession of Item" or a later scan such as "In Transit" or "Arrived at USPS Facility". USPS says it then begins processing the package for transport to the delivering Post Office.

Before USPS has the package (acceptance and pre-shipment)

USPS doesn't have the package yet for any status in this group except the last two. USPS gives no wait time for these; questions go to the shipper.

• Shipping Label Created, USPS Awaiting Item and Pre-Shipment Info Sent to USPS, USPS Awaiting Item: a label exists, and USPS says the package has not yet been given to USPS. A delivery date appears once USPS receives it. Next step: contact the shipper.
• Picked Up by Shipping Partner, USPS Awaiting Item, Arrived Shipping Partner Facility, USPS Awaiting Item, Departed Shipping Partner Facility, USPS Awaiting Item and On its Way to USPS: a shipping partner has the package and will transfer it to USPS, but USPS does not have possession yet. Next step: contact the shipper with questions.
• Shipment Received, Package Acceptance Pending: a postal facility received a container or pallet of packages but hasn't started processing it. Each package gets its own acceptance scan when the container is opened. Next step: none.
• USPS In Possession of Item: USPS received or picked up the package and it is on its way. Next step: none.

Moving through the USPS network

USPS has the package. These statuses mean it is being processed or transported toward the delivering Post Office.

• In Transit, Arrived at USPS Facility and Departed USPS Facility: normal movement. USPS notes these scans can appear more than once from the same facility and on different days. Next step: none.
• Forwarded and Forwarded Processed: the package is going to a different address, either because of a change-of-address request or because it reached the wrong Post Office. Next step: none.

If a package sits in this group longer than you expected, compare it against the delivery standard for its mail class (see the next section) before assuming it's lost.

"In Transit, Arriving Late"

USPS's tracking status help page doesn't define "In Transit, Arriving Late". Read plainly, it means the package is still moving through the network and has passed the delivery date USPS expected. On its own it doesn't mean the package is lost, and USPS doesn't publish how long the status lasts.

To judge whether a package is truly late, USPS points to its delivery standards by mail class (checked September 29, 2026). For several classes USPS excludes Alaska, Hawaii and US territories, where its postage price calculator gives the estimate instead.

USPS says a package can still be in transit rather than lost or delayed, depending on the mail class and how long ago it was mailed. Once 7 or more days have passed since the mailing date and the recipient has confirmed it hasn't arrived, you can submit a Missing Mail search request at MissingMail.USPS.com. For what to do after that, see USPS lost my package: what do I do?

Preparing for delivery

• Arrived at Post Office: the package is at the delivering Post Office and should arrive today or the next postal business day. Next step: if tracking hasn't changed and nothing has been delivered after 1 full postal business day, submit a service request to the local Post Office with the tracking number.

Out for delivery

• Out for Delivery: the package will be delivered by a carrier today. It may come with a different carrier than your regular mail, and later in the day. USPS says deliveries should be made by 5:00 p.m. local time Monday through Saturday, though traffic, staffing and weather can push them later. Next step: if it hasn't arrived after 1 full postal business day, submit a service request.
• Awaiting Delivery Scan and Delivery Status Not Updated: no Delivered scan was recorded by 9pm local time on the Out for Delivery date, and USPS now expects delivery the next business day. Next step: if more than 1 full postal business day passes with no delivery, submit a service request. For how other carriers word this, see Decoding delivery tracking statuses.
• Available for Pickup: the package can't be delivered and a redelivery can't be scheduled. Next step: pick it up at the local Post Office from the next business day with valid photo ID, or ask for it to be returned to the sender.
• Held at Post Office, At Customer Request: the Post Office is holding it because of a Hold Mail, Hold for Pickup or USPS Delivery Instructions request. Next step: a Hold Mail request is handled as written; otherwise pick it up with photo ID.

Delivered or delivery attempted

• Delivered: USPS recorded a delivery date, time and location. If you can't find it, USPS suggests checking the garage, porch, mailbox (packages can come separately from regular mail), anyone else in the household, and spots out of the weather or out of street view. A key in a community mailbox means the package is in a parcel locker. Next step: if it's been more than one postal business day since the Delivered scan, submit a service request.
• No Access to Delivery Location: the carrier couldn't reach the mailbox or door, for example because of a blocked mailbox, a loose animal or a locked gate. USPS reattempts automatically the next business day. Next step: if more than 24 hours pass after this status, submit a service request.
• Insufficient Address and No Such Number: part of the address is missing or wrong, and the package is going back to the sender. Next step: once it's back, the sender fixes the address and reships with new postage.
• Notice Left (No Authorized Recipient Available): the package needs a signature and no one was there. The carrier left a PS Form 3849 redelivery notice, and there is no automatic second attempt. Next step: schedule a Redelivery, pick it up at the Post Office on the notice with photo ID, or request a return to sender.
• Notice Left (No Secure Location Available): the carrier found no safe place to leave it and took it back to the Post Office, with no automatic second attempt. Next step: the same three options as above.
• Redelivery Scheduled and Reminder to Schedule Redelivery of your Item: a redelivery is booked, or USPS is reminding you to book one before the package goes back to the sender. Unclaimed packages are returned after the Post Office's time limit.

When to act, and who acts

The waits come from USPS's tracking status help and Missing Mail pages (checked September 29, 2026).

How often does USPS tracking update?

USPS doesn't publish a fixed update schedule. Tracking changes when the package is scanned, and USPS says the same in-transit scan can show up several times from one facility and on different days. More detail appears once the package reaches the delivering Post Office and goes out for delivery. A quiet stretch between scans doesn't mean the package is lost; USPS says it may still be in transit, depending on the mail class.

To avoid refreshing the page, sign up for text or email updates on USPS Tracking. USPS doesn't deliver on some days; see When does USPS not deliver? For USPS's longer tracking history option, see What is USPS Tracking Plus?

If you're the one shipping the orders

When a customer writes in that tracking says "Shipping Label Created" and nothing since, check your own side first. A printed label isn't a handoff to USPS, and USPS will send that customer back to you as the shipper.

If Simpl ships your orders, tracking numbers sync back to the order on your connected store platform, and orders received before 12pm CT ship the same day with UPS, USPS or FedEx. Simpl doesn't send shipping emails; the ones your customers get come from your store platform's own notification settings. See how Simpl's ecommerce fulfillment works.