First, check whether the letter has a USPS tracking number: ordinary First-Class Mail letters and postcards often do not. If it does, look up its latest scan with USPS Tracking. If it is still missing, USPS accepts a Missing Mail search request beginning seven days after mailing; gather the mailing details and submit it through the Missing Mail application.
Check whether the letter has tracking
Look for a tracking number on the mailing receipt, online postage record, or a shipping email. If you are the recipient, ask the sender whether the letter was sent with a trackable service. USPS says it cannot recover a lost tracking number for you: “Care Center agents and local Post Offices do not have a way to recover lost tracking numbers.” Read USPS guidance on finding a tracking number.
Many ordinary First-Class Mail letters and postcards do not include tracking. Eligible First-Class Mail letters or flats can be made trackable with an extra service, but that is a mailing option—not something you can add after an untracked letter has already been sent. See USPS information about sending letters.
If you have a number, enter it in USPS Tracking and review the latest status before requesting a search. A tracking lookup reports available scans; a Missing Mail request asks USPS to search for the item.
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- All purchases of Priority Mail Forever Prepaid Flat Rate envelopes are non-refundable.
- There is $100 insurance coverage included on each Priority Mail shipment.
- For domestic use only; maximum weight of 70 pounds.
- Tracking service is included at no additional charge.
When to file a Missing Mail search request
USPS says you can submit a Missing Mail search request starting seven days after the original mailing date. Its FAQ describes a submission window of 7 to 365 days after mailing and recommends filing as soon as possible within that period. Check the current USPS Find Missing Mail page for the latest instructions.
Submit the search request
- Open the application: Go to MissingMail.USPS.com and sign in or register.
- Complete the form: Provide the mailpiece and contents details listed below, then submit the request. USPS sends a confirmation email. Customer Care representatives cannot submit the search request on your behalf.
- Save the confirmation: Keep the confirmation and use the contact email provided on the form to receive updates.
Details to gather before you start
- The sender’s and recipient’s mailing addresses.
- The date the letter was mailed and its tracking number, if available.
- The envelope’s type, size, color, and other identifying features.
- A specific description of the contents, such as title, color, size, brand, make, or model, as relevant.
- Photos that could help identify the envelope or contents.
One request can cover multiple items inside the same mailpiece. A separate mailpiece needs its own request. If you save a draft rather than submitting it, USPS says it expires after seven days. After submission, you can edit the contents description; to correct other submitted information, USPS says to cancel the request and file again. These details appear in the USPS Missing Mail FAQ.
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- All purchases of Priority Mail Forever Prepaid Flat Rate envelopes are non-refundable.
Check the status of a Missing Mail request
Sign in and open Missing Mail Search History to view the request status. USPS also emails updates and a final resolution to the contact named on the request.
- Accepted: USPS received the request and it is in the inventory search process.
- Mailpiece Found: The item was identified and retrieved and is being prepared for return.
- Expired: The search retention period ended without a match.
- Draft, rejected, or canceled: The application shows these additional statuses when they apply.
If USPS finds the letter, it says it will rewrap it and send it to the address on the request. If it cannot match the item before the search expires, it emails that it was unable to find it. USPS cautions: “The Postal Service™ will attempt to find and return your lost item(s), but submitting a search does not guarantee a successful outcome.”
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- All purchases of Priority Mail Forever Prepaid Flat Rate envelopes are non-refundable.
Check separately for an insurance claim or refund
A Missing Mail search is not an insurance claim or a service-guarantee refund. Whether either remedy is available depends on the postage and extra services used for the original mailing; an ordinary letter is not automatically insured or refundable. If the letter’s service may qualify, check the current requirements for that specific service and keep the purchase record. USPS advises filing eligible claims for missing or damaged contents promptly and gives 60 days from mailing as the outer limit in its missing-mail guidance. Start with the USPS missing-mail guidance and confirm the applicable claim terms.
Quick Recap
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