The U.S. Postal Service said it plans to tighten access to package tracking data starting in April 2026, a move designed to improve security while leaving consumer tracking unchanged.
USPS says consumers will still be able to track packages on usps.com, the USPS mobile app, and Informed Delivery. The change instead targets how businesses access large volumes of tracking data behind the scenes.
A USPS spokesperson said, “Consumers will continue to be able to check the status of packages on usps.com. There are no changes to how consumers look up package information – the ability to track and inquire about packages on our website is not restricted to shippers.”
The changes mainly affect service providers that rely on USPS tracking data through APIs or bulk data feeds. According to USPS, those providers may now need to sign additional agreements, meet authorization requirements tied to Mailer IDs, and, in some cases, pay monthly fees to access tracking data.
“The new restrictions apply to large data extracts and the use of our API, which are typically used by commercial businesses to integrate tracking information into their own systems,” the spokesperson said.
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