How to track a package from UPS, FedEx, USPS, and Amazon

Here’s the short answer on how to track a package: find the tracking number in your order confirmation email, paste it into the carrier’s own tracking page (USPS, UPS, or FedEx), or open your order in the Amazon app. That works for almost any package, and it’s free. With the holiday rush coming, it also helps to know which delivery texts are real, because scammers copy them.

Prices and screens change, but the steps below don’t change much. I’ve kept every link to the official carrier sites.

Find your tracking number first

A tracking number is a long string of numbers (and sometimes letters) that identifies your package. You can usually find it in one of these places:

• The shipping confirmation email from the store
• The order page in the store’s app or website
• The receipt, if you shipped the package yourself

UPS tracking numbers usually start with “1Z.” USPS and FedEx numbers are all digits and vary in length, so copy and paste the whole thing instead of typing it.

Track a package by carrier

How to track a USPS package

1. Go to USPS Tracking and find the tracking box.
2. Type or paste your tracking number and tap Track.
3. Read the latest status, such as In Transit or Out for Delivery.

USPS also offers Text Tracking. Send your tracking number, with nothing else in the message, to 28777, and USPS texts you back the latest status. Standard message and data rates from your carrier may apply.

If you get a lot of mail and packages, Informed Delivery is a free USPS service that shows previews of your incoming mail and updates on your packages. You never have to type a tracking number again. It’s available for residential addresses and PO Boxes in eligible ZIP codes, so check your address on the USPS page.

How to track a UPS package

1. Go to ups.com/track.
2. Enter your tracking number.
3. Tap Track to see where the package is and the expected delivery date.

How to track a FedEx package

1. Go to FedEx Tracking.
2. Enter your tracking number.
3. Tap Track and read the status.

How to track an Amazon order

Amazon packages often travel with another carrier, but you don’t need a separate tracking number. Open the Amazon app or go to Your Orders, find the item, and tap Track package. You’ll see the status and the expected delivery date in one place.

Do you need a package tracking app?

Probably not. The official apps from USPS, UPS, FedEx, and Amazon are free and do the job. Search for each one in the App Store or Google Play and check that the developer name matches the carrier before you tap Install.

If you’re waiting on packages from lots of stores at once, a free all-in-one tracker can save you time. The catch? Some of them show ads or ask for access to your email inbox. If you pick one, read the App Privacy section on the App Store or Data safety on Google Play first, and skip any app that wants more access than it needs.

Fake “missed delivery” texts: how to spot them

This is the part that matters most during the holidays. Scammers send texts that look like they’re from USPS, UPS, FedEx, or Amazon, telling you that you missed a delivery or that your address needs an update. The links lead to fake sites that ask for a payment or your card number.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service says that USPS texts you only if you asked for tracking updates, and those texts don’t include a link. Here’s what to do when a suspicious text shows up:

1. Don’t click the link or reply.
2. Ask yourself if you’re expecting a package. If not, it’s almost certainly a scam.
3. Check the real status yourself. Go to the store’s website or the carrier’s official tracking page, as above.
4. Never pay a “redelivery fee” or share a card number through a text link.
5. Report it. Forward the text to 7726, and report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. For a fake USPS text, the Postal Inspection Service has a guide to package tracking text scams that explains how to report it.

The FTC has more details in its alert on fake USPS texts and its holiday warning about fake shipping notifications. If you already clicked and typed in card details, call your bank using the number on the back of your card.

We also have a step-by-step guide on how to stop spam texts on iPhone and Android. For more everyday phone helpers, see our everyday apps guides and our holiday season picks.

What to do if your package is late or missing

• Check the tracking page for a new delivery date or a delivery attempt
• Look around your porch, garage, and with your neighbors
• Check your email for a message from the store about a delay
• Contact the store you ordered from first. They can file the claim with the carrier
• Wait a day or two after the expected date before you report it lost

Frequently asked questions

What’s the easiest way to track a package?

Open the order in the store’s app or website. If you only have a tracking number, paste it into the carrier’s official tracking page.

Is there a free package tracking app?

Yes. The USPS, UPS, FedEx, and Amazon apps are free. Some all-in-one tracker apps are free too, but they may show ads or collect data, so read the privacy label before you install one.

Can I track a package with just my address?

Not directly. You need a tracking number or an account with the store or carrier. USPS Informed Delivery can show packages heading to your address once you sign up.

Why does my tracking number say nothing?

A new label can take several hours to show a first scan. If the tracking page shows no updates after a day or two, ask the store.

Bottom line

• Best for most people: the carrier’s official tracking page or the store’s order page.
• Best for USPS: Informed Delivery, free, no tracking numbers to type.
• Best habit: never tap a link in a delivery text you didn’t ask for.

Save your tracking numbers in one note on your phone during the holidays, and check them on the official sites. That’s the safest way to know where your packages are.