Yes — as the recipient you can often request delivery to a different address, using the carrier's delivery-management tools. UPS My Choice and FedEx Delivery Manager let you redirect an in-transit package to another address, a hold location, or a neighbor; USPS offers Package Intercept for sender-initiated redirects, and recipients can request a hold or redelivery to an alternate location in some cases.
Recipient-initiated redirect is usually easier than asking the sender to change the delivery address after shipping, which is a sender-side action. The key limit: the redirect must happen before the package is out for delivery, and some services (signature-required, Certified Mail, Registered Mail) restrict redirection.
If you only want to change where the package is left (not the address), see delivery instructions instead. And if you want to delay rather than move it, see can I delay package delivery.
What It Means
Recipient Redirect Options by Carrier
- UPS My Choice: redirect to another address, a UPS Access Point, or hold for pickup. Some options are paid; signature-required packages can't be redirected to a non-verified address.
- FedEx Delivery Manager: redirect to another address or hold at a FedEx location.
- USPS: recipient redirect is limited — you can hold the package or request redelivery to your address; a full address change is usually sender-side via Package Intercept.
- Signature services: Certified Mail and Registered Mail generally can't be redirected by the recipient; the sender must authorize it.
Redirect vs. Other Tools
- Delivery instructions: where to leave it, same address.
- Change delivery date / delay: when, not where.
- Hold for pickup: keep at a facility.
Why It Happens
Why Redirects Are Limited
Once a package is routed, changing the destination requires the carrier to intercept and re-label it — a manual, paid step. That's why full address changes are often sender-side (intercept), while recipient apps offer lighter redirects to verified locations (Access Points, hold facilities). Signature services restrict redirects to prevent fraud — see signature delivery.
How Long It Lasts
When You Can Still Redirect
- Best: before the first delivery attempt.
- Possible: until the package is out for delivery.
- Too late: on the delivery vehicle — then wait for a missed delivery and redirect for the redelivery.
Should You Be Concerned?
Should You Be Concerned?
Redirects are routine. Be concerned if the package is signature-required or high-value (carriers may refuse redirect to unverified addresses), international (customs/border — see customs), or already delivered but not received (then it's a misdelivery issue — see how often packages are misdelivered).
What You Can Do
What You Can Do
- Use your carrier app (UPS My Choice, FedEx Delivery Manager) to redirect before delivery.
- Hold for pickup at a facility near the new address — see UPS hold, FedEx hold.
- Ask the sender to file a Package Intercept for USPS.
- For "where to leave" not "new address", use delivery instructions.
- To delay instead of move, see can I delay package delivery.
- To pick a specific day, see schedule delivery for a specific day.
When to Contact the Carrier
When to Contact the Carrier
Use self-service first. If redirect fails and the package is delivered but not received, contact support. For packages stuck after a redirect, see how long should I wait before reporting a lost package.