How to Run the Traceroute Command: Step-by-Step Guide

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Learn what the traceroute command does and how to use it
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When you connect to a website, the data that flows between your device and the server that website is hosted on must be routed through several devices (typically routers) before it gets to its destination. Traceroute is a command that shows you the route data takes to get from your device (such as a computer or phone) to a given website, and it can be used to diagnose problems with your network. Internet service providers often ask for the data from a traceroute command if you're calling with internet issues. In this article, we go over how to run a traceroute command on any device, including your Android or iPhone. Keep reading to learn how.

Ways to Run Traceroute

On a computer, open Command Prompt (Windows) or Terminal (Mac, Linux) and enter the command tracert (host) or traceroute (host) . Macs can also use the Traceroute tool in Network Utility. You'll need to install a third-party app to use traceroute on a phone or tablet.

Method 1
Method 1 of 5:

Windows

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  1. Click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen. The Start menu will pop up.
  2. Doing this searches your computer for the Command Prompt program.
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  3. It's at the top of the menu. Command Prompt will open.
  4. 4
    Determine a website for which you want to trace the route. For example, if you want to see a list of gateways between your computer and Facebook, you would use Facebook's website.
  5. Type in tracert website.com —making sure to replace website.com with the name and extension for your preferred website (e.g., facebook.com )—and press ↵ Enter .
    • You don't need to provide the "https://" or "www." section of the website's address.
    • If you have the website's IP address, you can use it instead of the URL.
  6. Command Prompt will deliver up to 30 different gateways (also called "hops") through which the IP package passes. Once you see "Trace complete" appear below the list of hops, your trace has successfully run its course.
    • If you see any blank trace entries, you can ignore them—they signify that the trace is being returned as a result rather than passing through a gateway. [1]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 5:

macOS

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  1. Click the magnifying glass-shaped icon in the top-right corner of the screen to do so.
  2. This will search your computer for the Network Utility program.
  3. Double-click Network Utility near the top of the search results. Doing so will prompt the Network Utility window to open. [2]
  4. It's a tab at the top of the Network Utility window.
  5. In the text box near the top of the window, type in the address (or IP address) of the website to which you want to trace a path.
    • For example, to trace a path to wikiHow's website, you would enter wikihow.com here.
    • You don't need to provide the "https://" or "www." section of the website's address.
  6. It's a blue button on the right side of the page. Doing so will prompt Network Utility to begin tracing the path to your selected website.
  7. Traceroute will bring up a list of the gateways through which your trace travels on the way to its destination.
    • If you see any blank trace entries, you can ignore them—they signify that the trace is being returned as a result rather than passing through a gateway.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 5:

iPhone/iPad

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  1. Skip this step if you already have iNetTools installed on your iPhone. Open the App Store , then do the following:
    • Tap Search
    • Tap the search bar.
    • Type in inettools
    • Tap inettools - ping,dns,port scan
    • Tap GET next to iNetTools.
    • Enter your Touch ID or Apple ID password.
  2. Tap OPEN in the App Store, or tap the radar display-shaped iNetTools app icon on one of your iPhone's Home Screens.
  3. It's in the middle of the screen.
  4. You'll find this option near the top of the screen. Doing so brings up your iPhone's on-screen keyboard.
  5. Type in the address (or IP address) of the website to which you want to trace a path.
    • For example, to trace a path to Google's closest server, you would enter google.com here.
    • You don't need to provide the "https://" or "www." section of the website's address.
  6. It's in the top-right corner of the screen. iNetTools will begin tracing a route to your specified address.
  7. Once the spinning wheel across from the "Result" heading disappears, you can review the address of each gateway through which your trace passed on its way to the destination.
    • If you see any blank trace entries, you can ignore them—they signify that the trace is being returned as a result rather than passing through a gateway.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 5:

Android

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  1. Skip this step if you already have PingTools installed on your Android. Open the Google Play Store , then do the following:
    • Tap the search bar.
    • Type in pingtools
    • Tap PingTools Network Utilities in the results.
    • Tap INSTALL
    • Tap ACCEPT when prompted.
  2. Tap OPEN in the Google Play Store, or tap the PingTools app icon in your Android's App Drawer.
  3. Doing so agrees to PingTools' terms of use and opens the app.
    • If you've opened PingTools before, you might be able to skip this step.
  4. It's in the top-left corner of the screen. A pop-out menu will appear.
  5. This option is in the middle of the pop-out menu.
  6. It's at the top of the screen. Doing so will bring up your Android's on-screen keyboard.
    • If a website's address is already in this text box, remove it before proceeding.
  7. Type in the address (or IP address) of the website to which you want to trace a path.
    • For example, to trace a path to Twitter's closest server, you would enter twitter.com here.
    • You don't need to provide the "https://" or "www." section of the website's address.
  8. It's in the top-right corner of the screen. Doing so will prompt PingTools to begin tracing a route to your selected address.
  9. Once the trace is complete, you can review the address of each gateway through which your trace passed on its way to the destination.
    • If you see any blank trace entries, you can ignore them—they signify that the trace is being returned as a result rather than passing through a gateway.
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Method 5
Method 5 of 5:

Linux

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  1. This step will vary depending on your version of Linux, but most distributions will require you to open the Menu and then select Terminal from the list of programs.
    • You can also press Alt + Ctrl + T to open Terminal on most Linux distributions.
  2. To do so:
    • Type in sudo apt install traceroute and press ↵ Enter .
    • Type in your password and press ↵ Enter .
    • Type y and press ↵ Enter if prompted.
    • Wait for Traceroute to install.
  3. 3
    Determine a website for which you want to trace the route. For example, if you want to see a list of gateways between your computer and YouTube, you would use YouTube's website.
  4. Type in traceroute website.com —making sure to replace website.com with the name and extension for your preferred website (e.g., youtube.com )—and press ↵ Enter .
    • You don't need to provide the "https://" or "www." section of the website's address.
    • If you have the website's IP address, you can use it instead of the URL.
  5. Once the trace is complete, you can review the address of each gateway through which your trace passed on its way to the destination.
    • If you see any blank trace entries, you can ignore them—they signify that the trace is being returned as a result rather than passing through a gateway.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    I don't see a GO tab on my Mac. Does it go by another name?
    Community Answer
    Maybe you have a Mac with a GO tab in another language. GO can be said in many different languages and ways.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 0 Helpful 6
  • Question
    When I write a command tracer to Google in Windows, I get this message: "tracer is not recognized as an internal or external command". What should I do?
    Community Answer
    it looks like you typed in "tracer google.com", when actually the command is "tracert google.com".
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 2 Helpful 10
  • Question
    What do I do if the request timed out on every hop?
    Community Answer
    Call your internet provider, or check the DNS of the address that you're running the traceroute to.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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      • The number of gateways between you and your selected website does not include any blank entries. For example, if you see 12 gateways with three blank entries, there are only 9 gateways between you and the website.
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      • The list of gateways between you and the selected website can change at any time.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.lifewire.com/traceroute-linux-command-4092586
      2. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202790

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Open the search bar.
      2. Type "command prompt".
      3. Click Command Prompt .
      4. Type "tracert wikihow.com .
      5. Press Enter .

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