How to Track AliExpress Orders: Step-by-Step Guide 2026

Quick answer: Track any AliExpress order from My Orders → Track Order on the app or website. For more detailed updates, copy the tracking number into 17TRACK.net. Tracking numbers appear 2-7 days after the seller ships. If tracking stops updating during international transit, wait 15 days before worrying — this gap is normal for most China-origin carriers.

Why AliExpress Tracking Feels Confusing

AliExpress orders pass through multiple carriers across multiple countries. A single package might be handled by Cainiao in China, a charter airline for the international leg, and your local postal service for last-mile delivery. Each carrier has its own tracking system, and they do not always sync in real time.

This is why tracking updates sometimes go silent for days or weeks. The package is not lost — it is in a handoff zone between carriers where neither system is scanning it.

Understanding how the tracking chain works removes most of the anxiety.

Step 1: Find Your Tracking Number

After the seller ships your order, a tracking number is assigned. This typically takes 2-7 days after you place the order (processing time varies by seller).

To find it:

1. Open the AliExpress app or go to aliexpress.com
2. Tap My Orders
3. Find the order and tap Track Order or View Details
4. The tracking number and carrier name appear under the shipping information section

If no tracking number appears: some sellers use shipping methods without tracking (usually the cheapest option). In this case, you will not get tracking updates — only the buyer protection timer and the estimated delivery window provide any visibility. This is why choosing tracked shipping at checkout is recommended for orders over $5.

Step 2: Track Directly on AliExpress

The AliExpress order page shows a built-in tracking timeline with events like:

• Order placed — you paid
• Seller is preparing your order — processing
• Shipped — seller handed the package to the carrier
• Departed from origin — left China
• Arrived at destination country — your country's customs received it
• Out for delivery — local carrier has it on the truck
• Delivered — dropped off at your address or pickup point

This built-in tracker is convenient but sometimes lacks detail, especially during the domestic China segment where packages pass through multiple sorting centers.

Step 3: Use Third-Party Trackers for More Detail

Third-party tracking aggregators pull data from multiple carrier systems and often show updates that AliExpress's built-in tracker misses or delays.

17TRACK.net

The most widely used third-party tracker for AliExpress orders.

1. Go to 17track.net
2. Paste your tracking number
3. The site auto-detects the carrier and shows all available events

17TRACK aggregates data from 2,000+ carriers worldwide and typically shows more granular sorting-center events within China, plus better last-mile tracking in your destination country.

Cainiao Global Tracking

If your order ships via Cainiao (AliExpress's logistics arm):

1. Go to global.cainiao.com
2. Enter the tracking number
3. See Cainiao-specific transit events

Cainiao tracking is most detailed for AliExpress Standard Shipping and AliExpress Premium Shipping orders, since Cainiao manages these end-to-end.

Carrier-Specific Websites

If you know the carrier, use their official tracking:

Step 4: Identify Your Carrier from the Tracking Number

Tracking number formats follow patterns that reveal the carrier:

Knowing the carrier helps you:

• Track on their specific website for the freshest updates
• Understand typical delivery timelines for that carrier
• Know what to expect at customs (some carriers handle clearance, others leave it to the postal service)

Step 5: Set Up Tracking Notifications

Instead of manually checking every day:

In the AliExpress App

1. Go to Settings (gear icon)
2. Enable Push Notifications
3. Turn on Shipping Updates

You will receive push notifications for major status changes — shipped, departed origin, arrived at destination, delivered.

On 17TRACK

1. Create a free account on 17track.net
2. Save your tracking numbers
3. Enable email or app notifications for status changes

17TRACK notifications are often faster than AliExpress's own push notifications because they pull from source carrier systems directly.

Understanding Shipping Stages

Every AliExpress package moves through four stages:

Stage 1: Seller Processing (1-7 days)

The seller picks, packs, and prints a shipping label. Some sellers ship same-day; others take up to 7 days, especially during sale events. The tracking status shows "Seller is preparing" or "Logistics order created."

Stage 2: Domestic China Transit (3-10 days)

The package moves from the seller's location to an international sorting center (typically Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Shanghai, or Hangzhou). You will see multiple scan events at sorting facilities. This stage is well-tracked.

Stage 3: International Transit + Customs (7-30 days)

The package flies or ships to your country and passes through customs. This is where tracking gaps happen. Many carriers do not provide scan events between "departed origin country" and "arrived at destination customs." A 10-20 day gap with no updates is normal during this stage.

Customs processing time varies dramatically:

Stage 4: Last-Mile Delivery (1-5 days)

Once through customs, the package is handed to your local postal service or courier. Tracking becomes detailed again here — you will see "arrived at local facility," "out for delivery," and "delivered."

Common Tracking Statuses Explained

Troubleshooting: What to Do When Tracking Stops

No tracking update for 7-15 days

This is usually normal during the international transit stage. The package is between the origin country's departure scan and the destination country's arrival scan. Most carriers do not scan during this leg. Wait.

No tracking update for 15-30 days

Still potentially normal for slow shipping methods (China Post Ordinary, AliExpress Standard to remote countries). Check your estimated delivery window on the order page. If you are still within the estimated window, wait. If you are past the estimated delivery date, contact the seller first — they may have updated shipping information.

No tracking update for 30+ days

Open a dispute if your buyer protection timer has less than 15 days remaining. Select "Item not received" and note the last tracking update date. Do not wait until the protection timer expires.

Tracking says "delivered" but you did not receive it

1. Check with household members or neighbors
2. Check your mailbox, porch, and any alternate delivery locations
3. Contact your local postal service with the tracking number
4. If you confirm it was not delivered, open a dispute on AliExpress with evidence (photos of your delivery area, postal service statement if available)

Two different tracking numbers for one order

This happens when the seller uses a local courier to move the package to an international shipping hub, then a different carrier handles the international leg. The AliExpress order page may show both. Track the second (international) number — it is the one that will update throughout the journey to your door.

Tracking shows the package in a country you did not order to

Some shipping routes transit through intermediate countries. A package from China to the US might route through Singapore or South Korea. A package to Europe might transit through Belgium or the Netherlands. This is normal logistics routing, not an error.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why has my tracking not updated in 2 weeks?

A 10-20 day gap with no tracking updates is normal during international transit. Most carriers do not scan packages between the "departed origin country" event and the "arrived at destination" event. The package is on a plane or ship crossing an ocean. Unless your buyer protection timer is about to expire, wait.

My package has been stuck in customs for over a week — is it seized?

Customs delays of 5-10 days are common in many countries and do not mean the package is seized. Seizure typically generates a notification from your customs authority. If customs holds a package for longer than 14 days without any communication, contact your country's customs office directly with the tracking number.

Why do I see different tracking information on AliExpress and 17TRACK?

AliExpress and 17TRACK pull data from different carrier API endpoints and update at different frequencies. 17TRACK often shows more granular events because it queries the source carrier directly. Neither is "wrong" — they are pulling from different points in the same data chain, and one may lag behind the other by hours or a day.

What does "logistics order created but not yet picked up" mean after 5 days?

The seller printed a shipping label (which generates the tracking number) but has not physically given the package to the carrier yet. If this status persists for more than 7-10 days, message the seller to ask about the delay. Some sellers generate labels immediately but batch shipments weekly.

Can I change my shipping address after the order is shipped?

No. Once the package is shipped and a tracking number is assigned, the destination address cannot be changed through AliExpress. Your only option is to contact your local postal service and request a redirect or hold at the post office — but this depends on your country's postal service policies and may incur a fee.

Does AliExpress Standard Shipping have tracking?

Yes. AliExpress Standard Shipping (operated by Cainiao) includes full end-to-end tracking. It is one of the most reliably tracked shipping methods on the platform, with updates at most transit points.

What is the difference between ePacket and AliExpress Standard Shipping?

ePacket is a China Post service primarily for small, lightweight packages (under 2kg) to select countries. AliExpress Standard Shipping is Cainiao's logistics network. Both have tracking, but AliExpress Standard typically has faster delivery times (7-15 days vs. 10-25 days) and more consistent tracking updates. ePacket availability has decreased since 2020 as Cainiao has expanded.