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How to Run Traceroute on Windows, Linux and MacOS

In this guide, we will show you how to run a traceroute on different operating systems.

Traceroute is a command-line tool used to trace the path that network traffic takes from your computer to a destination IP address or hostname. It helps identify routing problems, connection slowdowns, or packet loss between networks.

On Windows, the command is called:

tracert

On Linux, the command is called:

traceroute

Running traceroute on Windows​

Step 1) Open Command Prompt.

You can do this in either of these ways:

  • Press Win + R, type cmd, then press Enter
  • Search for Command Prompt in the Start menu

Step 2) Run the following command:

tracert [hostname or IP]

Example:

tracert 45.144.155.218

Wait 1 to 2 minutes for the trace to finish. You will then see output similar to this:

Running traceroute on Linux/MacOS​

Step 1) Open the Terminal in your Linux distribution.

Step 2) Run the following command:

traceroute [hostname or IP]

Example:

traceroute 45.144.155.218

Wait 1 to 2 minutes for the trace to finish. You will then see output similar to this: