How to Use Traceroute to Diagnose Network Issues – Step-by-Step Guide

Network problems can be frustrating, especially when you don’t know where the issue lies. Traceroute is a powerful diagnostic tool that helps identify where delays or failures occur in your network path. In this guide, we’ll explain how to use Traceroute effectively to troubleshoot connectivity issues.

What Is Traceroute?

Traceroute (or tracert on Windows) is a network diagnostic tool that maps the path data takes from your device to a destination (like a website or server). It shows each “hop” (router or node) along the way and measures the time taken for each step.

By analyzing Traceroute results, you can:
✔ Identify network bottlenecks
✔ Detect high latency or packet loss
✔ Locate where a connection fails

How to Run Traceroute

On Windows

  1. Open Command Prompt (Win + R → type cmd → press Enter).
  2. Type: tracert madankc.com.np (Replace madankc.com.np with your target domain or IP.)
  3. Press Enter and wait for results.

On macOS/Linux

  1. Open Terminal.
  2. Type: traceroute madankc.com.np(Replace madankc.com.np with your target domain or IP.) (Use sudo if permission is required.)
  3. Press Enter to see the route.

How to Interpret Traceroute Results

A typical Traceroute output shows:

  • Hop Number – The sequence of routers your data passes through.
  • IP Address/Domain – The name or IP of each hop.
  • Response Times (ms) – Round-trip time for packets (higher = slower).

Common Issues & Fixes

IssuePossible CauseSolution
Timeouts (*)Firewall blocking ICMPCheck security settings
High LatencyCongested networkContact ISP or IT admin
Packet LossFaulty router/ISPRestart modem/router
Route LoopsMisconfigured routingReport to network admin

Advanced Traceroute Tips

  • Use -I (Linux/macOS) for ICMP mode (better accuracy).
  • Try -w (Windows) to adjust timeout (e.g., tracert -w 1000 example.com).
  • Compare multiple runs to check for consistency.
  • Use online Traceroute tools (like Pingdom) for remote diagnostics.

Final Thoughts

Traceroute is an essential tool for network troubleshooting. By following these steps, you can pinpoint where connectivity issues arise—whether it’s your local network, ISP, or a remote server.

🔧 Pro Tip: Combine Traceroute with Ping and DNS checks for a full network diagnosis.