How to Scan a Tracking Number
Where to Find the Tracking Barcode
The tracking number and its barcode are usually printed close together. Check the shipping label attached to the package, the receipt given when the package was accepted, or a delivery notice left at the address.
On a shipping label, look near the section that names the carrier or describes the shipping service. The tracking number may appear directly above or below a long barcode. A label can contain several other codes, so do not assume that every barcode is used for public tracking.
On a receipt, find wording such as “Tracking Number,” “Shipment Number,” or “Package ID.” If you received a delivery notice, look for a number or barcode connected to the attempted delivery. Keep the full number visible, including any letters at the beginning or end.
If you want to scan your tracking number from a label attached to a box, place the package on a steady surface first. Flatten any loose part of the label without covering or changing it.
How to Scan a Tracking Number
Use the official app or tracking tool for the carrier shown on the shipment. If the carrier offers a barcode scanning option, follow these steps:
- Open the carrier’s official app or tracking tool.
- Select the tracking section, then look for a camera, barcode, or scan button.
- Allow camera access when your phone asks for permission. The scanner cannot view the barcode if camera access is blocked.
- Place the full barcode inside the frame shown on the screen. Hold the phone parallel to the label instead of pointing it from a sharp angle.
- Move the phone slightly closer or farther away until the barcode looks clear. Keep both the phone and package still.
- Wait for the number to be recognized, then select the available command to start tracking if the status does not open automatically.
The exact button names can differ by carrier and device. If there is no scanning option, use the same official tracking tool and type the printed number into its tracking field.
People asking “can I scan a tracking number?” should first check whether their carrier’s current tool shows a camera or barcode control. A tracking number scan is only possible when that tool and the printed barcode are supported.
How to Identify the Shipping Carrier
Check the label, receipt, or delivery notice for the carrier’s name or logo. This is more reliable than guessing from the barcode. Open that carrier’s official tracking tool before you scan a tracking number.
If the carrier name is not clear, inspect the text beside the tracking number. A shipping-service name, return record, or instruction on the receipt may identify the company that first accepted the package.
Tracking-number formats can provide another clue. Some contain only digits, while others use a mixture of letters and digits. Lengths and prefixes vary, however, and formats can change or overlap. Use format as a clue, not as proof.
A package may also move between carriers during its journey. The company named on the label may provide another tracking number for the final part of delivery. If one official tool rejects the number, recheck the shipment record for the carrier connected to that specific number.
Check the Latest Tracking Status
After the scan for tracking is recognized, confirm that the number on the screen matches the number printed below the barcode. This helps prevent a nearby warehouse or routing code from being mistaken for the tracking number.
The results may show the current shipment status, the latest recorded location, scan history, and estimated delivery information. Read the newest event first, but also review earlier scans to understand the package’s route.
Look for a delivery exception or alert if movement has stopped. An exception can indicate that the carrier needs more time, encountered an address or access issue, or could not complete a delivery attempt. Follow only the instructions displayed in the official carrier tool.
A scan event records when the carrier processed the package at a particular stage. It does not necessarily mean the package is moving at that exact moment. Estimated delivery information may also change as newer scans are added.
If the Barcode Will Not Scan
If you cannot scan tracking numbers, try these checks:
- Move to an area with even lighting. Avoid glare that turns part of the barcode white on the camera screen.
- Wipe the camera lens and tap the barcode area on the screen to help the camera focus.
- Hold the camera straight above the barcode and include its complete left and right edges.
- Flatten a folded label carefully. Do not cover the bars with a finger or add marks to a damaged section.
- Try a different distance. A barcode can remain blurry when the phone is too close.
- Check that camera permission is enabled for the official carrier app or tracking tool.
A damaged, faded, torn, or heavily creased barcode may not be readable. The carrier’s scanner may also reject a barcode format used only for internal routing. In either case, enter the tracking number printed beneath or beside the barcode manually.
When you scan my tracking number is the goal but the camera keeps failing, manual entry provides the same lookup when the correct public tracking number is available. Copy every character in order and leave out spaces or punctuation only if the official tool directs you to do so.
Tracking Number Not Found
If the number is rejected, compare it with the label one character at a time. Check for missing first or last characters and for letters that resemble numbers. Scan your tracking number again only after confirming that the correct barcode is inside the camera frame.
A newly assigned number may not be available in the carrier’s system immediately. The sender may have created a label before the carrier recorded the package. Check again after the carrier has had time to accept and process it.
The number may also belong to another carrier, especially when the shipment changes hands. Return to the label, receipt, or shipment notice and identify which carrier issued that number. Then use that carrier’s official tool.
If the complete number still cannot be found, keep the label or receipt and use the official support option shown by the responsible carrier. Provide the printed tracking number and describe whether it was scanned or entered manually. Do not guess missing characters or rely on an unofficial result.