AliExpress tracking stopped updating? Here's what's usually going on
A lot of people panic when their AliExpress tracking goes quiet for a week or two, so here's a quick rundown of what's normally happening:
- Number not found: Sellers often generate the tracking number before handing the parcel over. Give it 3–7 days before worrying.
- No updates after "Departed from airport of origin": The parcel is in the air or waiting for a consolidated flight. One to two weeks of silence here is normal.
- Stuck on "Inbound into customs": Customs works in batches. During November sales and Chinese New Year this can add up to two weeks.
- Order number vs. tracking number: If your number is all digits and about 15 characters long, that's your order number, which can't be tracked. Look under Logistics in the order details.
- Super Economy shipping: This tier often shows only pickup and delivery, with nothing in between.
When to actually act: about 15–20 days for express, 30–45 for standard, and 45–60 for free shipping. After that, message the seller, and open a dispute before your buyer protection runs out.
One annoying thing is that parcels switch carriers along the way (Cainiao → airline → USPS, Royal Mail, etc.), so the AliExpress app only shows part of the journey. I've been using ParcelWhere for this. You paste the number, it detects the carrier, and it follows the handoff to your local post. It's free with no signup, and you can check up to 20 numbers at once, which helps if you order a lot or dropship. Visit https://www.parcelwhere.com/
Hope this helps someone who's refreshing their tracking page every hour 😄