AliExpress tracking can look confusing because one order may pass through several logistics companies before it reaches a US address. The easiest way to follow a package is to start with the tracking information shown in your AliExpress order and then check the local carrier once the parcel reaches the United States.
A tracking gap does not automatically mean that your package is lost. What matters more is the latest meaningful scan, the estimated delivery window, the carrier currently handling the parcel, and whether a new local tracking number has appeared.
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Key takeaways
- Use the tracking number, not your AliExpress order number.
- Cainiao may provide more detail during international transit.
- USPS or another US carrier may become more useful after the local handoff.
- Several days without a scan can be normal during international shipping.
- “USPS Awaiting Item” can mean USPS has shipment information but does not physically have the parcel yet.
- Pay attention to the delivery and protection deadlines shown for your individual order.
Planning another order? Check current AliExpress offers and compare the available shipping options for your US address.
How AliExpress tracking works
An AliExpress order can move through several logistics networks.
The seller or warehouse prepares the package first. An international logistics provider may then move it through export facilities, airports, customs and other sorting centers.
Once the parcel reaches the United States, it can be transferred to USPS or another local delivery company.
This is why the same package may appear differently on different tracking websites.
Cainiao operates an official global tracking service for Cainiao and AliExpress packages and says it supports more than 100 delivery providers across more than 200 countries and regions. Cainiao
Order number vs tracking number
Your AliExpress order number identifies the purchase inside AliExpress.
Your tracking number identifies the physical parcel moving through the shipping network.
They are not the same thing.
If you enter your AliExpress order number into USPS or another carrier website, it normally will not locate your package.
A shipment can also receive a second tracking number after arriving in the United States.
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Difference between an AliExpress order number and a parcel tracking number
How to track an AliExpress order
The exact interface can change, but the basic process is simple:
- Sign in to your AliExpress account.
- Open My Orders.
- Find the order you want to track.
- Open its shipping or tracking details.
- Copy the shipment tracking number.
- Check the latest shipping event.
- If a local US carrier appears, try the tracking number on that carrier's official website.
Cainiao's official tracking service can also be useful during the international part of the journey.
Once USPS receives the parcel, USPS Tracking can show the current package status and, when available, delivery attempts, dates, times and delivery location. USPS FAQ
Common AliExpress tracking statuses
Some tracking messages sound more alarming than they really are.
Arrived at linehaul office
A linehaul is generally the long-distance transportation stage between major logistics hubs.
When an AliExpress package shows “Arrived at linehaul office,” it generally means that the parcel has reached a larger transit or sorting facility.
It may still need another flight, truck journey, customs processing or transfer to another logistics provider.
It does not necessarily mean that the package has reached your local post office.
Received by local delivery company
This usually indicates that the international logistics network is transferring the shipment into the destination country's delivery network.
For a US order, check whether AliExpress now displays:
- a local carrier;
- another tracking number;
- new domestic tracking events.
The package may still require additional sorting before final delivery.
Import customs clearance complete
This generally means the shipment has completed the import customs clearance stage.
That is progress, but it does not mean the parcel will immediately arrive at your door.
The shipment may still need to move through domestic sorting centers and reach the final delivery company.
USPS Awaiting Item
This status is often misunderstood.
USPS says statuses such as “Shipping Partner Facility, USPS Awaiting Item” can mean that a shipping partner currently has the package and will transfer it to USPS.
If the status says “Shipping Label Created, USPS Awaiting Item,” USPS says the tracking number has been created but the parcel has not yet been handed to USPS. USPS FAQ
So “USPS Awaiting Item” does not automatically mean that something went wrong.
In Transit
USPS uses several statuses while packages move through its network.
An “In Transit” status generally means the parcel is being transported or processed between facilities.
The same type of scan can appear more than once during the journey. USPS FAQ
Out for Delivery
This is one of the final stages.
When a package is Out for Delivery, it has reached the local delivery stage and should normally be delivered that day.
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Common AliExpress and US delivery tracking statuses explained
Why AliExpress tracking stops updating
International packages do not necessarily receive a public tracking scan every day.
A parcel may move through:
- warehouse processing;
- export sorting;
- international transportation;
- customs;
- carrier handoffs;
- domestic sorting;
- final-mile delivery.
Several days can pass between visible events, particularly while a package is moving between countries or logistics companies.
Instead of focusing only on the number of days since the last update, check:
- the latest meaningful tracking event;
- the estimated delivery window;
- which carrier currently has the parcel;
- whether a new local tracking number has appeared.
A tracking pause alone is not enough to conclude that the package is lost.
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Checklist for what to do when AliExpress tracking is not updating
Can the tracking number change?
Yes.
An international logistics company may use one tracking number while a US delivery company uses another.
If your original tracking number appears to stop updating after the package reaches the United States, check your AliExpress order again.
Look for:
- another tracking number;
- a local carrier name;
- a new domestic shipping event.
Keep both tracking numbers until the package has been delivered.
What if AliExpress says delivered but there is no package?
First, check the final carrier's tracking page.
If USPS handled the final delivery, USPS recommends checking possible delivery locations such as your mailbox, porch, garage, parcel locker, building management office or another safe location around the property.
Also ask other members of the household whether they received the parcel.
USPS notes that a package may arrive separately from your normal mail. USPS FAQ
Save screenshots of:
- the AliExpress order;
- the tracking history;
- the final carrier's delivery status;
- the tracking number.
These may be useful if you later need to contact the seller or use AliExpress after-sales options.
When should you contact the seller?
A few days without a tracking update do not always require contacting the seller.
Consider taking action when:
- the tracking number does not work after shipment;
- the package appears to be returning to the sender;
- tracking shows an address problem;
- the expected delivery period is running out;
- the order is already late;
- AliExpress displays an after-sales option that requires action.
Always pay attention to the deadlines shown on your specific order.
Do not wait indefinitely for another tracking update if the order page says you need to take action.
What if USPS appears to have lost the package?
If USPS has taken possession of the shipment and the package later becomes delayed or missing, USPS provides additional options.
USPS says a Missing Mail search can be submitted when mail has been missing, delayed or undelivered for seven days or more, depending on the situation and mail service. USPS FAQ
For an AliExpress order, also keep the AliExpress delivery and protection deadlines in mind.
Common tracking mistakes
Using the order number instead of the tracking number
Your order number identifies the purchase inside AliExpress.
Use the shipping tracking number when checking a carrier.
Assuming every tracking pause means the package is lost
International shipments can move for several days without producing a new public scan.
Assuming USPS Awaiting Item means USPS lost it
USPS may simply be waiting for the shipping partner to hand over the parcel. USPS FAQ
Checking only one tracking website
AliExpress or Cainiao may be more useful during international transit.
The final US carrier may provide better information after the domestic handoff.
Ignoring the order deadline
Tracking updates are useful, but the delivery and after-sales deadlines shown inside AliExpress are more important when deciding whether action is needed.
Quick tracking checklist
Before contacting the seller, check:
- Am I using the shipment tracking number?
- What was the last meaningful tracking event?
- Which carrier currently handles the package?
- Has a new US tracking number appeared?
- Is the estimated delivery window still open?
- Does the local carrier show additional information?
- Have I saved screenshots if something looks wrong?
If all of these look normal and the delivery window is still open, there may be nothing you need to do yet.
Frequently asked questions
Can I track an AliExpress package without logging in?
Yes, if you already know the shipment tracking number.
You can enter it into the relevant carrier's tracking system or a compatible tracking service.
Is Cainiao the same as AliExpress?
No.
Cainiao is a logistics company within Alibaba's ecosystem and provides logistics and tracking services used by many AliExpress shipments.
Why does USPS say Awaiting Item while AliExpress says the package is moving?
The international logistics provider may still physically have the package.
USPS can receive electronic shipment information before the parcel itself reaches the USPS network. USPS FAQ
Does tracking make delivery faster?
No.
USPS states that tracking provides information about a shipment but does not expedite or guarantee delivery. USPS FAQ
Should I worry if tracking has not changed for three days?
Not automatically.
International shipments can go several days without a new public tracking event.
Check the estimated delivery window and the latest meaningful status before deciding whether there is a problem.
What should I do if my tracking number changes?
Save both numbers.
The original number can remain useful for the international journey, while the new number may provide more detailed information from the local US carrier.
Final thoughts
AliExpress tracking becomes easier to understand when you think of delivery as a series of carrier handoffs.
Start with the tracking information inside AliExpress. Use Cainiao when it provides useful international shipment information, and check the local US carrier after the domestic handoff.
A short pause between tracking scans is often normal.
The most useful things to watch are the latest meaningful status, current carrier, local tracking number and estimated delivery window.
Browse current offers on AliExpress
Information checked
Last checked: September 16, 2026
This guide was prepared using official Cainiao and USPS tracking information. Shipping routes, carrier assignments and AliExpress interface wording can change depending on the order.
Sources
- Cainiao — Global Express Tracking
- USPS — USPS Tracking: The Basics
- USPS — Where Is My Package? Tracking Status Help
- USPS — Missing Mail: The Basics