How to Run Traceroute on a Chromebook

To run traceroute on a Chromebook, open the built-in Linux Terminal, install the tool once with sudo apt install traceroute, then run traceroute followed by a domain, such as traceroute chromestory.com. ChromeOS has no traceroute command on its own, so the Linux environment does the work.

Before you start

• Applies to: Chromebooks that support the Linux development environment (most models from 2019 onward).
• You need: The Linux environment turned on, and a few minutes for the first-time setup.

How do I open a terminal on my Chromebook?

1. Open Settings and find Developers. It sits under Advanced in some versions and under About ChromeOS in newer ones. You can also type Linux in the Settings search bar.
2. Turn on Linux development environment and follow the setup steps if you have not already.
3. Open the Terminal app from your launcher.

How do I run traceroute?

The commands below run inside the isolated Linux container, so they do not change ChromeOS itself.

1. The first time only, type sudo apt install traceroute and press Enter to install the tool.
2. Type traceroute, a space, and the website’s domain, such as traceroute chromestory.com, then press Enter.
3. Read the numbered list. Each line is one network hop your connection takes to reach the site.

Quick tips

• If you would rather not set up Linux, the Chromebook’s Diagnostics app runs a basic network check. Find it from the launcher, or in Settings under About ChromeOS.
• Traceroute is most useful for finding where a slow or broken connection happens, such as your router, your ISP, or the website’s server.

Frequently asked questions

Does ChromeOS have traceroute built in?

Not in a normal window. The traceroute command lives in the Linux environment, which you turn on in Settings before using the Terminal.

Why does the Terminal say traceroute command not found?

The tool is not installed yet. Run sudo apt install traceroute once, then try the command again.

What is traceroute used for?

It shows every hop between your Chromebook and a website, which helps you see where a connection slows down or fails.

Related guides

• How to Open Terminal on Your Chromebook
• Airplane Mode on a Chromebook
• How to Rotate the Screen on a Chromebook

With the Linux Terminal set up, traceroute turns your Chromebook into a handy network troubleshooting tool that maps the exact path to any website.