Lost the tracking number or the seller never sent one? You usually cannot track an international parcel by name alone, because carriers need an order or shipment identifier. That does not mean the parcel is gone. First recover the number from the store, then check it with the correct carrier. This guide gives practical steps for AliExpress, China Post and DHL.
Collect your order details first
Write down the item, payment date, seller, order value, delivery address, recipient phone and email. Save the store order ID, a screenshot of the order page and the promised delivery window. A store order ID and a tracking number are different: the first identifies your purchase, while the second identifies the parcel. A carrier may also ask for the origin country, destination country and approximate handover date.
Step 1: search email, SMS and app alerts
The tracking number may arrive in a separate message from the purchase confirmation. Search your inbox for the store name, “tracking”, “shipment”, “shipped”, “logistics” and “delivery details”. Check spam, promotions, archive and trash folders, as well as SMS and notification history in the shopping app.
- Emails with subjects such as “Your order has been shipped”
- SMS or push alerts containing a 10–30 character letter-and-number code
- Messages from a warehouse or logistics partner rather than the seller's brand
- Browser history, notes or clipboard history if you copied the number earlier
Tip: Do not enter a code from an unexpected SMS into a random tracking website. Verify the sender and domain through the store or carrier's official site first.
Step 2: recover it from the store account
Open the purchase on the platform where you paid and look for “Logistics”, “Track”, “Shipment information” or “Delivery details”. If the mobile app only shows a “Details” button, expand every section and try the web version: some apps hide the carrier and copy button on their shortened mobile screen.
- AliExpress → My Orders → the order → Track Order / Logistics
- Shein → My Orders → Track
- Amazon → Your Orders → Track package
- eBay → My eBay → Purchase History → Track
- Ozon or Wildberries → My Orders → the order → Delivery / Details
How to find an AliExpress parcel without the number
AliExpress normally shows the number 3–7 days after the seller confirms shipment. Open My Orders, choose the item and select Track Order. In the logistics view, find the carrier row and tap the copy icon beside the code. If you only see an order ID, open Shipment Information or the page in a desktop browser; the separate tracking number is often displayed there.
If the status says “Awaiting shipment”, the seller may not have handed the parcel to a carrier. If it says “Shipped” but there is no number, message the seller from the order page. Include the order ID and request the tracking number plus the carrier name. A useful message is: “Please send the tracking number and carrier for order #XXXX. The logistics page does not show it.” Ask whether the seller created only an internal label that has not been scanned yet.
Screenshot description for AliExpress: the order card shows the item name and a Track Order button, followed by a vertical event timeline. Near the latest event there is usually a carrier name and a long code with a copy icon. “Shipment information received” means a label was created; it does not always mean the parcel was physically accepted.
How to recover a China Post number
China Post generally cannot locate an international parcel from the recipient's name and address alone. Ask the seller to check the postal receipt or export declaration. Registered China Post codes often use two letters, nine digits and CN, such as the format RA123456789CN; this is only an example, not a real tracking number. Do not guess missing digits.
- Copy the store order ID and shipment date from your account.
- Ask the seller for an exact copy or photo of the China Post receipt.
- When you receive the code, check it on the official China Post site or Trackora without spaces.
- After arrival in your country, check the same code with the national postal operator; last-mile events may appear there first.
- If there is still no result 24–48 hours after the seller says it shipped, ask the seller to confirm that China Post accepted the parcel rather than merely creating a label.
Screenshot description for China Post: the official tracker has a number field and a search button, then displays the identifier, dates and a chronological event list with locations. “No information” can simply mean the label is new. Check again after 24–48 hours; if it remains missing for a week, return to the seller rather than trying similar-looking numbers.
How to find a DHL shipment without the number
DHL Express and DHL eCommerce use different systems and may use different number formats. Identify the product in your order first. DHL Express support may sometimes locate a shipment using a shipper reference, name and address, but this depends on the country and service. DHL eCommerce usually requires the sender or store to provide the number.
- Check the order for DHL Express, DHL eCommerce, DHL Parcel or Shipment reference.
- Contact official DHL support through dhl.com or your country's official phone number; do not use a link from a suspicious SMS.
- Prepare the recipient's full name and address, phone, sender details, handover date, contents and store order ID.
- Ask the seller to open a trace using its receipt, since the sender often has more access than the recipient.
- Once you receive the DHL code, use the tracking page for that exact product and save the result.
Screenshot description for DHL: the official tracker starts with a shipment-number field and a tracking button, then shows a shipment card with service, sender and recipient. “Shipment information received” may mean the data was entered before the first physical scan. A missing result on the Express page does not prove loss if the parcel is DHL eCommerce.
If the seller does not respond
Send one clear request in the store chat and keep the conversation. Include the order ID, purchase date, and a request for the tracking number, carrier name and actual handover date. Do not confirm receipt just because the seller sent an unverified code. If there is no reply after 48–72 hours, use the platform's support flow. If buyer protection is ending, open a dispute for missing tracking or non-delivery before the deadline and attach screenshots.
Frequently asked questions
Can I track a parcel using only a name and address?
Usually not. Names and addresses are not unique identifiers, and carriers restrict this search to protect personal data. A DHL support agent, local courier portal or store account may offer a limited lookup by phone or address, but recovering the shipment number from the seller, receipt, email or order page is more reliable.
What if the seller gave me a number that does not work?
Remove spaces, check confusing characters such as 0/O and 1/I, and confirm that you selected the right carrier. A new code may take 24–48 hours to appear after the first scan. If it still fails after 5–7 days, ask the seller to verify the receipt and handover date. Do not mistake an internal warehouse reference for an international tracking number.
When should I open a dispute if I still have no number?
Use the promised delivery date and buyer-protection deadline rather than one universal day count. Ask for the number, allow 48–72 hours for a response, and open a dispute before protection expires if the parcel has not arrived and there is no proof of carrier acceptance. Screenshots of the order, conversation and empty tracking result help the platform review the case.
Note: Never pay a “redelivery fee” through an unexpected SMS link or share card details in a chat. Verify the carrier website and contact details independently.