{"templateId":"markdown","versions":[{"version":"shipstation-v2","label":"ShipStation V2 API","link":"/apis/shipstation-v2/docs/reference/start-tracking","default":true,"active":false,"folderId":"58c9a61d"},{"version":"shipengine","label":"ShipStation API (formerly ShipEngine)","link":"/apis/shipengine/docs/reference/start-tracking","default":false,"active":true,"folderId":"58c9a61d"},{"version":"shipstation-v1","label":"ShipStation V1 API","link":"/apis/shipstation-v1/docs/reference/start-tracking","default":false,"active":false,"folderId":"58c9a61d"}],"sharedDataIds":{"sidebar":"sidebar-apis/@shipengine/sidebars.yaml"},"props":{"metadata":{"markdoc":{"tagList":[]},"type":"markdown"},"seo":{"title":"Start Tracking Updates","keywords":"shipping, labels, shipstation, documentation, api","siteUrl":"https://docs.shipstation.com","lang":"en-US","llmstxt":{"hide":false,"title":"ShipStation API LLM Docs","description":"Find links and references to all markdown documentation for use with LLMs","excludeFiles":[]}},"dynamicMarkdocComponents":[],"compilationErrors":[],"ast":{"$$mdtype":"Tag","name":"article","attributes":{},"children":[{"$$mdtype":"Tag","name":"Heading","attributes":{"level":1,"id":"start-tracking-updates","__idx":0},"children":["Start Tracking Updates"]},{"$$mdtype":"Tag","name":"p","attributes":{},"children":[{"$$mdtype":"Tag","name":"strong","attributes":{},"children":["POST /v1/tracking/start"]}]},{"$$mdtype":"Tag","name":"p","attributes":{},"children":["This endpoint allows you to subscribe to tracking updates for a package. You specify the ",{"$$mdtype":"Tag","name":"code","attributes":{},"children":["carrier_code"]}," and ",{"$$mdtype":"Tag","name":"code","attributes":{},"children":["tracking_number"]},"of the package, and we'll notify you whenever the shipping status changes."]},{"$$mdtype":"Tag","name":"Heading","attributes":{"level":2,"id":"requirements","__idx":1},"children":["Requirements"]},{"$$mdtype":"Tag","name":"ul","attributes":{},"children":[{"$$mdtype":"Tag","name":"li","attributes":{},"children":["You'll need the ",{"$$mdtype":"Tag","name":"code","attributes":{},"children":["carrier_code"]}," and ",{"$$mdtype":"Tag","name":"code","attributes":{},"children":["tracking_number"]},"of the package."]},{"$$mdtype":"Tag","name":"li","attributes":{},"children":["You can track labels created outside of ShipStation API as long as you have the carrier connected to your ShipStation API account. For example, you can track a DHL label through ShipStation API even if you didn't created it through ShipStation API, but you ",{"$$mdtype":"Tag","name":"em","attributes":{},"children":["must"]}," have a DHL carrier connected to your ShipStation API account."]},{"$$mdtype":"Tag","name":"li","attributes":{},"children":["You need to ",{"$$mdtype":"Tag","name":"a","attributes":{"href":"/apis/shipengine/docs/tracking/webhooks"},"children":["set up webhooks"]}," first, so we know how to notify you of tracking updates."]}]},{"$$mdtype":"Tag","name":"Heading","attributes":{"level":2,"id":"example-request","__idx":2},"children":["Example Request"]},{"$$mdtype":"Tag","name":"CodeBlock","attributes":{"data-language":"http","header":{"controls":{"copy":{}}},"source":"POST /v1/tracking/start?carrier_code=stamps_com&tracking_number=9361269903502070406152 HTTP/1.1\nHost: api.shipengine.com\nAPI-Key: __YOUR_API_KEY_HERE__\n","lang":"http"},"children":[]},{"$$mdtype":"Tag","name":"p","attributes":{},"children":["If successful, ShipStation API will respond with an HTTP Status Code of ",{"$$mdtype":"Tag","name":"strong","attributes":{},"children":["204 (No Content)"]},"."]},{"$$mdtype":"Tag","name":"p","attributes":{},"children":["You can unsubscribe from updates at any time by ",{"$$mdtype":"Tag","name":"a","attributes":{"href":"/apis/shipengine/docs/reference/stop-tracking"},"children":["stopping tracking updates"]},". However, ShipStation API automatically unsubscribes from tracking updates once a package is delivered or when a delivery exception occurs. So, you don't need to explicitly unsubscribe in these cases."]}]},"headings":[{"value":"Start Tracking Updates","id":"start-tracking-updates","depth":1},{"value":"Requirements","id":"requirements","depth":2},{"value":"Example Request","id":"example-request","depth":2}],"frontmatter":{"seo":{"title":"Start Tracking Updates"}},"lastModified":"2026-04-08T10:47:45.000Z","pagePropGetterError":{"message":"","name":""}},"slug":"/apis/shipengine/docs/reference/start-tracking","userData":{"isAuthenticated":false,"teams":["anonymous"]},"isPublic":true}