pathping is used to identify network latency and packet loss along the route to a destination by combining ping and tracert features with detailed statistical analysis; 1. It works in two phases: first tracing the route, then sending ~100 packets over 250 seconds to each hop to measure latency, packet loss, and stability; 2. Basic usage involves running "pathping [destination]" in Command Prompt, waiting 4–5 minutes for results showing route trace and statistics per hop; 3. Advanced options include -n to disable hostname resolution, -h to set max hops, -p for ping interval, -q for number of queries per hop, and -w for reply timeout, allowing customization for speed or detail; 4. Troubleshooting involves checking for packet loss >5%, sudden latency increases, or consistent loss from a hop onward, with local issues indicated at early hops and external issues mid-path; 5. Use pathping instead of ping or tracert when diagnosing intermittent issues or pinpointing where packet loss occurs over time, though it is slower, taking several minutes to complete.

The pathping command in Windows is a powerful network diagnostic tool that combines the functionality of ping and tracert (traceroute), but with more detailed insights into network latency and packet loss. It’s especially useful for identifying where network issues occur along the route from your computer to a destination server.

Here’s how to use pathping effectively for advanced network tracing:

1. Understanding How pathping Works

Unlike tracert, which only shows the path and response time per hop, pathping sends multiple packets to each router (hop) over a period of time and calculates statistics based on the responses. This gives you a clearer picture of:

• Latency at each hop
• Packet loss between hops
• Network stability over time

It works in two phases:

1. It traces the route to the destination (like tracert).
2. It sends ~100 packets over 250 seconds (by default) to each hop to gather statistics.

2. Basic Usage of pathping

Open Command Prompt as Administrator (recommended) and type:

pathping www.example.com

Or use an IP address:

pathping 8.8.8.8

Wait for the command to complete — it takes about 4–5 minutes. You’ll see two sections in the output:

• Route trace: Lists each hop from your machine to the destination.
• Statistics: Shows packet loss percentage and latency (in ms) for each hop.

Example output:

  0  YourPC
  1  192.168.1.1
  2  10.0.0.1
  3  203.0.113.10
  ...

Computing statistics for 300 seconds...

                  Source to Here   This Node/Link
Hop  RTT      Lost/Sent = Pct    Lost/Sent = Pct  Address
  0                                           100/100 = 0%  YourPC
  1    1ms     0/100   = 0%      0/100   = 0%  192.168.1.1
  2   10ms     5/100   = 5%      5/100   = 5%  10.0.0.1
  3   45ms    20/100  = 20%     15/100  = 15%  203.0.113.10

In this example, the jump from hop 2 to 3 shows significant packet loss — indicating a potential bottleneck or unstable link.

3. Advanced Options and Flags

You can customize pathping behavior using command-line switches:

• -n: Don’t resolve IP addresses to hostnames (faster, less clutter)

  pathping -n 8.8.8.8

• -h MAX_HOPS: Set maximum number of hops (default is 30)

  pathping -h 20 google.com

• -p: Wait time between pings (in milliseconds)

  pathping -p 500 target.com  (waits 500ms between pings)

• -q: Number of queries per hop (default is 100)

  pathping -q 25 google.com  (sends 25 packets per hop)

• -w: Timeout for each reply (in milliseconds)

  pathping -w 1000 server.local

  Tip: Use -q 10 -p 100 for a faster but less accurate check (takes ~1–2 minutes).

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  4. Interpreting Results for Troubleshooting

  Look for these red flags in the statistics:

  • High packet loss (>5%) on a specific hop → Possible network congestion, faulty hardware, or routing issue.
  • Sudden latency increase between two hops → Could indicate a slow link or overloaded router.
  • Consistent loss from a certain hop onward → Problem likely at that node or beyond (e.g., ISP or remote network issue).

  Note: The first few hops (your local network, router, modem) should show 0% loss and low latency. Issues here point to local problems.

  If packet loss occurs at hop 1 (your router), check:

  • Wi-Fi signal strength
  • Ethernet cable
  • Router performance

  If loss appears mid-path, it’s likely outside your control — contact your ISP with the pathping results as evidence.

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  5. When to Use pathping vs. Other Tools

  Tool	Best For
  ping	Quick check of end-to-end connectivity and latency
  tracert	Finding the route and detecting where traffic stops
  pathping	Pinpointing where packet loss occurs over time

  Use pathping when:

  • You suspect intermittent network issues
  • ping shows high latency or loss
  • tracert times out, but you want more data

  Avoid pathping on time-sensitive diagnostics — it’s slow but thorough.

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  Basically, pathping is the go-to tool when you need deeper insight than tracert provides. It’s not flashy, but it tells you exactly where your packets are being dropped or delayed — which is half the battle in network troubleshooting.

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