A tracking page that goes blank or does not display any information when accessed can be a serious issue, especially for online store owners or logistics service users who rely on real-time package tracking features. This problem can cause customers to lose trust because they cannot find out the status of their shipments.
In this article, we will discuss common causes of a blank tracking page, as well as steps to resolve it.
Common Causes of a Blank Tracking Page
Here are some common causes that can make the tracking page not display any information:
- API Integration Errors If the website uses third-party services to display tracking data (such as Biteship, RajaOngkir, or other courier services), errors in the API integration can cause the data to be unreadable and the page to appear blank.
- Invalid or Empty Tracking Number If the tracking number sent to the tracking page is invalid or missing, the system cannot display the shipment status.
- API Requests Blocked by Browser (CORS) Some tracking services use APIs that can be restricted by the browser’s CORS (Cross-Origin Resource Sharing) policy, causing the data to fail to load.
- Issues with Website Plugin or Theme If you use a tracking plugin on WooCommerce, Shopify, or other CMS platforms, bugs in the plugin or conflicts with the theme can cause the page to go blank.
- Internet Connection or Server Errors Timeouts or unresponsive servers can cause the page to not load any content at all.
- Tracking Page Missing Order ID One main cause of a tracking page showing nothing is because the URL used does not include the tracking Id at the end. Example of a correct URL: https://track.biteship.com/67a9b59acdd91620774bab8c If you open just the main domain without the order ID at the end of the URL, the page will appear blank or not show any tracking data at all.
How to Fix a Blank Tracking Page
Here are steps you can try to resolve this issue:
1. Check Browser Console (Inspect > Console)
- Right-click on the tracking page > select Inspect > open the Console tab.
- Check for errors like "Failed to fetch", "CORS error", or "404 not found".
- Note these errors for further troubleshooting.
2. Ensure Tracking Number and Order ID Are Valid
- Make sure the tracking number has actually been sent to the tracking system.
- For tracking pages like Biteship, ensure the order ID is correctly included in the tracking URL.
3. Check API Key Status (If Using Third-Party API)
- Make sure the API key is still active and not expired.
- Also check that the environment used is production, not sandbox.
4. Update Plugins or Check Theme Conflicts
- Update the tracking plugin to the latest version.
- Temporarily deactivate other plugins to see if there are conflicts.
- Switch the theme to a default theme (e.g., Storefront for WooCommerce) and see if the tracking page works normally.
5. Use Debug Logs or Network Tab
- Use the Network tab in the browser to check if the API request succeeds.
- If you see a status other than 200 (e.g., 500 or 403), it means there is an error with the request.
6. Contact Technical Support
- If all the above steps fail, immediately contact your tracking service provider or website developer.
- Include information such as error logs, tracking number, order ID, and the tracking URL that is having issues.
Conclusion
The issue of a blank tracking page is often caused by technical problems such as integration errors or invalid data. One important thing often overlooked is ensuring that the tracking URL includes the order ID at the end, as in the example https://track.biteship.com/67a9b59acdd91620774bab8c.
By performing thorough checks and using the correct URL format, you can fix this issue and provide a better tracking experience for your customers.