I've noticed that when a customer clicks on the link to track their package in their order status email, they are taken to the Tracking page with their tracking number filled in, but the zipcode field is blank and has to be typed in manually. Then when you click the button "Track Package", an error comes up:

"The tracking system returned the following error : Not Found".

Could I have something set up wrong, or is there a glitch in the system?

Hi Sharon
Could you send an example tracking number to my email (vince AT ecommercetemplates DOT com) and I'll give it a go.

Vince

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Hi Sharon
The actual error wasn't being displayed, but this is what USPS are returning now...

The tracking system returned the following error : The requested MID is not authorized for access to /tracking. USPS implemented Tracking API Access Controls 4/1/2026. If you still require access submit an IP Agreement inquiry via Email Us https://emailus.usps.com/s/usps-APIs or call the API Access Control Helpdesk 1-(877)-672-0007 dial option #6 then option #2.

Is the tracking page being accessed via tracking links in order status emails? I've added some changes so that the customer will now be automatically forwarded to the USPS.com site for tracking so won't get this message. If that's not the case, please let me know.

Vince

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Yes, it is from a link in the status change email.
I just tested it again and it went to the USPS tracking page and showed the tracking info correctly.

Thanks again!

I just did an update on my site last night to the newest files and I'm still getting that long USPS error. I double checked a couple things and neither is coming up with a USPS link.

In my tracking number emails when an item has shipped, the link still points to my website.
In the order status page, the tracking number link still points to my website.

Where should I be seeing the tracking numbers point to the USPS website? Ideally, I'd like to have just the tracking numbers for USPS packages point to the USPS website. UPS and FedEx function fine still.

Hi Sparksm
I forgot to mention that you also need to add this parameter to the includes.php file...

$GLOBALS['useinternaltrackinglink']=FALSE;

Can you try that and see if it sorts it out?

Vince

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Ok, that helps get me 50% there.

When checking an order status on site, it works perfect!

Emails still use the internal link, though maybe that's my fault. Years ago, I made this for the tracking number:
<a style="color:#0068A5;text-decoration: none;" href="https://[mywebsite]/tracking.asp?trackno=%trackingnum%" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-mce-selected="1"><span style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0); font-size: 20px; line-height: 24px;">Tracking Number: %trackingnum%</span></a>

So clearly, I am linking internally myself, and I know I would need to remove that if I want the external links to work but is there some field I can use to make this work in emails with the external links? What's the difference between %trackingnum% and {%trackingnum%} ? I can't seem to find documentation on that

Hi Sparksm
If you are using the ASP version of the cart then I presume you added the link as...
useinternaltrackinglink=FALSE
Otherwise your status emails wouldn't work. But the tracking page should use a redirect to the USPS site so I would have thought your link would work. But what happens? Do you get the same "The requested MID is not authorized for access to /tracking." error from USPS?

quote:

---

What's the difference between %trackingnum% and {%trackingnum%}

---

The curly brackets make the tracking number optional so if there is no tracking number everything in the curly brackets is removed.

Vince

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1) Correct, I am on ASP. I was just replying to this WordPress thread in an effort to not make duplicate topics.

2) Yes, I am able to get the useinternaltrackinglink=FALSE parameter to work for the order status page, which is great.

What I would like though is for the tracking numbers in the emails to also have that same link externally.
Is that possible with the current version? If not, is this something you can add to a future version?

My customers want the tracking number in the email to link so they can see the progress, not just a number that they have to manually copy and paste out of the email. A clickable link in the email to the external site is the desired outcome to reduce the customer service inquires we get about the tracking numbers not working on our own site.

The way I worked around this before was to use:
<a href="https://[mywebsite]/tracking.asp?trackno=%trackingnum%" target="_blank" rel="noopener" ><span>Tracking Number: %trackingnum%</span></a>
but this obviously does not work anymore with USPS because when you click on that link for a USPS number then the API returns the big error (which I disabled for now so that it's not an eye sore for customers).

The ideal solution for me (and possibly others) is to have the same functionality of the external links that is on the order status page also work for the emails. A tracking number in the email with the external link would be amazing for me.

3) Yes, I get the same "The requested MID is not authorized for access to /tracking." error from USPS

I called USPS yesterday and spoke with them. To make a long story short, they wanted $599 per MONTH for access to allow for my site to continue usage of their tracking API. I explained several times "I think you're misunderstanding, I just need this for a handful of packages... maybe 20-30 a month" They insisted that they've heard this feedback often and that this was the only way. I again, pressed that they must be mistaken.

I gave them my Mailer ID, server IP, Consumer Key, Customer Registration ID, Master Mailer ID, and Label Mailer ID... and they told me over and over that it would cost $599 per month if I want to get the old functionality back.

They encouraged me to still go to the website linked in the error message and request access via the IP Agreement option, which I did, but have not heard back from.

To add on to this, something else is up with the USPS and it's with the First Class International rates that I cannot seem to figure out. We have some packages that are a long rectangular box, such as a 42"x7"x2", which are getting rates through the API when they should not and customers are ordering using this service.

I double checked the sizes we have put in the admin, and we have 42"x7"x2 put in but the USPS First Class International max size is max length: 24" OR max combined dimensions (L+H+D): 36". We're clearly past those thresholds, so I'm not sure why customers are allowed to purchase those services. I don't think this was a problem before I recently updated; I feel like something has changed.

Any insight on the First Class International rates and whether or not we can implement now (or in the future) external tracking numbers in the emails would be great.

Hi Sparksm

quote:

---

https://[mywebsite]/tracking.asp?trackno=%trackingnum%

---

This is the way that it is supposed to work. And with the changes what should happen is that the tracking.asp page on your site should forward automatically to the USPS site, but for some reason that isn't happening so I need to investigate. Could you send the site FTP login to my email (vince AT ecommercetemplates DOT com) and I'll take a look. Could you also let me know the product that has these dimensions in the email and I'll check on the First Class International rates.

Vince

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Thanks, just emailed over that info.

Hi Sparksm
I had a look at the site and I think with the modifications you use for the logos you might have missed the changes for redirecting to the USPS site.

quote:

---

<a href="https://[mywebsite]/tracking.asp?trackno=%trackingnum%" target="_blank" rel="noopener" ><span>Tracking Number: %trackingnum%</span></a>
but this obviously does not work anymore with USPS because when you click on that link for a USPS number then the API returns the big error (which I disabled for now so that it's not an eye sore for customers).

---

This link...
https://[mywebsite]/tracking.asp?trackno=%trackingnum%
...should work now and I've tried it on your site and it seems ok.

I also had a look at the USPS international and looking at the restrictions on this service it says...

Maximum Dimensions: A combined length and girth (distance around the thickest part) of up to 108 inches.

But the product you sent to test isn't greater than this limit is it?

Vince

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Thanks for taking a look Vince.

Re: External Links

I reviewed the file I edited from the newest updater I downloaded on May 6th, 2026 and compared the original file I received on that day and everything looks as I would expect.

I downloaded a new copy just now today, and compared to the May 6th file and can see the differences and the addition of the external links. My assumption was that since you posted on the 5th, that the updater from the 6th would be up to date but I think I got an older copy that simply didn't have the functionality yet.

Thanks for taking the time to re-add the image tweaks I have to the new live file.

Would it be possible to do this type of external linking for the other shipping couriers too in a future update?
------------
Re: USPS First Class International

I think you're looking at priority or express mail. The first class international restrictions are here: https://www.usps.com/international/first-class-package-international-service.htm

The issue we have is with these lines on their page:
Maximum length (longest dimension) is 24 in.
Minimum height is 4 in.
Maximum combined length, height, and depth (thickness) is 36 in.

Our 42"x7"x3" exceeds the max length, length + girth, and doesn't reach the min height, yet for whatever reason is able to pass through the checkout.