How to sign up for Packet Tracer

Packet Tracer is a free program from Cisco for practising networking on your own computer. Our labs use it. You need no equipment.

Before you start: a computer with Windows 11, macOS 12 or newer, or Ubuntu 22.04 or 24.04 (64-bit, 4 GB free memory, 1.4 GB free disk). Packet Tracer does not run on phones or tablets.

Step 1. Register at Cisco Networking Academy

Go to netacad.com, choose Sign up and create your free account.

Step 2. Take the free course "Getting Started with Cisco Packet Tracer"

Sign in, find the course in the catalogue, choose Self-Paced and enrol. It takes about 2 hours. It teaches you how to use Packet Tracer, and it is how you get the download.

Important: finish the whole course before you start any of our labs.

Step 3. Download and install

In the course (Module 1), or on Cisco's Resource Hub (netacad.com/resources/lab-downloads), download the newest Packet Tracer for your computer and run the installer.

Step 4. Start Packet Tracer

Open it, choose Login, and sign in with your Networking Academy account. You are ready for the labs.

Stuck? Cisco's own instructions are on the Resource Hub page ("Download and Installation Instructions").