Download Cisco Packet Tracer Latest Version

Cisco Packet Tracer is a powerful network simulation tool for Cisco networks. You can simulate a complete Cisco network without actually connecting the devices physically.

Don’t worry, we will show you all the steps to download and install the Cisco Packet Tracer software. Just keep reading…

How to download the latest version of Cisco Packet Tracer

Cisco Packet Tracer is free to download but you need to register for Netacad Networking Academy which is also free. Registering is helpful because you will also need to sign in with the same ID when you run the simulation tool.

Let’s walk through the registration and download process here. This will let us download the Cisco Packet Tracer offline installer.

Download Cisco Packet Tracer

1. Go to the Signup page for Introduction to Packet Tracer course on Netacad Academy.
2. Enter your first name, last name, and email address and press the Submit button.
   
3. Check your email and click on the Get Started link to access your account. If you don’t get an email in a few minutes, please check your spam mail folder as I received it in my spam box.
   
4. Once activated, go to Netacad academy and sign in with your Cisco OneID you just created.
   
5. Once you have logged in, go to this Packet Tracer download page. Under the download section, you can download the latest version of the Cisco Packet Tracer.
   You can also directly click on the following links to start downloading Cisco Packet Tracer offline installer:
   Cisco Packet Tracer 7.3
   Packet Tracer 7.3 for Windows 64-bit
   Packet Tracer 7.3 for Windows 32-bit
   Packet Tracer 7.3 for Linux 64-bit
   Packet Tracer 7.3 for macOS
   Cisco Packet Tracer 7.2.2
   Packet Tracer 7.2.2 for Windows 64-bit Download
   Packet Tracer 7.2.2 for Windows 32-bit Download
6. Packet Tracer 7.2.2 for Linux 64-bit Download
   Packet Tracer 7.2.2 for macOS Download
7. You can download Packet Tracer for Android and iOS directly using the links below (without signing in)
   Download Cisco Packet Tracer 3.0 for Mobile (iPhone and iPad)
   Download Cisco Packet Tracer 3.0 for Mobile (Android)

There will be times when you want to download the previous versions of Packet Tracer. The last two versions are available for download:

Windows Desktop Version 7.2.1 English
64 Bit Download
32 Bit Download

Linux Desktop Version 7.2.1 English
64 Bit Download

macOS Version 7.2.1 English
Download

Windows Desktop Version 7.1.1 English
64 Bit Download
32 Bit Download

Linux Desktop Version 7.1.1 English
Linux 64 Bit Download

More about packet tracer

Cisco Packet Tracer is a powerful network simulation software from Cisco Systems Inc which can simulate/create a network without having a physical network. It has a drag and drop interface that is easy to use yet highly effective while configuring complex networks.

Cisco Packet Tracer can also run as a hybrid network combining physical networks and the simulated networks. All this is achieved by using a drag and drop visual interface. This capability makes the software unique and highly useful across institutions and individuals worldwide who want to learn and practice their networking skills before touching the production networks.

Cisco Packet Tracer is one of the better initiatives by Cisco Systems for learning, institutions, and students can both benefit from skills and career building.

The benefits of using Cisco Packet Tracer

A few benefits of using Cisco Packet Tracer  simulator tool include the following:

• Free for everyone, institutions, and individuals around the world especially allowing students to have hands-on skills on a Cisco network. Earlier, it was only free for Cisco Network Academy students.
• Practice complete Cisco Packet Tracer labs from the Networking Academy in their skills and career-building program for learning (CCENT, CCN, CCNP Security and CCNP Switch exams, in fact, any Cisco certification).
• Equally useful program for learning for institutions and individuals.
• Users can run simulations on all devices compatible with Cisco Packet Tracer including Windows, Linux and Android mobile device (Cisco Packet Tracer Mobile)
• You can run and practice Cisco IOS Operating System without having a physical router and network.
• Last but not least, it can also run on a mobile device!

Changelogs of Packet tracer recent versions

The main feature of Packet Tracer 7.3 is that it supports the latest CCNA 7 package. It is not compatible with the CCNA 6 package. If you are using CCNA 6, then you should stay with Packet Tracer 7.2.2. You can find the direct download links for both versions 7.3 and 7.2.2 below.

Other changes in Cisco Packet Tracer 7.3

Packet Tracer 7.3 workspace improvements :

• New workspace themes
• Aligned workspace objects
• Ability to deploy network devices to a specific rack
• Accessibility update
• Ability to name a physical rack

Protocol and software improvements :

• IP OSPF Point-to-Point on Ethernet interface
• IPv6 OSPF Point-to-Point on Ethernet interface
• Dynamic ARP inspection
• WLC GUI fixes and enhancements
• DHCP snooping fixes and enhancements
• Section output modifier for show commands
• Accessibility, security, and usability enhancements and optimizations for all platforms
• Upgraded PTSA and PTMO support
• Various enhancements to existing protocols

New devices in Packet Tracer 7.3 :

• Cisco 4331 Integrated Services Router
• Cisco Wireless Lan Controller 3504

Just like Cisco Packet Tracer 7.1.1, the version 7.2.2 is a maintenance release and does not contain any major updates. The complete build no. of this release is 7.2.2.0218. Only one major bug was fixed in this release. The bug in previous versions of Packet Tracer was that if the user had logged into Packet Tracer software, the user was required to log in again after every system restart.

Apart from this, all the features of version 7.2 remain the same. Cisco has removed Packet Tracer 7.2 from their website and it is not available for download anymore. So you should download this latest version for future installations. Here were the major features of version 7.2 major release:

Packet Tracer 7.2 workspace improvements:

• New themes
• Align workspace objects
• Ability to deploy the device to a specific rack
• Accessibility update
• Ability to name a rack

Protocol and software improvements :

• PPPoE support
• 802.1x (useful for a CCNP certification exam)
• Answer tree filter
• Real TCP server
• Real WebSocket
• Real-time activity grading
• Additional IOS security features
• Protocol improvements

New devices in Packet Tracer 7.2

• ASA 5506-X firewall (FirePOWER features not supported)
• Meraki security appliance
• Meraki server (for Meraki security appliance centralized configuration, emulating Cisco Meraki dashboard)
• Home router with advanced wireless capabilities (2.4G, 5G, beamforming, wireless bridge, …)

Getting started with Cisco Packet Tracer

Once you have downloaded the Cisco Packet Tracer, the installation process of the Cisco Packet Tracer is as simple as running the downloaded setup file and follow the instructions (usually pressing the Next button).

After installation, if you have a browser open, you will be asked to close the browser with the following message:

For Packet Tracer Skill-Based Assessment (PTSBA) to use this version of Packet Tracer, please close all web browsers or restart your computer.

After that, you will be shown another notice that you are running Packet Tracer for the first time so your files will be saved in the default folder.

And then you will get a login screen. You can either log in with your Cisco OneID and password or run the software as a guest. For running the software as a guest, press the “Guest Login” button at the bottom right side of the window. One caveat of guest login is that you will have to wait for a few seconds and then click on the “Confirm Guest” button to start using the software.

And then you can start using the software as per your choice.

How to use Packet Tracer?

There are a lot of tutorials on Youtube and the Internet which can guide you through the network learning process using the Cisco Packet Tracer. But for me, the best tutorial is from Cisco NetAcad.

You can go to netacad.com and sign-in with your Cisco OneID. Once signed in, you can click on any of the links below to start the guided tour of Packet Tracer and how to use it for network simulation.

• Introduction to Packet Tracer
• Introduction to IoT
• IT Essentials
• Networking Essentials
• CCNA Routing and Switching
• Cybersecurity Essentials
• CCNA Cybersecurity Operations
• CCNA Security
• IoT Fundamentals: Connecting Things
• Mobility Fundamentals