KiCad "Track has unconnected end": dangling tracks and how to clean them
KiCad design rule check (PCB) message: Track has unconnected end (track_dangling in kicad-cli reports).
What it means
A track segment ends in empty space instead of at a pad, via or another track. Most are leftovers from rerouting. They rarely break a low-speed design, but they are unfinished copper and act as antenna stubs on fast signals, so remove them.
Common causes
- Stubs left behind after a track was rerouted or a part was moved.
- A track that stops just short of the pad it was meant to reach.
- Tracks deliberately ending in a pour, which KiCad still flags if the end is not inside copper of the same net.
How to fix it
- Click the marker and delete the stub, or extend it to the pad it was meant to reach.
- Use Edit → Cleanup Tracks & Vias and tick "Delete tracks unconnected at one end" to remove them all at once. Review the list it shows before applying.
When it is safe to ignore
Never leave stubs on high-speed or RF nets. On a slow signal a tiny stub is harmless, but cleaning it costs nothing.
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Checked against KiCad 10's source and documentation. Last reviewed 2026-11-07.
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