Microsoft Outlook suffered a widespread outage on Saturday, March 1, 2025, preventing users globally from sending and receiving emails. The outage, which lasted for over an hour, also impacted Microsoft 365 services such as Teams and PowerPoint, causing disruptions in workplaces and personal communications.
Extent of the Outage
Thousands of Reports Across Regions
- The outage began around 4 p.m. Eastern Time, with reports rapidly increasing.
- According to DownDetector, over 37,000 users reported issues at the peak of the disruption.
- The problem affected both web-based and desktop versions of Outlook, with many users unable to log in.
Other Microsoft Services Affected
- Users also faced difficulties accessing Microsoft Teams, making it impossible to join virtual meetings.
- PowerPoint and OneDrive experienced syncing issues, leading to frustration for those working on cloud-based projects.
Cause of the Outage
Microsoft Identifies the Root Issue
Microsoft quickly acknowledged the issue, confirming that the outage was likely caused by a recent code update affecting its cloud infrastructure.
- The company reverted the suspected update, which gradually restored access to affected services.
- Microsoft issued a statement:
“We identified a recent update as the cause of the outage and have successfully rolled back the change. Services are now recovering, and we continue to monitor the situation.”
Restoration of Services
Gradual Recovery Within an Hour
By 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time, many users reported that their Outlook accounts were back online. However, some regions experienced lingering access issues, with Microsoft assuring customers that full functionality would return shortly.
- Enterprise users were among the hardest hit, particularly businesses reliant on Microsoft 365 for communication and document sharing.
- Some users needed to clear their cache or restart their devices before their services were fully restored.
Recurring Tech Outages Raise Concerns
Pattern of Recent Disruptions
This incident follows a series of major tech outages in recent weeks:
- Earlier this week, Slack suffered a widespread outage, affecting thousands of remote workers.
- Google Cloud and AWS have also experienced periodic disruptions, raising concerns about cloud service reliability.
Calls for Improved Stability
With millions of businesses and individuals depending on cloud-based communication tools, recurring outages highlight the need for stronger infrastructure and quicker recovery protocols.
Microsoft’s Response and Next Steps
Company Monitoring for Stability
Microsoft confirmed that it is closely monitoring Outlook and other 365 services to ensure that there are no further disruptions. The company is also conducting an internal review to prevent similar issues in the future.
Advice for Users
- If users still experience issues, they are advised to restart their Outlook application or browser.
- Microsoft has urged customers to check its official status page for updates.