Microsoft 365 Email Returns After Widespread Global Outage
WHO:
GeekWire - Microsoft’s Exchange Online service and Outlook serve businesses, schools, and governments.
Deadline - Microsoft reported the outage’s effects on Outlook email, Teams videoconferencing, and other services.
CBS News Tech - Workers who rely on Microsoft services were affected.
WHAT:
GeekWire - Exchange Online was recovering after an outage that cut off Outlook for businesses, schools, and governments around the world.
GeekWire - Microsoft said email backlogs were close to cleared.
Deadline - Microsoft said it was “getting to the other side” of a massive outage that took down Outlook email, Teams videoconferencing, and other services.
Deadline - Microsoft posted: “We’re continuing to see improvements in service availability, with email queues significantly reduced and approaching normal levels.”
Deadline - Microsoft cautioned that some users might still experience intermittent service issues.
CBS News Tech - A widespread Microsoft 365 outage was impacting email and other services.
WHERE:
GeekWire - The Outlook disruption affected businesses, schools, and governments around the world.
WHEN:
GeekWire - The outage lasted nearly a day.
WHY:
Wired - A bad update, rather than a cyberattack or AI, caused Microsoft’s servers around the world to crash.
GeekWire - Microsoft had not stated the cause of the outage.
GeekWire - A report linked the outage to configuration changes in Microsoft’s Azure cloud network.
HOW:
GeekWire - The outage disrupted Outlook access and left email backlogs that Microsoft said were close to cleared.
Deadline - Microsoft described recovery through improved service availability and reduced email queues approaching normal levels.
(UPDATED November 13, 2026 19:59 UTC)
A faulty update crashed Microsoft servers worldwide, disrupting Outlook, Teams, and other services. Recovery is underway, with email backlogs nearly cleared. Some users may still face intermittent problems as organizations regain access.
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(UPDATED November 13, 2026 17:03 UTC)
A widespread Microsoft outage disrupted Outlook, Teams, and other services for organizations worldwide. Exchange Online is recovering, and Microsoft says email backlogs are nearly cleared. Some users may still face intermittent problems; Microsoft has not confirmed the cause.