Microsoft Apologizes for Global Outlook Outage Tied to Network Upgrade

WHO:

[Time not stated] - Deadline - Microsoft apologized to affected users and businesses.

[Time not stated] - NBC News - Microsoft said the outage was not caused by a cyberattack.

[Time not stated] - NBC News - NBC News’ Christine Romans and TechRadar’s Lance Ulanoff discussed the outage’s effects on businesses worldwide.

WHAT:

[Time not stated] - Techmeme - Microsoft described the outage as a “technical issue” and said it was “not related to cyber or AI/agents.”

[Time not stated] - Techmeme - Microsoft said it was seeing “broad recovery and stability” across its services.

[Time not stated] - Deadline - An Outlook outage and Microsoft 365 services disruption interrupted business communications and personal email around the globe.

[Time not stated] - Deadline - Microsoft said, “We are deeply sorry for the disruption this incident has caused you and your business.”

[Time not stated] - NBC News - Microsoft described the outage as widespread and said it was still working to resolve it.

WHERE:

[Time not stated] - Deadline - The disruption affected users around the globe.

[Time not stated] - Deadline - Microsoft was identified as being based in Redford, Washington.

[Time not stated] - NBC News - Businesses across the world were affected.

WHY:

[Time not stated] - Deadline - Microsoft attributed the disruption to a “network capacity upgrade.”

[Time not stated] - NBC News - Microsoft said the outage was due to “a network capacity upgrade,” not a cyberattack.

HOW:

[Time not stated] - Techmeme - Microsoft said it takes its responsibility for customers’ and partners’ trust in its services “extremely seriously.”

[Time not stated] - Deadline - Microsoft said the network capacity upgrade caused the disruption.

[Time not stated] - NBC News - Microsoft was still working to resolve the widespread outage.

(UPDATED November 13, 2026 22:02 UTC)

A network capacity upgrade disrupted Outlook and Microsoft 365, interrupting communications worldwide. Microsoft apologized, said the outage wasn’t a cyberattack, and reported broad recovery. Businesses and personal email users globally were affected as Microsoft worked to restore stability.

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(UPDATED November 13, 2026 21:03 UTC)

A Microsoft outage disrupted Outlook and Microsoft 365, affecting communications and email worldwide. Microsoft blamed a network capacity upgrade, not a cyberattack, and worked to restore services. The company apologized to affected users and businesses.