Quick Read
- Microsoft Outlook faced a global outage on July 10, 2025, leaving users unable to access their email accounts.
- The outage affected countries like the UK, Australia, and Canada, with login and server connection issues being the primary problems.
- Microsoft is actively working to resolve the issue and has assured users it is not related to a cyberattack.
- Past outages in 2024 have similarly disrupted Microsoft services, highlighting recurring challenges in maintaining robust infrastructure.
- Users are advised to check Microsoft’s service status page for updates as the company deploys fixes.
On Thursday morning, July 10, 2025, Microsoft Outlook users worldwide faced a significant disruption in accessing their email accounts. Reports of login failures and server connection issues began surfacing as early as 5 a.m. ET, according to DownDetector, an online tracker for service outages. The outage affected users in countries such as the UK, Australia, and Canada, causing inconvenience for individuals and businesses relying on the service.
Widespread Impact Across Regions
The outage quickly gained attention as users from different time zones reported their inability to access Microsoft Outlook through web browsers, desktop applications, or mobile apps. By 11:44 a.m. ET, DownDetector recorded a peak of 2,810 reports, with most users citing login problems (60%) and server connection issues (35%). Hotmail, another email service under Microsoft, also faced similar disruptions, though the number of reports was comparatively lower.
Microsoft Outlook boasts over 400 million users globally, and the sudden outage left many scrambling for alternative ways to communicate. Some users took to social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) to express their frustration. One user humorously remarked, “The outlook is NOT GOOD,” while another lamented being unable to retrieve online concert tickets.
Microsoft’s Response and Ongoing Fix
In a statement on its service status page, Microsoft acknowledged the issue, stating that users might be “unable to access their mailbox using any connection methods.” The company assured users that it was “continuing to apply configuration changes to fix the underlying problem” and performing additional validations to ensure proper authentication. However, as of noon ET on July 10, the issue persisted for many users.
While Microsoft has not disclosed the exact cause of the outage, it confirmed that the problem was not related to a security incident or cyberattack. This assurance comes in light of past tech disruptions, such as the July 2024 incident involving CrowdStrike, where a defective update caused widespread outages across industries, including hospitals and public transit systems.
Historical Context of Microsoft Outages
Outages are not new to Microsoft services. In September 2024, Microsoft 365 users reported being unable to sign in to their accounts or access applications like Teams and Exchange Online. Similarly, in November 2024, an issue affecting Exchange Online disrupted calendar functionalities within Microsoft Teams.
These recurring outages highlight the challenges of maintaining robust infrastructure for cloud-based services that cater to millions of users. While Microsoft has a history of resolving such issues promptly, the frequency of disruptions raises questions about the resilience of its systems.
What’s Next for Affected Users?
As of the latest updates, Microsoft continues to monitor the situation and deploy fixes to restore full functionality to its Outlook services. Users experiencing issues are advised to check the official Microsoft service status page for real-time updates and to explore alternative communication methods in the meantime.
Despite the inconvenience caused by such outages, they serve as a reminder of the heavy reliance on digital communication platforms in today’s interconnected world. Businesses and individuals alike may need to consider contingency plans to mitigate the impact of similar disruptions in the future.
As this is a developing story, further updates are expected as Microsoft resolves the issue and provides more clarity on the outage’s root cause.