Microsoft Outage LIVE: Microsoft says steps to fix Outlook outage not going 'as expected'

Home Sci-Tech Technology Microsoft explained that a portion of its infrastructure was 'experiencing elevated load' which it said was 'likely contributing to the connectivity errors' Updated - November 13, 2026 11:19 am IST Image used for representational purposes. File | Photo Credit: Reuters A widespread outage hit Microsoft platforms, including Outlook, on Thursday (November 13, 2026), with many users encountering trouble using their email accounts and other errors across the tech giant’s suite of apps.Also read | Job cuts, retirement plan, voluntary exits: What’s going on at Microsoft? Nearly 1,30,000 users on outage tracker Downdetector reported problems accessing Outlook just after 1 pm local time. New reports have since fallen from that peak, but many said they couldn’t send and receive emails or had trouble loading their inboxes altogether.Thousands also reported issues with Microsoft’s workplace messaging app Teams, as well as its AI assistant Copilot and wider Microsoft 365 services.Microsoft said it was investigating disruptions, notably related to its email and Teams applications. Explained | Microsoft Outage: Why did Microsoft Outlook and other products go offline globally? The story so far: Software giant Microsoft is facing a widespread outage affecting users of its Outlook email service, as well as its other workplace products. Thousands of Microsoft users in India awakened on Friday (November 13, 2026) to find their inboxes inaccessible, losing hours of productivity. According to DownDetector, over 100,000 users had initially registered complaints about Microsoft Outlook.​Microsoft Outage: Why did Microsoft Outlook and other products go offline globally?Microsoft shared on X on November 13 that a portion of infrastructure was experiencing elevated load across multiple regions, and this could likely be contributing to the connectivity errors.​November 13, 2026 11:19 Security implications of the outrageThe number of affected services comes with significant consequences for not just professional users, but entire sectors. Consider a few examples. With Microsoft 365 Admin Center affected, administrators may not be able to load crucial pages. With Apps down, many users can’t see their recent files. Since Microsoft 365 Education is affected, students/teachers may not be able to use offerings such as Assignments, Reading Progress, and Speaker Progress. Coming to Microsoft Copilot 365, AI users may find it difficult to load Copilot Chat or receive responses in the web and desktop apps. Furthermore, using Copilot to access work materials might be challenging.Cybersecurity is also at risk; with Microsoft Defender for Office 365 not functioning as intended, Safe Links might be unable to verify URLs, per the company.Read more hereNovember 13, 2026 11:18 How is the outrage affecting users?Microsoft said that users might be unable to connect to multiple Microsoft 365 services, and particularly those that interact with its Exchange Online and email services. Microsoft’s Exchange Online is the cloud-based messaging platform that facilitates its users’ emails, calendars, contacts, and tasks.Microsoft Teams users had a split experience. While some were completely unable to make or receive calls, others found that previously scheduled meetings were able to proceed as planned. Microsoft updated its website to explain that most of the core functionality of Teams was not affected, but that tasks hinging on Exchange Online were seeing failures.Similarly, some social media users shared that they could still use their Microsoft apps at work, while others were struggling to even view their emails.- Sahana VenugopalRead more hereNovember 13, 2026 11:13 Microsoft says steps to fix outrage not going 'as expected'“We’ve monitored the status of the changes applied to improve serviceability and confirmed they’re not taking as expected,” Microsoft said on X.“We’re identifying alternate workstreams that can be applied to increase capacity,” the tech giant added, without saying when service was expected to be fully restored.The disruption went global within an hour, knocking out Microsoft products in 74 countries and territories, outage tracker Downdetector reported.- AFPNovember 13, 2026 10:59 Microsoft battling to fix global Outlook outageMicrosoft said on Thursday that efforts to repair a major outage of Outlook were not going as expected and the firm was seeking alternative solutions as users around the world were left without its crucial services.The hours-long disruption, which Microsoft attributed to “elevated load” on its infrastructure, has hit email as well as products such as Teams and the AI assistant Copilot.“We’ve monitored the status of the changes applied to improve serviceability and confirmed they’re not taking as expected,” Microsoft said on X.- AFP Published - November 13, 2026 10:59 am IST