On Saturday, March 2, 2025, Microsoft Outlook users worldwide experienced a major service outage, preventing access to emails and other Microsoft 365 applications. The disruption, which began around 4 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST), affected services like Outlook, PowerPoint, and Teams, leaving thousands of users unable to communicate. Over 35,000 reports were logged on Downdetector, highlighting the widespread impact of the issue.
Microsoft Identifies and Fixes the Issue
Following an internal investigation, Microsoft Outlook determined that a recent code update was responsible for the outage. The company acted swiftly by reverting the faulty update, allowing for a gradual restoration of services. By 5:30 p.m. EST, most users had regained access to their accounts, with full functionality returning soon after.
Recurring Outages Raise Reliability Concerns
This disruption adds to a growing list of service outages in recent months. In June 2024, a major issue occurred due to a Windows update at CrowdStrike, causing widespread disruptions. Additionally, earlier this week, Slack also suffered a service outage, raising concerns about the reliability of essential communication tools.
Microsoft’s Response and Future Precautions
Microsoft has assured users that they are taking necessary preventative measures to avoid similar incidents in the future. The company encourages users to stay updated on service statuses through official Microsoft channels and report any ongoing issues promptly.
