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Is Outlook.com Down – Check Outages & Fix Issues Quickly

  Tej Pratap Shukla
Written By Tej Pratap Shukla
Anuraag Singh
Approved By Anuraag Singh
Modified On December 9th, 2025
Reading Time 5 Min Read

Is Outlook.com down right now? Recently, I experienced this, and I found that most of the time, it’s either a Microsoft outage or a local issue with the browser, network, or device. Here, I’ll explain how to quickly figure out what’s happening with the service. So, let’s learn everything step by step!

Is Outlook.live.com Down – How to Check

Whenever Outlook.com behaves strangely, follow these steps to confirm if it’s a Microsoft issue or something else, i.e.

#1. Visit the Microsoft Service Health Dashboard

Microsoft maintains a live health dashboard for all Outlook and Microsoft 365 services. From there, you can check:

If Microsoft flags an issue, then you have to wait until it is resolved. But if not, then move next.

#2. Try Logging In from a Different Browser or Device

Sometimes Outlook.com works fine on my phone but not on my PC. This helps you confirm:

  • Browser cache issues
  • Cookie problems
  • Extension conflicts

If Outlook loads on another device, then it means it’s a local issue, not from the Microsoft end.

#3. Check Using an Incognito/Private Window

Opening Outlook.com in private mode helps you bypass:

  • Corrupted cache
  • Stored cookies
  • Problematic browser data

If it works privately, then the issue is with your main browser profile.

#4. Test Internet Connection

Some issues that look like ”is Outlook.com down” are actually network problems. So, you can test this by:

  • Opening other websites
  • Running a speed test
  • Switching from Wi-Fi to a mobile hotspot

If only Outlook.com fails to load, but everything else works. Then, it means the cause is different.

#5. Look for Widespread Outage Reports

You can check community platforms like user forums or the official Microsoft Community. If many people complain at the same time, then you have to wait, as this issue is from the Microsoft end, not local or your fault. 

Is Outlook.com Down – Common Reasons

I personally experienced this problem, which is why I know Outlook.com fails for these reasons:

#1. Microsoft Service Outage

Outages are the most common cause, which impacts:

#2. Authentication Problems

Sometimes Outlook.com is okay, but Microsoft accounts face login issues, such as:

  • MFA not working
  • CAPTCHA errors
  • Incorrect password lockouts
  • Microsoft account temporary hold

#3. Browser Issues

Outlook.com is sensitive to cached data and extensions. There are many cases where:

  • Old cookies create the login issue
  • Extensions block scripts
  • Outdated browsers cause SSL errors

Fixing this is easy and quick; you just have to clear the cache or use another browser. 

#4. Local Network Issues

Sometimes, the ISP or router will block Outlook endpoints. Plus, Outlook failed due to:

  • DNS corruption
  • Router blocking ports
  • VPN conflicts
  • Misconfigured firewalls

You can fix this by switching networks or resetting DNS. That’s all! After this, your Outlook will start working quickly.

#5. Outlook.com Maintenance Windows

Microsoft occasionally perform updates, and at that time:

  • Emails load slowly
  • The search does not work properly
  • Attachments not open

If you found this is the reason, then don’t worry, as this issue will disappear within a few hours.

How to Fix “Is Outlook.com Down” Manually

If the issue isn’t from your end, then follow these steps to resolve the issue quickly:

  • Clear browser cache and cookies
  • Disable browser extensions, like:
  • Ad blockers
  • Script blockers
  • VPN browser extensions
  • Password managers
  • Use Another Browser like Chrome, Edge, or Firefox. This helps you to identify browser-specific issues.
  • Reset DNS. Sometimes DNS corruption blocks Microsoft services. Run:
ipconfig /flushdns
  • Turn off VPN or Proxy, as Outlook.com many times rejects traffic from unusual IPs. So, disable:
  • VPN apps
  • Proxy settings
  • Browser-based VPNs
  • Restart Router

How Long Do Outlook.com Outages Usually Last?

Many times users asked “Is Outlook.com Down” and how long the outages will be resolved. So, here is the answer:

  • Minor issues > 15–30 minutes
  • Regional outages > 1–3 hours
  • Major global outages > 4–8 hours

Microsoft resolves email disruptions as soon as possible. Don’t need to worry at all.

What I Do If Accessing Email Is Urgent During an Outlook.com Outage

If you need to send an email while Outlook.com is down, here are the alternatives you can use:

  • The Outlook mobile app
  • Microsoft 365 desktop Outlook app
  • Secondary backup email (Gmail/Yahoo)
  • Messaging apps like Teams or WhatsApp

This helps you stay productive even when the service is unavailable.

Not only this, but you can also access data even if your service is down or not responding via backup. For the same, I recommend that you opt for the SysTools Outlook.com Backup Software for free now. 

This helps you to:

During the Outlook.com outage, using this, you can still:

  • Read important emails
  • Open attachments
  • Access past communication
  • Export data to open in Outlook desktop or any supported email client

So, try this now for free, and ensure accessibility of your data, even if your data is lost or Outlook.com not working.

Author’s Verdict

Whenever you ask, “Is Outlook.com down?”, first confirm the service is actually down using the Microsoft Service Health dashboard. Or the issue is from your end, like:

  • Browser issues
  • Corrupt cache
  • DNS conflicts
  • VPN interference

By following the same troubleshooting steps I use, you can quickly figure out whether the issue is from your end or Microsoft.