At a Glance
- Microsoft services, including Outlook, Teams, and Microsoft 365, were largely unavailable on Thursday.
- The outage began in the morning and was still ongoing by early evening Pacific time.
- No official resolution time has been announced.
Why it matters: A widespread Microsoft outage disrupts work, education, and daily communications for millions of users worldwide.
Microsoft services were hit by a significant outage on Thursday, affecting Outlook, Teams, Microsoft 365, Microsoft Defender, and Microsoft Purview. The disruption began in the morning and was still ongoing by early evening Pacific time, with no official resolution time announced.
What Happened
At 11:37 a.m. PT, the official Microsoft 365 Status account on X posted that Microsoft was “investigating a potential issue impacting multiple Microsoft 365 services, including Outlook, Microsoft Defender and Microsoft Purview. Further information can be found in the admin center under MO1221364.” The outage has caused degraded functionality or complete inaccessibility for many users.
Affected Services
The outage impacted several core Microsoft products:
- Outlook – email and calendar services
- Teams – chat, video meetings, and collaboration
- Microsoft 365 – the umbrella platform for Office apps and cloud services
- Microsoft Defender – security and threat protection
- Microsoft Purview – compliance and data governance
How to Check Status
Users and administrators can monitor the situation through three main channels:
- Microsoft 365 Status on X – real-time updates from Microsoft’s official account
- Service Health Status page – detailed health information for all Microsoft 365 services
- Admin Center – the dashboard for IT admins, where the reference number MO1221364 appears
To access the admin center, sign in with an administrator account and navigate to the Service Health section. The reference number can help support teams identify the specific issue.
Microsoft’s Response
A Microsoft representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The company has not yet announced an expected time for full restoration of services. Until an update is released, users are advised to monitor the status channels.
Impact on Businesses
The outage has had a ripple effect across many sectors:
- Remote workers faced difficulties sending and receiving emails
- Teams meetings were interrupted, affecting project coordination
- Compliance tools like Purview were unavailable, raising concerns for regulated industries
- Security alerts from Defender could not be processed, potentially leaving systems exposed
Organizations relying on Microsoft 365 for daily operations reported increased downtime, delayed project milestones, and a surge in support tickets.
What Users Can Do While the Outage Persists
- Use offline modes – Many Office apps allow offline editing; save changes locally and sync when service resumes.
- Switch to alternative communication tools – Slack, Zoom, or other email providers can fill temporary gaps.
- Check the admin center – IT staff can confirm the status and coordinate with Microsoft support.
- Document incidents – Keep a record of affected services and times to aid troubleshooting.
## Technical Background
Microsoft 365 is a cloud-based suite that bundles Office applications, email hosting, and collaboration tools. Microsoft Defender protects against malware and phishing, while Microsoft Purview provides compliance and data governance capabilities. The admin center is the central hub where administrators manage settings, monitor health, and troubleshoot issues.
Timeline of the Outage
| Time (PT) | Event |
|---|---|
| 11:37 a.m. | Microsoft 365 Status posted the initial investigation notice |
| Early evening | Status still indicated ongoing investigation; no resolution time announced |
Key Takeaways
- The outage began in the morning of Thursday and remains unresolved.
- Core services-Outlook, Teams, Defender, Purview-are affected.
- No official resolution time has been announced by Microsoft.
- Users should monitor the official status channels and consider temporary workarounds.
By staying informed through the official Microsoft 365 Status account and the Service Health page, users and administrators can better manage the disruption and prepare for a swift return to normal operations.
