A widespread computer outage has been affecting several Microsoft services, including Outlook, Teams and Microsoft 365, since Thursday, November 12, 2026. The disruption, reported in dozens of countries, has prevented many users from accessing their emails and certain work tools. According to the Associated Press, nearly 130,000 reports of Outlook malfunctions were recorded on the Downdetector platform at the peak of the outage in the United States.

The outage has also affected other services, including the artificial intelligence assistant Copilot and SharePoint. Microsoft attributes these disruptions to difficulties with its infrastructure. Several servers became unavailable, causing a surge in the remaining systems and connection problems. The company has initiated technical operations to gradually restore services. In its latest communications, Microsoft reported an improvement in the stability of certain servers while continuing its efforts to restore all services.

Microsoft claims to have no indication of a cyberattack. The company is working to resolve the issue and restore services to its users. The outage has been reported in multiple countries, causing significant disruptions to users who rely on Microsoft services for work and communication.

The Downdetector platform, which tracks website and service outages, reported a significant spike in reports of Outlook malfunctions during the outage. This suggests that the issue was widespread and affected a large number of users. Microsoft's efforts to restore services are ongoing, with the company working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.

The outage has highlighted the reliance on Microsoft services for many businesses and individuals. The disruption has caused significant inconvenience to users who rely on these services for work and communication. Microsoft's commitment to resolving the issue and restoring services is crucial to minimizing the impact of the outage.

The cause of the outage is still being investigated, with Microsoft working to identify the root cause of the problem. The company has assured users that it is doing everything possible to restore services and prevent similar outages in the future. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of robust infrastructure and contingency planning for technology companies.

As Microsoft continues to work on restoring services, users are advised to monitor the company's updates and follow any instructions provided. The outage is a significant reminder of the impact of technology disruptions on businesses and individuals, and the importance of having backup plans and contingency measures in place.

Key points

  • Microsoft services including Outlook, Teams and Microsoft 365 were affected by a global outage on November 12, 2026.
  • The outage was caused by difficulties with Microsoft's infrastructure, with several servers becoming unavailable.
  • Microsoft has assured users that it is working to resolve the issue and restore services, and that there is no indication of a cyberattack.

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SaharaWire Newsroom
SaharaWire

Reporting for SaharaWire from the Nairobi bureau.