Microsoft services recover after server failure disrupts global cloud access

Microsoft is recovering from a global outage that began on Thursday, when a cascading software issue left many of its servers unavailable. The disruption spread from Outlook and Teams to cloud services used for email, files and documents, as well as Copilot AI, Defender security tools and Intune administration, affecting consumers and businesses across industries.

Microsoft has not identified the cause, saying only that a large number of servers unexpectedly became unavailable and that its investigation continues. By Friday morning on the US east coast, Outlook was beginning to recover, with internet traffic returning after about 18 hours of downtime. Microsoft said it had found no evidence of malicious activity; the incident follows a days-long cloud outage in September.