Is Outlook Down? Microsoft Status and Email Fixes (November 12, 2026)

Verified and updated: November 12, 2026, at 20:00 UTC (3:00 p.m. EST).

Microsoft’s service-status page currently reports that all products are operational, including its consumer products. That live check does not rule out a problem affecting a particular account, connection, or region. If Outlook will not load or send mail, check Microsoft’s status page first, then compare access in a browser and in the app to narrow down the cause.

Destaques

• Microsoft’s status page currently reports consumer products as operational.
• For work or school accounts, detailed Microsoft 365 service health is available to administrators in the admin centre.
• Testing Outlook.com in a browser helps distinguish a service or account issue from a problem with the desktop or mobile app.
• Full storage, offline mode, network problems, and account sign-in issues can all interrupt email without a broad outage.

How can you check whether Outlook is down?

Start at Microsoft’s Service Health Status page. Its public page shows consumer product status, while Microsoft 365 business and enterprise customers are directed to the admin centre for detailed service health. A company administrator can check whether Microsoft has posted an incident affecting Exchange Online or related services. If you use a work or school mailbox, ask your IT team to check the tenant-specific health view; a public all-clear is not a substitute for that account-level information.

As of the check above, Microsoft displayed “All products are operational” and marked consumer products operational. No broad Outlook disruption was confirmed by that status check. Status pages can change, and service issues may be limited to a subset of users. Recheck the official page if the problem persists, and look for a reported incident or advisory before changing account settings.

What should you try if Outlook will not open or sync?

Open Outlook.com in a browser and sign in. If webmail works but the Outlook app does not, the issue is more likely tied to the app, its connection, or its settings than to complete mailbox unavailability. If neither works, check Microsoft’s status page and your account sign-in, then try a different network if practical. A browser test is a useful comparison, not a guarantee that every mail feature is functioning.

For classic Outlook on Windows, check the status bar for “Disconnected” or “Working Offline.” Microsoft says either can mean the app is not connected to the mail server. Select Send/Receive > Work Offline to toggle offline mode, then try sending or syncing again. In new Outlook or on mobile, check that the device has an internet connection and that the app is signed in to the right account.

Why can’t Outlook send or receive email?

When Microsoft has not confirmed a broad outage, check the most common local and account-specific causes:

• Internet connection: Open another website. If other sites also fail, troubleshoot the device’s Wi-Fi or mobile data before changing Outlook settings.
• Storage limits: Microsoft says a full Microsoft cloud storage allocation can prevent Outlook.com users from sending or receiving mail. Messages sent to the account while storage is full may be returned to their senders and cannot be recovered. Check storage and make space.
• Sign-in or password: If you recently changed your password, sign in again in Outlook. Microsoft notes that unusual sign-in activity can temporarily block an Outlook.com account; use its sign-in helper if you cannot access the account.
• Outbox or attachment: Look for a message stuck in Drafts or Outbox. Outlook.com cannot send a message with an attachment larger than 25 MB; remove it or share a file link instead.
• Filters and folders: For missing incoming messages, check Junk Email, the Other tab, rules, and forwarding settings. Confirm that the message was sent to the correct address.

These checks are based on Microsoft’s current support guidance for Outlook.com email access and sending and receiving messages in Outlook.

What should you do if Outlook works on the web but not in the app?

First, restart Outlook and install available updates. In classic Outlook, try a manual Send/Receive and confirm that Work Offline is not enabled. If the app still cannot connect while webmail works, Microsoft recommends checking the Outlook profile; its support instructions explain how to repair a profile through File > Account Settings > Account Settings when that option is available. Avoid deleting a profile or removing an account as an early step, especially on a work device. Your organisation may manage those settings.

For missing work email, contact your organisation’s administrator with the approximate time the issue began, any error text, and whether webmail works. For a personal account, use Microsoft’s account sign-in helper or Outlook support if the status page shows no incident and the basic checks do not restore access.

What happens next if Microsoft confirms an outage?

If Microsoft posts an incident, note its affected service and any stated workaround, then follow the status updates. Avoid repeatedly resending important messages until you can check whether they remain in Outbox or appear in Sent Items; a retry can create duplicates if the first send eventually completes. Keep urgent correspondence in another available channel while waiting. Restoration timing cannot be predicted from an operational status page, so use Microsoft’s incident updates for any confirmed disruption.

Frequently asked questions

Is Outlook down right now?

At 20:00 UTC on November 12, 2026, Microsoft’s public status page reported consumer products operational and all products operational. Check the page again for changes.

Where can a business user check Microsoft 365 status?

A Microsoft 365 administrator can view detailed service health in the Microsoft 365 admin centre.

Why does Outlook work in my browser but not my app?

That points to a possible app, device, or profile issue. Check the connection, offline setting, updates, and Outlook profile.