Microsoft Azure, the cloud computing platform operated by Microsoft, is currently undergoing a significant and widespread service outage that has disrupted multiple interconnected systems across its network. The malfunction, which began around midday Eastern Time, appears to have ripple effects extending to several major Microsoft services that depend on Azure’s infrastructure, such as Microsoft 365, which provides productivity suites and enterprise tools, and the globally popular Xbox gaming ecosystem, which relies heavily on cloud connectivity for authentication and gameplay features.
According to an official statement published on Microsoft Azure’s status page, company engineers detected the onset of the incident at approximately 16:00 UTC. They identified Domain Name System (DNS) complications as the source of the issue, which led to a reduction in service availability across certain regions and functionalities. As a direct consequence of these DNS disruptions, customers attempting to use core administrative features—particularly those associated with the Azure Portal—may encounter severe difficulties accessing or managing their accounts. Microsoft has implemented initial corrective measures aimed at alleviating access problems, and it anticipates that these interventions will restore portal functionality in the near term. Nevertheless, the company emphasized that it continues to actively investigate deeper technical causes, while parallel mitigation efforts are being executed to prevent further degradation. Microsoft has committed to providing additional details and progress updates within the next hour or sooner, as the situation develops.
Around 12:25 PM Eastern Time, a separate communication emerged from the Microsoft 365 status account on the social network X (formerly known as Twitter), acknowledging customer complaints regarding connectivity and accessibility issues. This post confirmed that internal teams are presently examining ongoing reports concerning both user access to Microsoft 365 services and functionality within the Microsoft 365 Admin Center, though it did not divulge any further specifics about what precise components are malfunctioning. The lack of definitive information suggests that investigations are still in preliminary stages.
Journalists from *The Verge* reached out to Microsoft seeking official clarification and further commentary regarding the outage’s extent and expected duration. However, as of the most recent update, the publication reported that Microsoft had not yet provided a direct response to their inquiries.
Concurrently, independent outage-monitoring platforms such as DownDetector recorded a sharp rise in reports of Azure-related disruptions beginning at approximately 12 PM Eastern Time—closely coinciding with the first customer complaints about Microsoft 365 and Xbox service interruptions. These spikes in outage reports indicate that the issue might possess a global scope rather than being confined to one geographic region. This assumption is reinforced by numerous testimonials posted by users on Reddit, including individuals based in both the United States and the United Kingdom, who have shared that they are currently unable to log into the Azure Portal or utilize certain linked cloud services.
In summary, Microsoft is contending with a complex technical issue within its Azure network that has cascaded into broader service interruptions affecting multiple high-profile cloud platforms. Engineers are deploying mitigation strategies while continuing a detailed root-cause analysis to restore normal operations as swiftly as possible. Meanwhile, users across diverse sectors and locations remain affected, highlighting the extensive interdependence of digital services in today’s globally connected cloud ecosystem.
Sourse: https://www.theverge.com/news/809142/microsoft-azure-xbox-365-is-down-outage
