By midday Monday, over 2,400 users in Canada had reported Microsoft 365 outages on Down Detector, a website that monitors online service disruptions. Michel Euler/AP
For the second time in just a few days, Microsoft Outlook users in Canada faced disruption, leaving thousands unable to access their email and calendar services. The issue, which emerged on Monday morning, was later resolved, though some users continued to experience difficulties even after Microsoft confirmed service restoration.
Users Face Repeated Issues with Outlook
The trouble began around 11:35 a.m. on Monday when users started reporting login failures and service disruptions on Outlook. By noon, over 2,400 complaints had flooded Down Detector, a website that tracks real-time service outages. The issue appeared to be concentrated in Canada, with no significant reports from the U.S., U.K., Germany, Japan, Australia, or New Zealand.
Microsoft acknowledged the problem on X (formerly Twitter) shortly after 1 p.m., stating they were investigating difficulties with Microsoft 365 services. By 2:19 p.m., the company identified a possible authentication token issue contributing to the outage.
Gradual Recovery, But Frustrations Linger
By 12:30 p.m., some users noticed Outlook returning to normal, and by 3:15 p.m., the number of outage reports had dwindled to under 100. However, despite Microsoft’s announcement at 4 p.m. confirming the service had fully recovered, many users still struggled with access.
A Microsoft spokesperson later assured users in an email to The Star that the problem was fully resolved by 6 p.m. They also advised customers to check the Azure status dashboard for real-time updates in the future.
Wider Impact on Institutions
The outage affected more than just individual users. Several universities in Ontario informed students and staff about the issue on X. Some medical facilities, including the University Health Network, also experienced disruptions, impacting virtual appointments. Thankfully, these institutions confirmed that their systems were back to normal later in the day.
Second Outage in a Few Days
This wasn’t the first recent hiccup for Microsoft users in Canada. Just two days earlier, on Saturday, Outlook and Microsoft 365 services went down due to what the company described as a "problematic code change." While Microsoft resolved that issue, the recurrence of service failures has raised concerns among users who rely on the platform for daily communication and business operations.
With two outages occurring in quick succession, Microsoft may need to reassure its customers with a clearer explanation of these disruptions and what steps are being taken to prevent future incidents.
