October 29, 2025 – Microsoft faced a widespread outage today, disrupting its cloud services and productivity tools for thousands of users worldwide. The issues struck hours before the company’s fiscal first-quarter earnings report, adding extra pressure to an already high-stakes day.
What Services Were Affected?
The outage hit several key Microsoft platforms:
- Azure: Cloud computing services, including the Azure Portal and Azure Front Door, saw major disruptions. Over 16,600 users reported problems, mainly in the Eastern United States.
- Microsoft 365: Apps like Teams, Outlook, and the admin center were unavailable for around 9,000 users. This affected email, file sharing, and collaboration tools.
- Other Impacts: The Microsoft Store, Entra (identity services), and even gaming services like Minecraft and Xbox Live were hit. Some back-end services failed completely, though Linux-based resources stayed online for some users.
Businesses relying on these tools, including retailers like Starbucks, Kroger, and Costco, reported login issues and service delays.
When Did It Start and How Long Has It Lasted?
The problems began around 11:40 a.m. ET on Wednesday. By late afternoon, user reports spiked on sites like DownDetector, showing global complaints.
As of the latest updates, the outage was ongoing but showing signs of easing. Microsoft noted that the number of affected requests was declining, suggesting the worst might be over.
What’s Causing the Outage?
Microsoft hasn’t pinpointed the exact cause yet but described it as a “cloud-service issue” tied to Azure Front Door. This led to intermittent failures, high latency, and some websites becoming unreachable. The company is actively investigating.
How Has It Impacted Users?
For everyday workers, the outage meant frozen video calls on Teams, inaccessible documents in OneDrive, and stalled cloud projects on Azure. Gamers couldn’t log into Minecraft servers, and Xbox users faced connection woes.
One frustrated user on social media said, “Every service in my stack is impacted—except my Linux resource, which is still chugging along.” Businesses saw broader ripple effects, with productivity grinding to a halt during peak hours.
Microsoft’s Response
Microsoft quickly acknowledged the issues on its Azure and 365 support accounts on X (formerly Twitter). “We are investigating an issue impacting Azure Front Door services,” the team posted, promising updates soon.
To fix things, engineers rerouted traffic to backup systems and monitored status pages for progress. They also urged users to check official channels for real-time info.
Why Does This Matter Now?
This glitch couldn’t come at a worse time. Microsoft’s earnings call is set for after markets close today, where investors will scrutinize cloud growth—a core part of the company’s revenue. Past outages have dented trust in Azure’s reliability, so a swift resolution is key.
We’ll keep watching for more details as Microsoft works through this. In the meantime, if you’re affected, head to the Azure status page for the latest.