Microsoft 365 is having a major global outage, now into a second day.
Outlook email has been disrupted worldwide since about 12:50 p.m. ET on Thursday, November 12, 2026, with knock-on effects for Microsoft 365 Copilot and some Teams calendar features. Microsoft's official service health status page still shows service degradation, and the company says recovery is progressing, especially in North America and Europe. Some users may still see intermittent access issues or delayed email. Microsoft has said there is no indication this was caused by malicious activity, and it will share a post-incident report once recovery is complete. Azure has not been affected.
This article explains what we know so far, what to do if email is down for your business today, and how to be better prepared the next time a cloud service fails. If you want help putting a simple continuity plan in place, see our managed IT services.
What has been affected
The main impact has been on Exchange Online, the email service behind Outlook. Users have reported being unable to reach their mailbox in Outlook on the web, the Outlook desktop app, and other connections, and some email has been delayed. Microsoft 365 Copilot has also been affected, including trouble loading Copilot Chat and reaching work data such as email, calendar, and files.
Teams has been a mixed picture. Microsoft has said that most core Teams functions, including joining calls, meetings, group chats, and channel messages, were not impacted. The problems that did show up were mostly tied to Exchange Online, such as calendar scheduling, invites, viewing, and meeting edits. Some organizations also reported intermittent issues with Microsoft Intune, including device enrollment and compliance checks.
None of this means every business is fully offline. Many people have had service return as recovery has moved through the infrastructure. The practical point is to check official status, not a forwarded email or a social post, before you decide what to do.
What to do if email is down today
These four steps are a practical starting point for a small business that depends on Microsoft 365.
1. Check the official status page first.
Go directly to status.cloud.microsoft. That is Microsoft's public service health page. Don't rely on a random post, a forwarded email, or a text that claims to explain the outage. Official updates are also the best way to tell whether your problem is the global incident or something local to your office.
2. Be wary of "fix your account" messages.
Outages are a busy time for scammers. They send emails, texts, or chat messages that offer to restore Outlook, unlock your mailbox, or "verify your account" if you click a link or enter a password. Microsoft will not ask you to fix a global outage by logging into a surprise link. If a message looks urgent and asks for credentials, ignore it and confirm any instructions through a channel you already trust.
3. Use a backup way to reach staff and clients.
If Outlook is down, don't wait for it to come back before you talk to the people who need you. Call or text. Use a shared phone list, a non-Microsoft chat tool, or another channel that does not depend on Exchange Online. Let clients know you are reachable, even if email is delayed. If you take appointments or payments by email, have a phone number or backup process ready.
4. Write down what you need for the next outage.
While the problem is fresh, note what broke and what you wished you had on hand: an offline contact list, a way to take payments or appointments, who is allowed to speak for the business, and who to call if email goes down. That short list is the start of a continuity plan. You do not need a thick binder to be better prepared next time.
After the outage: a simple continuity plan
Cloud email is reliable most of the time, which is why it is easy to treat it as the only way the business communicates. Days like this are a reminder that it can still fail, and that the failure is often outside your building.
A basic plan covers a few practical points: how staff will reach each other if Microsoft 365 is unavailable, how clients can still get in touch, whether important files are available somewhere other than a single inbox, and who is responsible for checking official status and giving updates. It should also include a rule about phishing during outages, because those messages often look official.
Our managed IT team helps businesses keep that kind of plan simple and current, alongside day-to-day support, monitoring, and backup. If you already have a provider, this is a fair question to ask them: what do we do if Outlook is down for a day?
Talk with us
If you want help reviewing how your business would operate during a cloud outage, or you would like a partner for everyday IT support, call us. Consultations are kept confidential.
- New York: 631-982-4632
- Boca Raton, FL: 561-391-6057
- Hours: Monday–Friday, 9 AM–5 PM ET
- Learn more about our managed IT services
- Request a consultation
Executive Digital Group is a women-owned business founded by Tiffany Graziano and her husband, Michael Graziano. We provide managed IT, cybersecurity, digital forensics, OSINT and investigations, with remote support anywhere in the U.S. and worldwide.
Sources
- Microsoft service health status
- AP News: Microsoft reports progress as it works to recover email and other services
- AP News live updates, November 13, 2026
- NBC News live updates on the Microsoft outage
- The Washington Post: Microsoft says access is improving
Originally published on the Executive Digital Group website on November 13, 2026.