A major Microsoft outage has left millions of people worldwide without access to essential digital tools, disrupting emails, workplace communications, and critical public services. While the tech giant reports "early signs of stabilisation" after applying an infrastructure patch, services including Outlook, Microsoft Teams, Copilot AI, and other Microsoft 365 products have yet to return to normal capacity.
Monitoring website Downdetector first recorded a spike in UK issues around 6.15pm on Thursday (12 November), with Outlook complaints peaking at more than 2,000 times their normal level across 74 countries, including the UK, US, India, and New Zealand. Disruption continued into Friday (13 November) across roughly 60 countries, primarily in Europe and Asia.
NHS and police affected
Microsoft has confirmed that the incident does not appear to be the result of a cyber attack or malicious activity. To protect delayed messages during recovery, the company has extended the email timeout window to 48 hours as traffic is gradually reintroduced.
The outage has hit NHS email systems, prompting health trusts to enact long-standing contingency measures, including using alternative IT systems and paper records, to keep services running. NHS England and major trusts, including Guy's and St Thomas', Leeds Teaching Hospitals, and Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, have confirmed that clinical systems are unaffected. Patients should attend all appointments, clinics, and procedures as normal without calling ahead to check.
The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) warned that waits may be longer than usual and some prescriptions could be delayed, as the disruption affects pharmacies' ability to communicate via email with GP practices and patients. While NHS Alliance chief executive Sir Ciarán Devane stated that clinical and operational systems are working effectively, the GMB union warned that 111 and 999 staff are facing a "massive backlog" because they cannot refer patient details in the usual way. However, GMB national secretary Rachel Harrison noted that emergency and life-threatening callouts appear unaffected.
Police forces unable to receive online reports
Multiple UK police forces have warned the public that they are unable to receive online crime reports or emails due to the Microsoft disruption. Forces affected include the Metropolitan Police, Northamptonshire Police, Dorset Police, Hertfordshire Police, South Wales Police, and Dyfed-Powys Police.
If a crime is in progress or a life is in danger, the public should always dial 999. For time-critical, non-emergency reports, police are urging people to call 101, with Dyfed-Powys Police also accepting direct messages via its official Facebook page. If a report is not urgent, forces advise waiting until Microsoft restores service before submitting an online form.
Transport, schools, and local authorities hit
Everyday services across transport, education, and local government are also experiencing knock-on effects. Great Western Railway (GWR) warned passengers on Friday morning that it cannot automatically email ticket confirmations, though travellers can still view and access their tickets via the GWR app or the "My Journeys" section of their online GWR account.
Northern Ireland's Education Authority confirmed that Outlook is unavailable across schools in the region, leaving staff unable to send or receive emails. West Northamptonshire Council and Lincolnshire County Council both reported disruptions to Outlook and email response times, with Lincolnshire noting that its online forms remain operational and asking residents to only use its busier-than-usual phone lines for urgent or safeguarding enquiries.
Contingency plans have been activated across Whitehall and by the Welsh Government to minimise disruption to public services. Defence minister Luke Pollard told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that teams at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) are working directly with Microsoft to assess the economic impact and get systems back online. "For me, this reinforces the need for greater resilience," Mr Pollard said, noting that society's growing dependence on technology means people expect services to work "all the time, every time."
