Check Outlook.com's Service Status

Is Outlook.com down? Here's how to check

by Heinz Tschabitscher
A former freelance contributor who has reviewed hundreds of email programs and services since 1997.
Updated November 12, 2019

If you can't access your Outlook.com account, go to the Microsoft service status page. On this page, you'll find out if the problem is with Outlook.com. If nothing is wrong with Outlook.com, the issue may be with your network, web browser, or internet service provider (ISP).

Instructions in this article apply to Outlook.com, Outlook Online, MSN Hotmail, and Windows Live.

How to Tell If Outlook.com Is Down

Visit the Office 365 Service Status page to see the service status of Outlook.com. If a green checkmark displays next to Outlook.com, then from Microsoft's perspective, everything is working correctly with the Outlook.com service.

Screenshot of the Outlook.com status page

If the web page displays a red or yellow symbol next to Outlook.com, Microsoft is currently experiencing an issue and is aware of the problem.

Another way to check if the Outlook.com website is down is to use a web service such as Down For Everyone Or Just Me or Down Detector.

Screenshot of Down For Everyone Or Just Me Outlook.com status

If those websites show that Outlook.com is down after entering the web address, chances are it's down for everyone or for a vast majority of users. If this is the case, wait for Microsoft to fix the issue.

Down Detector shows how many users reported issues over the last 24 hours or longer. Down Detector checks if Outlook.com is experiencing problems sporadically (working sometimes, but not loading other times). 

What About MSN, Hotmail, and Live Mail?

Microsoft has been rebranding its email service since it was first launched in 1997 as MSN Hotmail. If your email currently ends with @msn.com, @live.com, or @hotmail.com, then your email runs on the same platform as Outlook.com. If your Hotmail account is down, check the current status of Outlook.com.

How to Fix Outlook.com Issues

If the Outlook.com status is up and running but you can't sign in, the problem may be with your computer, network, or service provider.

To troubleshoot Outlook.com if you see a green checkmark on the service status page but you're having problems with your mail service, try these fixes in the order presented:

  1. Close and reopen your web browser. This clears the browser cache and may resolve the issues you have connecting to Outlook.com.

  2. Clear the browser cache. Press and hold the Ctrl key, then press F5. This clears the cache and reloads the Outlook.com page.

  3. Restart your computer. This clears temporary files and other cached files that prevent the Outlook problems to resolve even though the service is back up.

  4. Flush the DNS cache. Press the Start button, enter cmd, and select the command prompt app. Then, type ipconfig /flushdns and press Enter.

    DNS servers identify the IP address of domains that you connect to with a browser. When IP addresses change, cached DNS settings cause your browser to continue to access the old, incorrect IP address.

    Screenshot of clearing the DNS cache

  5. Restart your router. Unplug your home router, wait 30 seconds, and then plug it back in. The router reconnects to the ISP and re-establishes your internet connection. Connect to Outlook.com to see if the issue is now resolved.

If Outlook.com is still down after you perform these steps, your internet service provider is denying access to the website. Call your ISP to check if other subscribers are having similar issues.