A large computer problem at Microsoft stopped many people from using important online services. On 12 November, users in several countries could not use Microsoft Outlook, Teams, or Copilot to work or talk to each other. The issue lasted more than 12 hours and continued into the next day for some people, but Microsoft said it was starting to fix the problem. Businesses and government offices in countries such as Australia, Japan, and the United States could not easily send emails or arrange meetings during the outage.

Microsoft said the main cause was a problem with its servers. Servers are powerful computers that help run online services and store data. Microsoft explained that the servers were not working correctly, but there was no evidence of a cyberattack or hacking. The company started to release special software changes to repair the servers and bring services back online.

Because of this computer problem, many workplaces could not do their usual work. Companies and offices had to use older methods, such as phone calls or fax machines, to keep working. Microsoft is now working to restore full service for all users.