Outlook Email still down/slow

The November 12 Outlook.com incident can still leave messages delayed, out of order, or permanently rejected, so request a completely new verification email or use another verification method rather than relying on the original message.

Public reporting for November 14 indicates that the broader service has largely recovered, but some Outlook.com/Hotmail/Live/MSN mail remains affected while queues clear.^1^^2^ Some messages were reportedly rejected rather than queued, meaning those particular messages will not arrive later.^3^

Handle time-sensitive verification now

1. Check Microsoft’s Service Health Status site, which Microsoft directs Outlook.com users to for current availability.^4^
2. Return to the service sending the verification message and select Resend code or start a new sign-in attempt. An expired code remains unusable even if its email eventually arrives.
3. If offered, use SMS, an authenticator app, a backup email address, or another account temporarily.
4. Ask the sender or service operator whether the message generated a non-delivery report. If it did, they must submit a new message; the rejected copy cannot be recovered.
5. Avoid repeatedly requesting codes within a few seconds, because it can become unclear which code is newest. Use only the code from the latest request.

If service status is healthy but new mail still does not arrive

Test directly in Outlook.com rather than an Outlook app:

1. Verify that Microsoft cloud and mailbox storage are not full. When storage is full, incoming messages are bounced and cannot be recovered.
2. Check Other, Junk Email, Deleted Items, and any custom folders.
3. Select Filter → Sort → Date to restore chronological order.
4. Open Settings → Mail → Rules, Forwarding, and Junk email; look for settings that redirect or block incoming messages.
5. Send one new test message from another provider and record the sending time and any non-delivery response.

These are Microsoft’s documented checks for Outlook.com mail that is not being received.^5^

Escalate persistent delivery failures

If the status page shows recovery and a new cross-provider test still never appears:

1. Sign in to Outlook.com.
2. Select Help on the menu bar.
3. Enter cannot receive emails.
4. Complete the self-help flow, scroll to Still need help?, and select Yes.
5. Submit the support request and provide:
   • The approximate time delivery stopped.
   • Two or three sending timestamps.
   • The affected sending domains.
   • Any complete non-delivery error text.
   • Whether delayed messages eventually arrived.

Do not post full email addresses or verification codes publicly. Microsoft Q&A is a public user forum and cannot inspect delivery queues or repair an individual mailbox; Outlook.com Support must investigate account-specific delivery after the incident is marked resolved.

References

1. Microsoft Apologises For Outage And Reveals Cause - Forbes
2. Outlook working again? Why some emails may still be missing after massive Microsoft outage
3. That missing Outlook email may never have arrived — Microsoft confirms messages were rejected by mistake
4. Fixes or workarounds for recent issues on Outlook.com | Microsoft Support
5. Can't send or receive email in Outlook.com | Microsoft Support