Downdetector Archives

AppWizard

April 15, 2026

Facebook Messenger down? Meta users report problems

Facebook Messenger has been experiencing significant disruptions since approximately 11:16 AM EDT on Wednesday, as reported by users and documented on Downdetector. On the same day, Meta launched its new AI model, Muse Spark, designed to replace Llama 4 and enhance features across its platforms, including Messenger. Muse Spark is currently accessible only in the United States.

AppWizard

April 1, 2026

Russia’s Max Messenger Down Amid Efforts to Curb Telegram

Max, a state-run messaging application in Russia, is facing operational challenges as authorities increase efforts to restrict access to Telegram. Users have reported issues such as the app failing to launch, inability to send or receive messages, and loss of chat histories. Complaints have primarily come from major cities, including Moscow and St. Petersburg. This is the second outage for Max within three days, with the previous disruption on March 30. Despite being marketed as a reliable alternative, the app's reliability is questioned as Roskomnadzor plans to block Telegram on April 1. Over 6,600 complaints regarding Telegram were documented in the past 24 hours, with accessibility reportedly reduced to around 30%. Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, criticized the government's actions as an attempt to force citizens to use Max, which he claims is designed for surveillance and political censorship. The situation stems from Roskomnadzor's intention to block Telegram, first announced on February 10, following a complete ban on WhatsApp and other restricted platforms.

AppWizard

March 16, 2026

Russia’s long-anticipated block of messenger app Telegram has begun, experts say

Telegram is experiencing significant outages across Russia, with users reporting issues such as the inability to open the app, send messages, and load media content. Outage-tracking platforms have recorded a surge in complaints, increasing from approximately 6,000 on Saturday to around 12,000 by Sunday. Major urban centers, including Moscow and St. Petersburg, have reported the highest concentrations of issues. Experts suggest that government actions may be contributing to these outages, particularly affecting access via home and mobile Internet. Additionally, the desktop version of the app has recently begun to show problems, indicating a troubling trend for the messaging service.

AppWizard

March 11, 2026

Instagram Down Worldwide: Thousands Report Messaging, DM And App Loading Issues On Meta Platform

On March 11, 2026, at around 8:45 AM IST, Meta's Instagram experienced a significant service disruption affecting thousands of users. Over 4,700 complaints were reported on Downdetector, primarily related to the direct messaging feature, with the number of complaints quickly rising to over 10,000 globally. Users in India reported a technical glitch and a decline in app performance, with 71% experiencing issues with the mobile app, 20% with server connections, and 5% with frozen feeds. Many users took to X to express their frustrations, using phrases like “I’m cooked.” Despite the widespread complaints, Meta has not issued a formal statement, and its status page indicated no known issues for several hours. Users are advised not to reinstall their apps as the issue seems to be server-related.

AppWizard

March 11, 2026

Facing Instagram messaging glitches, connection issues and other failures in US? Thousands report app outa

Instagram experienced a service disruption affecting its messaging system, with over 10,000 users reporting issues primarily in the United States. Key functionalities impacted included the inability to send or respond to Direct Messages (DMs), leading to interruptions in conversations. Users faced challenges like messages failing to send, stagnant replies, and difficulties loading content. Additionally, some users reported issues with posting and publishing content. There was no official statement from Meta regarding the cause of the disruption.

AppWizard

February 18, 2026

YouTube fixes major outage that knocked the platform offline for hours

YouTube experienced a significant outage affecting its services, including YouTube Music, YouTube Kids, and YouTube TV, primarily due to issues with its recommendations system. Downdetector recorded 300,000 to 350,000 user reports in the U.S. and numerous complaints globally. By late evening, YouTube confirmed that full service was restored across all platforms, and no videos or accounts were deleted during the disruption. YouTube's engineers are expected to investigate the cause of the failure to prevent future occurrences.

AppWizard

February 12, 2026

Moscow moves to throttle Telegram as Kremlin pushes its own messaging app

Russia's communications regulator, Roskomnadzor, has throttled Telegram's service, affecting nearly 90 million local users, due to the platform's non-compliance with Russian law. A Moscow court has initiated seven legal cases against Telegram in 2026 for not removing content related to "extremist" activities and pornography, potentially resulting in fines exceeding ,000. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that restrictions will continue as long as Telegram violates regulations. Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, criticized the actions as authoritarian and compared them to Iran's previous ban on the platform. Telegram previously faced a ban in 2018 for refusing to provide encryption keys to the FSB, but the ban was lifted in 2020. Russian officials are promoting a national messaging service called Max, developed by the creator of VKontakte. The restrictions have drawn criticism from state officials and military personnel, particularly in conflict-prone regions, where Telegram is essential for timely news and emergency updates. Pro-war military bloggers have also expressed dissatisfaction with the restrictions, noting Telegram's role in military logistics and communications. The Telegram restrictions are part of a broader trend of internet disruptions in Russia, including mobile internet access cuts and the inaccessibility of major Western platforms without VPNs.

AppWizard

February 11, 2026

Telegram is one of the last messaging apps in Russia that the state doesn’t control. Did the Kremlin just block it for good?

Telegram has experienced significant disruptions in Russia over the past two days due to interventions by the federal censorship agency, Roskomnadzor, which aims to “protect” citizens. Reports indicate that Russian authorities have initiated partial restrictions on Telegram, actively slowing the service. Telegram has faced multiple misdemeanor cases for not removing prohibited content, and Roskomnadzor has accused it of not complying with Russian legislation. For two consecutive days, users reported outages, with issues such as media files failing to load and messages not being sent or received. A poll revealed that about 21 percent of respondents experienced problems with the app, while 38 percent noted no issues, and 23 percent used a VPN to remain unaffected by restrictions. Over the past six months, Telegram and WhatsApp have faced numerous limitations from Roskomnadzor, including the blocking of audio and video calls. Reports in January 2026 indicated that Telegram was being deliberately slowed down, linking the restrictions to alleged legal violations. The Kremlin's actions to limit independent messaging platforms coincide with the promotion of Max, a state-controlled alternative, which has struggled to gain a comparable user base. Despite denials of plans to fully ban Telegram or WhatsApp, experts suggest that gradual tightening of restrictions may render these apps effectively unusable. The popularity of Telegram's channels may prevent a complete ban, as government officials continue to rely on the platform for communication.

AppWizard

February 11, 2026

Kremlin regrets Telegram restrictions but some say messenger’s fate is sealed in Russia

The Kremlin expressed regret over recent restrictions imposed on Telegram, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov stating that the limitations are due to the company's non-compliance with Russian laws. Peskov indicated that it is unfortunate Telegram is not adhering to these regulations. Reports emerged that Russian users experienced disruptions in Telegram services, with over 11,000 complaints logged in a 24-hour period, leading to Roskomnadzor initiating restrictions. The Federal Service for Supervision of Communications confirmed it would impose consistent restrictions on Telegram until it complies with Russian legislation. Telegram may face fines totaling 64 million rubles due to alleged failures to remove illegal content. Telegram founder Pavel Durov criticized the government's actions, suggesting they aim to push users towards a state-controlled app. Analysts noted that Durov's stance could hinder potential cooperation with Russian authorities and that a complete ban on Telegram might occur by mid-March unless a resolution is reached. Durov, who has lived outside Russia for over a decade, indicated that Telegram stands for freedom of speech and privacy.

AppWizard

January 20, 2026

Minecraft Down for Thousands of Users, Downdetector Shows

Minecraft experienced significant connectivity issues on Monday, with over 2,200 players reporting problems by 10:30 a.m. PST. This number rose to over 5,000 by 10:41 a.m. and nearly 7,000 by 10:57 a.m., primarily related to server connections.