significant outage Archives

AppWizard

August 6, 2026

Starlink gaming: Can you really play online games via satellite internet?

Starlink uses a network of over 10,000 satellites in low Earth orbit to provide internet service, requiring users to have a clear view of the sky for optimal performance. It claims download speeds of up to 400 Mbps, which can be beneficial for gamers, although actual speeds may vary by location. Latency ranges from 25 to 60 milliseconds, which can impact performance in competitive gaming. Users can reduce latency by connecting devices via ethernet and ensuring the satellite receiver has an unobstructed view. The service has proven reliable for the author, who has experienced only one significant outage in over a year of use. Upload speeds are lower than traditional broadband, averaging 20-30 Mbps, which can be frustrating for tasks like 4K filming. Starlink is recommended for areas without fiber broadband, but 5G may be a better option where available due to higher potential speeds and lower latency. Starlink's hardware costs and subscription fees can be higher compared to 5G plans.

Winsage

August 2, 2026

Microsoft Weekly: Xbox outage, fake Windows apps, new Windows 11 updates, and more

Microsoft has released two Cumulative Update Previews: KB5101681 for Windows 11, which includes calendar-based Windows Update pausing, a quieter Widgets experience, and enhanced accessibility features; and KB5101684 for Windows 10, which introduces Voice Isolation for Voice Access and new precision touchpad gesture controls. The company reported a record billion quarter for fiscal year 2026, with an 18% year-over-year increase, and Azure's annual revenue surpassed billion for the first time. Microsoft 365 Copilot's paid seat count exceeded 30 million. Xbox experienced a significant outage due to a failure in a shared licensing service, but services have since been restored. The Windows Insider Program released two Future Platforms builds that include features like Voice Isolation and a new scheduling system for updates. Wintoys transitioned to .NET 10 and Windows App SDK 2.3.1, while Notepad, Calculator, Clock, and Media Player received minor updates. Excel's July update added Power BI support and eliminated the AutoSave requirement. Microsoft confirmed its presence at Gamescom 2026, celebrating Xbox's 25th anniversary with 140 gaming stations and 25 playable titles. Double Fine laid off 23 employees, and Ubisoft canceled Project Maverick but is developing a new project. Xbox console owners can unlock PC versions of select games on Ubisoft Connect at no extra cost. Gears of War: E-Day introduced a new 12-player Horde Siege mode.

Winsage

July 26, 2026

Microsoft finally making much needed improvement to Windows 11 downloads and installs

A significant outage recently affected Microsoft, causing a temporary halt in Windows 11 updates through both the Windows Update channel and the Microsoft Update Catalog. Microsoft is leveraging AI technology to identify vulnerabilities within its updates, addressing security challenges. Users often encounter inconsistencies with the Windows Update progress tracker, leading to uncertainty during the download and installation phases. Microsoft has confirmed improvements in the update management process with the latest Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2 Release Preview builds, including enhancements to the Orchestrator and Arbiter logging components. The update enhances the calculation of update progress in Windows Update Settings and introduces changes to the cleanup logic for improved system performance post-update. These enhancements could benefit users with less powerful PCs, addressing concerns about sluggishness after installations.

AppWizard

July 14, 2026

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced’s offline mode failure proves Ubisoft doesn’t actually know what an offline mode is supposed to be

Sony announced the discontinuation of physical discs for PlayStation, prompting discussions about digital media ownership. Ubisoft launched Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, which sold 2 million units on launch day. However, a significant outage of Ubisoft Connect, the DRM platform for PC users, prevented many players from accessing the game. Although the game was designed for a single online connection for validation, players expected to switch to offline mode afterward, leading to frustration when server issues arose. Ubisoft had previously promised an offline mode for The Crew 2 but has left players questioning future assurances. Some users noted that pirated versions of the game remained playable during the outage, increasing interest in DRM-free titles. A gamer shared their positive experience with Project Motor Racing, which allowed for offline installation, highlighting a trend toward user-friendly gaming solutions as frustrations with DRM systems grow.

AppWizard

June 13, 2026

Is Facebook down? Live updates as Messenger and Meta apps offline in major outage

Meta's communications chief, Andy Stone, has acknowledged ongoing issues with Facebook but assured users that the company is working to address these challenges. Anecdotal evidence suggests that service is gradually being restored, with some users able to access the platform while others continue to experience difficulties. Facebook outages, though infrequent, can significantly impact its 3.6 billion daily users, as seen in a notable seven-hour outage in 2021 caused by an erroneous command. The recent outage has been described as one of the most significant in recent history, affecting millions globally. Instagram and WhatsApp were also impacted, though they are functioning better than Facebook, with users encountering loading issues on their web versions. During the outage, Facebook displayed a retro-style error page, indicating the service's temporary unavailability.

AppWizard

June 13, 2026

Facebook, Instagram, Messenger Outages: What We Know So Far

At 2:45 PM UK time, users experienced disruptions across Facebook and Messenger, encountering error messages. Other Meta services, including Instagram and WhatsApp, also faced issues globally. Meta's communications chief, Andy Stone, acknowledged the problem on X, stating they were working on it. By 3:38 PM UK time, some users reported regaining access to Facebook, while Messenger saw a spike in outages around 2:22 PM, which later decreased. Instagram had increased outage reports, while WhatsApp appeared to function normally. The cause of the outages is unclear, and Meta has not yet responded to inquiries. Meta services share server infrastructure, meaning issues can affect multiple platforms. In the past, Meta experienced a significant outage in 2021 due to an erroneous command affecting its network. The cause of the 2026 outages remains undetermined.

AppWizard

June 13, 2026

Facebook Faces Major Global Outage Affecting Messenger and Main App

Facebook experienced a significant outage that affected users globally, leading to automatic logouts and difficulties logging back in, with many encountering error messages. The main Facebook website displayed messages indicating issues, while Instagram and WhatsApp remained mostly functional, although some users faced sporadic problems with Instagram's web services. There was a lack of communication from Meta regarding the cause and resolution of the outage, leaving users and stakeholders awaiting an official statement.

AppWizard

June 12, 2026

Instagram and Facebook hit with widespread outage

On Friday, a significant outage affected Meta's platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger, impacting thousands of users. Reports of the disruption increased on social media and the outage-tracking site Downdetector, where complaints about Instagram rose sharply from 25 to several thousand. Users experienced issues such as being logged out, difficulties loading the app, and problems accessing their accounts. Meta's communications vice president, Andy Stone, acknowledged the issue on X and stated they were working on it. Users reported similar problems with Facebook and Messenger, encountering error messages when trying to log back in. Some users speculated that the outage was global.

AppWizard

June 12, 2026

Instagram and WhatsApp down: Websites not working amid widespread Meta outage

A significant outage has impacted Facebook, making its web services temporarily unavailable, while the web versions of WhatsApp and Instagram have also gone offline, though their mobile applications remain functional. All of Meta's applications are interconnected, so disruptions in one service can affect others.

AppWizard

June 12, 2026

Facebook Instagram messenger Down? Why users faced Facebook query error and Instagram outage during Meta d

On June 12, users experienced significant disruptions on Meta's platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger, starting around 9:30 a.m. EST. Downdetector reported a spike in complaints, indicating widespread login failures and loading errors. Users encountered issues accessing accounts, blank pages on Instagram, and connection errors on Messenger. The simultaneous outages highlighted vulnerabilities in Meta's shared backend systems. This incident follows a major outage in October 2021 due to a DNS routing configuration error. The disruptions affect businesses reliant on these platforms for customer service and marketing, potentially resulting in millions in economic losses. As of the report, Meta had not provided a public statement or timeline for service restoration, and users were advised to monitor Downdetector for updates.