Elon Musk’s social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, suffered another widespread outage on Friday, disrupting core services such as posting, replying, and direct messaging (DM) for thousands of users across the globe.
The issue was first flagged by users in the United States, where more than 35,000 outage reports were recorded on the online service tracker Downdetector. The number of reports quickly grew, with complaints coming in from users in Europe, Asia, and other parts of the world. At its peak, the platform experienced a near-complete breakdown of functionality, leading to user frustration and speculation online.
Outage Peaks and Recovery Timeline
According to Downdetector, the disruption began around early afternoon and intensified quickly. By 4:50 PM IST, the number of user reports had fallen below 1,000, suggesting partial recovery. By 7 PM, only around 200 users were still facing issues, although many continued to report erratic platform behavior, particularly with DMs and timeline loading.
A breakdown of the affected features revealed that 62% of complaints related to the mobile app, 37% were tied to the website, and about 1% of users reported login problems. For a platform that is used by millions every day for real-time communication, news dissemination, and content creation, the sudden blackout triggered widespread concern.
Not the First Time
This is the second outage faced by X within a week. On May 22, the platform was down for several hours, with users reporting frozen timelines, missing posts, and delays in receiving or sending messages. That incident had led to a flurry of memes and criticism, and now, with another disruption occurring so soon after, frustration is once again on the rise.
Despite the magnitude of the issue, the company has yet to issue a formal statement or explanation regarding the cause of the outage. X has previously blamed technical upgrades or backend changes for similar service disruptions, but users are demanding clearer communication and more robust solutions.
Common Issues Faced by Users
During the outage, users faced a variety of challenges, including:
- Inability to post tweets
- Delays or failures in replying to posts
- Direct messages not being sent or received
- Feed not refreshing or loading new content
- Login difficulties for a small number of users
With X being a critical platform for influencers, news agencies, government agencies, and everyday users, such outages significantly impact communication flow and can result in reputational damage for the company.
How to Fix X (Twitter) Issues During an Outage
While some issues require server-side fixes, there are a few steps users can try to restore partial functionality or confirm if the problem is indeed with the platform:
1. Check Downdetector or X’s Status Page
Start by visiting Downdetector or other outage-tracking websites to confirm whether the issue is widespread. If others are reporting similar issues, it’s likely a platform-side problem.
2. Refresh and Retry
Sometimes, simply refreshing the page or restarting the app helps restore functionality. A lag in servers may temporarily freeze timelines or prevent replies. If messages or posts aren’t loading, wait for a few minutes and try again.
3. Clear Cache and Cookies
Outdated data stored in the browser or app can cause bugs. Clear your browser cache by going to:
Browser → Settings → Privacy → Clear Browsing Data.
For the X app:
App Settings → Privacy and Security → Clear Cache.
After clearing, restart your device and reopen the app.
4. Check Internet Connection
Ensure your mobile data or Wi-Fi is working. Test it by opening other apps like Instagram or WhatsApp. Sometimes, what seems like a platform issue could be a local connectivity problem.
5. Be Aware of Tweet Limits
X imposes a daily tweet limit of 2,400 tweets per user. Though most users don’t hit this threshold, recent outages have triggered false spam alerts, making users think they’ve been restricted. If you’re getting errors despite low activity, this might be a side effect of ongoing server-side restrictions.
6. Log Out and Re-login
As a last resort, log out of your X account and log in again. This often forces the app or website to re-establish a fresh session and sync with the server correctly.
Growing Concerns Over Platform Stability
Since Elon Musk acquired the company in 2022 and rebranded it to “X,” platform changes have been rapid and, at times, chaotic. While innovation has been at the forefront—ranging from monetization features to long-form posts—service stability has become a growing concern among users and developers alike.
Repeated outages not only disrupt daily use but can also erode user trust. For creators and advertisers relying on consistent performance, instability can mean missed opportunities and loss of revenue.
What’s Next?
As of now, normal service seems to be returning across most regions. However, the silence from X’s technical team or public communications arm is raising eyebrows. Users are demanding greater transparency about the root cause and assurances that preventive measures are being taken.
Until then, users are advised to stay updated via independent trackers, explore alternate platforms during downtime, and follow best practices to mitigate the inconvenience.
