What is Downdetector and when should I use it?

Last updated: 27 September 2026

Downdetector is a free website and app that shows whether a popular service, such as Microsoft 365, Teams, BT, Virgin Media or Vodafone, is having a problem right now. It works by collecting reports from users and flagging when the number of reports is unusually high.

When is Downdetector useful?

• Quick sense check: if Outlook or Teams suddenly stops working, Downdetector can show within minutes whether lots of other people are affected.
• Broadband and mobile outages: the outage map shows where problems are being reported across the UK.
• Before you spend time troubleshooting: if a service is down for everyone, there is little you can fix at your end.

What are its limits?

• It is based on user reports, not official data, so a spike can be caused by a local issue or a social media rumour.
• It does not show problems specific to your organisation, such as an expired password or a misconfigured device.
• Always confirm with the official source. For Microsoft 365, that is the Service health page in the Microsoft 365 admin centre, or status.cloud.microsoft for public updates. See how to check Microsoft 365 service status.

What should I do if my internet is down?

1. Check Downdetector and your provider’s service status page.
2. Restart your router and check the lights and cables.
3. Test from another device or a mobile hotspot to narrow down the problem.
4. Contact your provider or IT support with the time the problem started.

ABCOM clients can call our helpdesk on 01444 871 200. For ABCOM connectivity clients, we can raise faults with the carrier for you. Read more about our business broadband and leased lines.