What caused the AWS internet outage?

The outage was caused by a critical technical glitch within Amazon Web Services (AWS), specifically affecting a core system that manages data access. It was akin to a 'digital address book' failing, preventing apps from finding their necessary data.

Which popular apps and services were affected by the AWS outage?

Many popular services experienced disruptions, including gaming platforms like Fortnite, Roblox, and Pokémon Go; social media apps like Snapchat and Signal; and home/work tools such as Ring smart cameras, Canva, and Coinbase.

Is the AWS outage completely resolved now?

Yes, Amazon's engineers have confirmed that the issue has been 'fully mitigated.' While core services were restored quickly, some apps may have experienced temporary lingering slowness as they cleared backlogs.

Why does an AWS outage affect so many different websites and apps?

AWS is one of the largest cloud computing providers globally, meaning a vast number of companies host their services and data on AWS infrastructure. A problem at AWS can therefore create a ripple effect across numerous independent platforms.

Tech

Why the Internet Went Down: The AWS Outage Explained

Published

5 days ago

October 20, 2025

Jhon Mathews

A conceptual image representing a global internet outage with disconnected app logos.

Why Half the Internet Disappeared on Monday Morning

If your favorite games, social media apps, and even your smart home devices suddenly stopped working early Monday, you weren’t imagining things. A significant chunk of the internet went offline, and the cause was a single glitch at one of the most powerful companies in the world: Amazon.

The Simple Explanation: A Digital Landlord’s Bad Day

Think of Amazon Web Services (AWS) as the invisible landlord for a massive part of the internet. Companies like Snapchat and Roblox rent their digital “space” from AWS to run their apps.

On Monday, a critical system inside one of Amazon’s biggest data centers failed. In simple terms, it was like the master address book for thousands of apps got corrupted, and services couldn’t find the data they needed to operate. The result was a widespread digital blackout.

Who Was Hit by the Outage?

The list of affected services shows just how interconnected our digital world is. Major platforms that went down included:

🎮 Gaming: Fortnite, Roblox, Clash of Clans, and Pokémon Go.
📱 Social & Communication: Snapchat and the secure messaging app Signal.
🏠 Work & Home: The design platform Canva, Ring smart cameras, and the crypto exchange Coinbase.

Is Everything Back to Normal?

Yes. Amazon’s engineers identified the problem and announced that services were “fully mitigated” within several hours. Apps and websites slowly flickered back online as the system stabilized. You may have noticed some lingering slowness as services worked to catch up on the backlog of requests.

The Big Takeaway: A Fragile Web

This outage is a stark reminder that the vast, sprawling internet is surprisingly dependent on just a handful of giant tech companies. A single failure point at a provider like AWS can cause a ripple effect that impacts millions of users globally. It highlights the trade-off between the convenience of the cloud and the risks of centralization.

Jhon Mathews

Jhon Mathews is a digital entrepreneur, content strategist, and editor at MagzineCelebs, where he covers trending news, celebrity stories, and entertainment insights. With a strong passion for SEO, storytelling, and multimedia content creation, he specializes in producing engaging articles, web stories, and social media campaigns that resonate with global audiences. When he’s not writing or optimizing content for Google Discover, Jhon Mathews explores creative design, ASMR video ideas, and new ways to grow traffic through Pinterest, YouTube, and innovative blogging tools. His mission is to make entertainment content informative, accessible, and impactful for readers worldwide.