On October 20, 2025, Amazon Web Services (AWS) experienced a major outage in its US-EAST-1 region, disrupting countless online services and platforms worldwide. This incident has raised questions about what triggered the outage, which services are impacted, and how long it might take to recover. In this page, we explore the causes behind the AWS disruption, its effects on users, and what it means for the future of cloud computing.
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Why did AWS experience a major outage today?
The outage was caused by an issue in AWS's US-EAST-1 data center, which led to increased error rates and latency across multiple services. AWS engineers are actively working to identify the root cause and restore normal operations. Such outages can happen due to hardware failures, software bugs, or network problems, and this incident appears to be linked to a technical glitch in their infrastructure.
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Which services and websites are impacted by the AWS outage?
The outage affected a wide range of popular platforms including Perplexity AI, Robinhood, Snapchat, Fortnite, Zoom, Duolingo, and Amazon's own services like Amazon.com. Many users worldwide reported difficulties accessing these services, highlighting AWS's role as a backbone for many online platforms. The disruption underscores how reliant many services are on AWS's cloud infrastructure.
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How long will it take to fix the AWS outage?
AWS has stated that engineers are actively working to resolve the issue and accelerate recovery. While an exact timeline is not provided, AWS's updates suggest signs of recovery are already visible, and services are gradually coming back online. The duration of the outage depends on the complexity of the problem and the effectiveness of the troubleshooting efforts.
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What are the common problems caused by cloud service outages?
Cloud outages can cause website and app downtime, data access issues, transaction failures, and disruptions to communication tools. Businesses relying on cloud services may face financial losses, customer dissatisfaction, and operational delays. These outages also highlight the risks of over-dependence on a single cloud provider and the importance of contingency planning.
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Is this outage part of a larger trend in cloud computing?
While cloud outages are not uncommon, this incident has sparked discussions about the vulnerabilities of centralized cloud infrastructure. Additionally, many startups are shifting their focus from traditional cloud providers like AWS to specialized AI platforms, which could influence future cloud strategies and infrastructure resilience.
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What does this outage mean for the future of cloud services?
The outage emphasizes the need for improved redundancy, better disaster recovery plans, and diversification of cloud infrastructure. It also highlights the growing importance of AI-specific cloud solutions, as startups and companies seek more resilient and specialized platforms to support their digital growth.