In 2024, cybersecurity company CrowdStrike released a routine software update that caused one of the largest IT outages in history.It affected Fortune 500 companies and caused over $5 billion in business losses.This massive outage illustrated how quickly outages can affect day-to-day operations.
While small-scale internet outages in your neighborhood won’t result in over $5 billion in losses, they can still interrupt your productivity, especially if you factor in other utilities like electricity, water and gas.Outage maps can come in handy when you need to know how long you should expect to be without one of your essential utilities.However, if you don’t see an alert for your area or provider, you can assume the problem is only happening in your home or business.
This is when you should contact your provider.Third-party maps are great for viewing internet and utility outages and understanding their impact.Provider outage maps, on the other hand, are ideal for localized outage information specific to your location.
We realize that if your internet is out, it may be a challenge to check online outage maps.If you have a mobile phone, turn off its Wi-Fi connection and use your cell data to go online to use the maps.We list some of the best service outage maps from third-party websites and internet providers below.
Best internet outage maps Explore some of the best internet outage maps that provide a visualization of outages as well as information to help you understand their impact.The third-party outage maps below provide a general overview of active outages in your area, but it’s best to contact your provider directly for localized information. Best internet provider outage maps Third-party internet outage maps like the ones we mentioned above are useful and often provide tons of extra resources, but provider outage maps can give you specific information directly affecting your location and your internet provider’s service footprint.You can enter your service address to view specific, localized outage information.
What causes internet outages Internet outages can happen due to a number of factors, but here are a few common causes: Network congestion – Too many people trying to access the same network at once can overload it to the point of failure, causing an outage Power outages – Electrical issues and power outages can disable cellular towers and your internet equipment Cyberattacks – Cyberattacks can disrupt network security and overload networks, resulting in outages Human error – Humans make mistakes, so outages can be caused by a mistakenly cut internet cable, network misconfiguration or even mishandling of equipment Software issues – Faulty software can disrupt computer systems and cause outages on both small and large scales You can ask your internet provider for compensation for an outage if it lasts long enough and they have a policy to cover them.What about my other utilities? If you’re experiencing service interruptions from other utilities in your home, like electricity, water or gas, there are also resources available to help you stay informed. Which type of outage map should I use? Third-party outage maps are best for early outage detection and confirming whether that outage is widespread or more localized. If your internet stops working out of the blue or if your power goes out, a quick look at a third-party map can confirm that an outage is actually occurring.It can also provide you with information on the other areas affected by the outage. Provider-specific outage maps, however, are better when you need information tied to your precise location.
You can check out your internet provider’s or utility’s outage map to get more information about the outage at your home, as well as a timeline for when the provider can get your services back up and running. What to do when you experience an outage First things first, check a third-party outage map for general information about your service interruption.This can let you know if this is an actual outage and not just a technical issue in your home Check your provider’s outage map.This will provide more detailed information about the current outage and offer a timeline for service restoration specific to your location.
Check other utility outage maps.Not just an internet outage? Check local outage maps for more information about other service interruptions.Power outages also cause internet outages, so looking up utility outage maps will provide you with additional information Contact your provider if needed.
If you feel like you aren’t getting the necessary information from the provider-specific maps, contact your provider directly. Outage map FAQs How do I check if internet is down in my area? You can use one of the third-party outage maps we’ve listed above, or enter your address on your provider’s outage map if they have one.If they don’t, your provider will likely notify you if an outage occurs in your area.What is internet backbone status? Internet backbone status refers to the operational status of the network infrastructure forming the foundation of the global internet.
It measures how smoothly internet traffic travels the highways of internet infrastructure What do I do if there is no internet connection in my area? If you’re experiencing an internet outage, check with your ISP to ensure it’s a known outage that they are actively working on.In the meantime, you can use your mobile phone’s data if applicable or visit a public Wi-Fi spot to get connected.What to read next Read more Featured How to fix internet outages Lisa Iscrupe — 5 min read Featured AT&T launches new backup internet feature for AT&T Fiber customers Camryn Smith — 2 min read Featured Does the weather affect your internet? Robin Layton — 4 min read Latest Wednesday, February 11, 2026 Car Wi-Fi: How to get connected in your vehicle Lisa Iscrupe — 7 min read Wednesday, February 11, 2026 Best service outage maps and resources Camryn Smith — 4 min read Tuesday, February 10, 2026 Where to stream the 2026 Winter Olympics Lisa Iscrupe — 3 min read
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