Zoom Outage April 2025: What Happened and How It Impacted the USA

A major Zoom outage on April 16, 2025, disrupted virtual meetings and remote work for tens of thousands of users across the United States, leaving businesses, government agencies, and individuals scrambling. This article dives into the causes, impacts, and resolution of the outage, providing a comprehensive overview for anyone affected or curious about what went wrong. Read on for a detailed timeline, expert insights, and tips to prepare for future disruptions.

What Was the Zoom Outage?

On April 16, 2025, Zoom, the leading video-conferencing platform, experienced a widespread outage that began at approximately 2:25 p.m. ET and lasted nearly two hours. The outage affected Zoom’s core services, including Zoom Meetings, Zoom Phone, Zoom Contact Center, and the Zoom website, rendering them inaccessible for users across the USA and beyond. Users encountered errors such as “502 Bad Gateway” and “Error 5003,” with outage reports peaking at over 67,000 on DownDetector.com.

This incident disrupted remote work, virtual classrooms, and government proceedings, highlighting Zoom’s critical role in modern communication. Unlike typical service disruptions, this outage was not caused by a cyberattack but by a rare domain name resolution issue, as detailed below.

Timeline of the Zoom Outage

The following table outlines the key events of the Zoom outage, based on reports from DownDetector, Zoom’s official statements, and news outlets like Reuters and Forbes:

Time (ET)	Event
2:25 p.m.	Zoom services go offline due to a domain name resolution issue, affecting the website, app, and meeting functionality.
2:30 p.m.	DownDetector records a surge in outage reports, with complaints rising to 59,000 by 3:00 p.m.
3:01 p.m.	Peak of 67,280 user reports on DownDetector, with 46% citing website issues, 36% app problems, and 18% login failures.
3:33 p.m.	Zoom acknowledges the issue on its X account, stating, “A restore is underway.”
4:12 p.m.	Zoom restores full service and confirms resolution via X.
5:00 p.m.	Outage reports drop significantly, indicating restored functionality for most users.

What Caused the Zoom Outage?

The root cause of the Zoom outage was a domain name resolution issue triggered by a server block initiated by GoDaddy Registry, which manages the .us namespace. The block resulted from a communication error between Zoom’s domain registrar, Markmonitor, and GoDaddy, causing the zoom.us domain to become inaccessible. This disrupted all Zoom services reliant on the domain.

Key Details About the Cause:

• Not a Cyberattack: Despite claims by a hacker group called DarkStorm on X, Zoom and Cisco’s ThousandEyes confirmed no evidence of a DDoS attack or security breach.
• Third-Party Error: The issue originated outside Zoom’s infrastructure, highlighting vulnerabilities in domain registry processes.
• Resolution Process: Zoom, Markmonitor, and GoDaddy collaborated to lift the server block, restoring services within 90 minutes.

This incident underscores the importance of robust communication between domain registrars and registries to prevent similar disruptions.

Impact on Businesses and Users

The Zoom outage had far-reaching effects, particularly in the USA, where Zoom is a cornerstone of remote work and virtual communication. Below are the primary impacts:

1. Workplace Disruptions: Businesses relying on Zoom for meetings, client calls, and team collaboration faced significant delays. Social media posts on X reflected user frustration, with one user stating, “Zoom went down mid-pitch to a client—total chaos.”
2. Government Operations: In Hawaii, virtual government hearings were halted, affecting public access to proceedings.
3. Educational Challenges: Schools and universities using Zoom for online classes reported interruptions, forcing instructors to pivot to alternative platforms.
4. Economic Impact: While exact figures are unavailable, Zoom’s stock (ZM.O) experienced a temporary dip, impacting investors like Vanguard Group and BlackRock.

DownDetector’s data showed that 46% of issues were website-related, 36% affected the mobile app, and 18% involved login problems, illustrating the outage’s broad scope.

Zoom’s Response and Resolution

Zoom responded swiftly, providing real-time updates via its status page and X account. At 3:33 p.m. ET, the company posted, “We are experiencing an outage impacting some users, but a restore is underway.” By 4:12 p.m. ET, services were fully restored, and Zoom issued a statement explaining the domain resolution issue.

Actions Taken:

• Collaboration: Zoom worked with Markmonitor and GoDaddy to resolve the server block.
• Transparency: Regular updates kept users informed, minimizing confusion.
• Preventive Measures: Zoom announced plans to review third-party processes to avoid future outages.

Zoom’s proactive communication helped maintain user trust, though some businesses expressed concerns about the platform’s reliability.

How to Prepare for Future Outages

To minimize disruptions from future outages, businesses and individuals can take proactive steps:

1. Use Backup Platforms: Maintain access to alternative tools like Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, or Cisco Webex.
2. Enable Offline Communication: Ensure team members have secondary contact methods, such as email or phone numbers.
3. Monitor Outage Alerts: Follow Zoom’s status page or DownDetector for real-time updates during disruptions.
4. Invest in Redundancy: Businesses can implement failover systems to maintain communication during outages.

By diversifying communication tools and staying informed, users can mitigate the impact of unexpected service interruptions.

Why Zoom Matters in the USA

Since its founding in 2011, Zoom has transformed remote communication, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2024, Zoom reported $4.5 billion in revenue and ranked 417th on Forbes’ list of America’s best midsize employers in 2025. With millions of daily users, Zoom is integral to workplaces, schools, and government operations, making outages like this one highly consequential.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What caused the Zoom outage on April 16, 2025?

The outage was caused by a domain name resolution issue due to a server block by GoDaddy Registry, resulting from a communication error with Zoom’s registrar, Markmonitor.

2. How long did the Zoom outage last?

The outage began at 2:25 p.m. ET and was resolved by 4:12 p.m. ET, lasting approximately 90 minutes.

3. Was the Zoom outage a cyberattack?

No, Zoom and independent analyses confirmed it was not a cyberattack, despite claims by a hacker group on X.

4. How can I check if Zoom is down?

Visit DownDetector or Zoom’s status page for real-time outage information.

5. What should I do during a Zoom outage?

Switch to alternative platforms like Microsoft Teams, check Zoom’s status page for updates, and use offline communication methods.

Conclusion

The Zoom outage on April 16, 2025, disrupted remote work and virtual communication across the USA, underscoring the platform’s critical role in modern life. While Zoom resolved the issue quickly and transparently, the incident highlighted vulnerabilities in digital infrastructure. By understanding the causes and preparing for future disruptions, users can stay resilient in an increasingly connected world.