X is progressing towards a resolution following a significant data center outage that affected users on Thursday and caused complications into Friday. The outage started at 11 AM PT on May 22 and was reported to be resolved by 10:35 AM PT the next day. However, the company acknowledges that “degraded performance” continues to impact some login features on the platform.
The issue drew attention from users on downdetector.com, where reports peaked as many faced difficulties accessing direct messages and other functionalities. While the cause of the outage has not been explicitly detailed by X, it is notable that a fire at an X data center in Oregon occurred shortly before the outage began. Firefighters responded to the incident near Portland around 10:21 AM PT, and while the investigation into the extent of the damage continues, it’s believed that batteries may have contributed to the fire.
Historically, X has faced challenges with data center operations. After Elon Musk’s acquisition of the company in 2022, he expedited the relocation of servers from California to Oregon, intending to cut costs. This rushed move, however, led to various technical problems and drew scrutiny from the Federal Trade Commission.
As of the latest update, X continues to work on restoring full functionality to its services. The situation highlights the complexities involved in data center management, particularly under urgent operational decisions. With ongoing efforts, users can hope for a complete resolution soon.