Check Amazon's status directly

The fastest way to know if Amazon is down is to try loading Amazon.com in your browser. If the page loads normally and you can see products and your account, Amazon is working on your end. If you see a blank page, an error message, or a page that says "Service Unavailable," Amazon's servers may be experiencing an outage.

Before you assume Amazon itself is down, clear your browser cache. Cached data can sometimes show you an old broken version of a page even when the site is working now. In most browsers, you can clear the cache by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Delete (Windows) or Command+Shift+Delete (Mac), then selecting "Cached images and files" and clicking Clear.

If clearing the cache doesn't help, try opening Amazon in a different browser — Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge. If Amazon loads in one browser but not another, the problem is with that specific browser, not with Amazon's servers.

Key Takeaways

  • Amazon outages are rare but do happen; the fastest check is to load Amazon.com and see whether the page appears normally or shows an error.
  • Clear your browser cache before concluding Amazon is down, because old cached data can block you from seeing the current version of the site.
  • Try a different browser to rule out a problem with your specific browser rather than Amazon's servers.
  • If Amazon is down for everyone, you will see reports on Downdetector or X (formerly Twitter) within minutes, but these sites sometimes show false alarms.
  • A slow Amazon connection is usually a problem with your internet speed or device, not an outage — outages typically show error pages, not slow loading.

Check whether the outage is widespread

If Amazon won't load for you, visit Downdetector.com and search for "Amazon." The site shows a graph of outage reports from other users in the last 24 hours. If the graph spiked in the last few minutes and you see hundreds or thousands of reports, Amazon is likely down for many people. If the graph is flat and you see only a handful of reports, the problem is probably on your end.

You can also search "Amazon down" on X (formerly Twitter) to see whether other users are reporting problems right now. Real outages usually generate dozens of posts within minutes. Be cautious of single posts or old tweets — they may describe a problem that was already fixed hours ago.

Keep in mind that Downdetector reports are user-submitted and sometimes inaccurate. A spike in reports does not always mean Amazon's servers are actually down; it can mean a large group of users experienced a temporary glitch that resolved itself. The most reliable signal is whether Amazon.com loads for you now.

Distinguish between slow loading and an outage

A slow Amazon page is not the same as an outage. If Amazon loads but takes 10 or 20 seconds, or if products load slowly, the problem is usually your internet connection or your device, not Amazon's servers. Outages show error pages — messages like "502 Bad Gateway," "503 Service Unavailable," or a completely blank page.

If Amazon loads slowly, check your internet speed. Open speedtest.net in another tab and run a speed test. If your read speed is below 5 Mbps, your internet connection is the bottleneck. Restart your router by unplugging it for 30 seconds, then plugging it back in. If speed improves after a restart, your router was the problem. If it stays slow, contact your internet provider.

You can also check whether other websites load normally. If Netflix, Google, and YouTube all load quickly but Amazon is slow, Amazon may be experiencing server strain even if it is not completely down. If everything on the internet is slow, your internet connection is the issue.

What to do while you wait for Amazon to come back

If Amazon is genuinely down and Downdetector confirms it is affecting many users, the outage usually lasts between 15 minutes and a few hours. Amazon's infrastructure is designed to recover quickly, so waiting 30 minutes and trying again is usually the right move.

While you wait, you can check your order status through your email. Amazon sends confirmation emails for every order, and those emails contain tracking information even if the website is down. If you need to contact Amazon about an existing order, you can reply to the confirmation email and your message will reach customer service.

If you need to make a purchase urgently, you can try the Amazon mobile app instead of the website. The app and the website use the same servers, so if one is down the other usually is too — but occasionally one recovers before the other. It is worth trying.

Restart your device and router

Before you conclude Amazon is down, restart both your device and your internet router. Many connection problems resolve after a restart, and it takes only a few minutes.

Restart your device first: shut it down completely, wait 10 seconds, and turn it back on. Once it boots up, try loading Amazon again. If that does not work, restart your router. Unplug the router from power, wait 30 seconds, and plug it back in. Wait two minutes for it to fully restart, then try Amazon again.

If you are on a phone or tablet, you can also try turning off Wi-Fi and using mobile data instead, or vice versa. Sometimes one connection works when the other does not, which tells you the problem is with that specific connection rather than Amazon.

Check your firewall and antivirus software

Firewall or antivirus software on your device can sometimes block Amazon without showing you a clear error message. If Amazon loads for other people but not for you, and restarting did not help, your security software may be the culprit.

Temporarily disable your firewall or antivirus and try loading Amazon again. If it loads, your security software was blocking it. You can then add Amazon.com to the whitelist or exception list in your security software so it does not block Amazon in the future. Check the software's settings menu for a section called "Exceptions," "Whitelist," or "Allowed Sites."

If you use a VPN (a service that masks your location), try turning it off and loading Amazon without it. Some VPNs can interfere with Amazon's servers or trigger security blocks.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often does Amazon go down?

Amazon outages are uncommon. The company's servers are designed for high reliability, and most outages last less than an hour. You might experience one or two noticeable outages per year, though many smaller glitches happen without affecting most users.

Will Amazon notify me if there is an outage?

Amazon does not send emails or notifications about outages. You will only know if you try to use the site or check news sources like Downdetector. If you have an urgent order question during an outage, check your confirmation email — it contains tracking and order details even when the website is down.

Can I still track my order if Amazon is down?

Yes. Your order confirmation email contains a tracking number and a link to track your package. You can also go directly to the carrier's website — Amazon usually ships through UPS, FedEx, or USPS — and enter your tracking number there.

What if Amazon keeps going down for me but works for everyone else?

This usually means a problem with your device, internet connection, or network settings rather than Amazon's servers. Try the steps in this guide: clear your browser cache, restart your device and router, disable your firewall temporarily, and try a different browser. If none of those work, contact your internet provider to check whether something on their end is blocking Amazon.