Gmail Down: Google Email Suffers Service Disruption (UPDATE)

A number of Gmail users are finding error messages this afternoon, as the popular email service is suffering some rare downtime.

UPDATE: Google says the issue has been resolved:

"The problem with Google Mail should be resolved. We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience and continued support. Please rest assured that system reliability is a top priority at Google, and we are making continuous improvements to make our systems better."

EARLIER:

Google acknowledges the problem and says it is "working on it." It also released a statement that the outage is affecting less than 2 percent of its users worldwide:

Thanks everyone for the reports of 500 errors, we're working on it: goo.gl/GSxQt

— Gmail (@gmail) April 17, 2012

The Google's App Status Dashboard shows a half-circle for "Google Mail," signifying a partial service disruption. Hundreds of tweets are also saying that Gmail is down. (Scroll down for Twitter reactions.)

The outage began around 12:30 p.m. ET, BNO News reports, when users began seeing the message: "We're sorry, but your Gmail account is temporarily unavailable."

Mashable asked Google+ users if they were experiencing problems, and the response was mixed. According to Mashable reporter Alex Fitzpatrick, "about 50% of respondents" say Gmail is down.

Google experienced a few email outages this past fall - in November and September.

Are you having problems accessing Gmail? Let us know in the comments or tweet us at @HuffPostTech.

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Comments

[Karen Ranucci]

08:49 PM on 10/12/2012

It is 8:47 pm and my google mail still down as it has been all afternoon

[REG CALLING]

04:47 AM on 04/18/2012

Unless it is delivered to my mailbox and I can pick it up with my hand, open it, and read it, it's not mail.

[staceysimmons]

01:06 AM on 04/18/2012

I still have no gmail... grrrrrr

[omerguy]

12:26 AM on 04/18/2012

Like that is the only problem with google. the spy masters and they love to take your private photos in post them in their gallery. then they lock down your account and uck you into making another account. i never use google mail anymore. AOL is still great and Yahoo is right there also. only reason i have google is because i have a Droid and no other. screwed with that to.

[J Owen Williams]

11:13 PM on 04/17/2012

People still use AOL right?

[JackAS12]

07:16 PM on 04/17/2012

Use Netscape. No one else does. That is why I like it.

[rajclay]

07:08 PM on 04/17/2012

anyone that uses Gmail or Facebook is nuts they just love spying on you

[Chris-Jenn Steadman]

04:49 PM on 04/17/2012

Still not up here in AZ.....I am of the 2%

[candyharris]

03:40 PM on 04/17/2012

I still like google :-) and my gmail

[Chuck Lattka]

03:33 PM on 04/17/2012

time to run a major virus scam for all threats, you never know who is knocking at the door...

[guycap]

02:37 PM on 04/17/2012

Out of order and after Africa,Europe...What we shall do? Take a bath and wait for a change: till next Sunday

[Naders]

02:36 PM on 04/17/2012

Was down for me too. It was frustrating. Back up now. I remembered back years ago and could not remember a time I could not get into my mail then on AOL. Times have changed.

[Reality2012]

02:25 PM on 04/17/2012

Who's to blame for the outage? The Chinese?

[theveggiedude]

02:22 PM on 04/17/2012

It probably goes down 0.00001% of the time, but when it does, it really hurts.

[Ichigo Kurosaki]

02:00 PM on 04/17/2012

It just worked, for me.