On Saturday, June 21, 2025, at around 12:39 SAST (approximately 3:39 PM PKT), a notable rise in user complaints indicated that Canva was facing accessibility challenges internationally. Data from DownDetector showed that roughly 75% of the reports were related to issues accessing the website, while the remaining 25% concerned the mobile app.
By 6:03 PM PKT, Canva’s services were restored, and normal operations resumed.
Incident Overview
Initial Surge: Shortly after 12:39 SAST, users began encountering errors such as “Server not reachable,” timeouts, and failed login attempts. The clustering of timestamps on DownDetector suggested a widespread disruption rather than localized incidents.
User Impact: Numerous professionals who depend on Canva for marketing materials, presentations, and social media posts faced considerable interruptions in their activities. Some users attempted standard troubleshooting measures—such as clearing their cache, changing devices, or switching networks—but these efforts proved futile, as the core issue appeared to originate from server-side complications.
Background and Recent Developments
Earlier in the week, Canva had recognized and addressed problems related to its AI-driven features, including video generation within the MagicMedia brand. A previous incident on June 11 had resulted in increased error rates in AI design functions, which was eventually resolved. While no direct link has been established between these earlier AI service issues and the disruption on June 21, the timing highlights the operational complexities of rolling out new, resource-intensive features on a large scale.
This incident underscores the importance of effective communication during outages, particularly for widely utilized platforms like Canva, whose functionality significantly affects global workflows and creative endeavors.
Image Source: Unsplash
