Canva users hit by outage second time in over a month; displays '503 server error'

Several users reported issues with online design and publishing platform Canva with as many as 500 reports filed on Downdetector. The design platform’s app and website became inaccessible on Friday, leaving users unable to load their designs or complete work. The disruption prompted a surge of complaints on social media, where many users asked, “Is Canva down?” and shared screenshots of the error message.

When attempting to access the website, users were shown a “503 server error” along with the message, “That means something is not working from our end.” A 503 error typically indicates that the server is temporarily unable to handle the request, either due to being overloaded or undergoing maintenance. It is a common server-side error, usually short-lived, and signifies that the platform's backend systems are not ready to process user activity at that moment.

Despite the growing number of complaints, Canva’s official status page, canvastatus.com, initially reported that all systems were operational. This mismatch between user experience and the platform’s own diagnostics caused confusion, especially among professionals relying on Canva for time-sensitive tasks. The gap can be attributed to how outages are tracked given Downdetector reflects real-time crowdsourced reports, while official status pages tend to update only after internal assessments.

In response to mounting queries, Canva acknowledged the problem on X, writing in a series of reply posts, “we hear you. We’re working on this and we’ll keep you posted once it’s fixed. You can also check canvastatus.com for updates. Thank you for your patience and understanding.”

This marks the second outage Canva has experienced in recent weeks, raising concerns among frequent users about the platform’s reliability. For many small businesses, students, content creators, and marketing professionals, Canva is a go-to tool for everyday design needs, and any disruption has a ripple effect on deadlines and deliverables.

While the platform has since begun restoring access for some users, frustrations continue to simmer online as many remain locked out of their workspaces. As of now, Canva has not shared specific details about the root cause or expected resolution timeline.