Target's digital platforms, including its mobile app and website, suffered a major outage on Friday, December 19, 2025, sparking a wave of anger and frustration among shoppers across the United States. The technical failure left thousands of customers unable to place new orders, track existing purchases, or receive confirmations, leading to a flood of complaints on social media and outage tracking sites.
Widespread Disruption Reported by Thousands
According to data from the outage monitoring service Downdetector, reports of problems with Target's digital services began pouring in shortly after 6 a.m. Eastern Time. The situation escalated rapidly, with over 8,000 user reports logged by 8:30 a.m. Pacific Time. Customers flagged a range of critical issues that disrupted their holiday shopping plans.
The problems were multifaceted. Many users found themselves completely locked out of the app, while others could access it but encountered glitches at every turn. Key functionalities like online checkout, order tracking, and viewing purchase history were non-operational. Services heavily reliant on the app, such as curbside pickup and drive-up orders, were also severely impacted, leaving customers in limbo.
Social Media Erupts with Customer Anger
The outage quickly migrated from a technical glitch to a public relations headache as exasperated shoppers took to platforms like X (formerly Twitter) to voice their complaints. A common and particularly infuriating theme emerged: customers reported being charged for their orders without receiving any confirmation email or seeing the transaction in their app's order history.
This lack of clarity fueled anxiety and anger. One user detailed how they placed a drive-up order and saw the money deducted from their account, but never got a confirmation. The app later displayed a generic "something went wrong" error, prompting the shopper to demand Target either "fix it or give me my money back." Another customer was left wondering about the status of a substantial $125 purchase because the order details section of the app was blank.
Criticism grew sharper as the outage persisted. Some users accused Target of allowing payment processing to continue despite being aware of the system-wide issue, effectively charging customers without providing proof of purchase or a clear path to resolution. The sentiment was summed up by shoppers who felt stranded—unable to cancel orders, retrieve prepared pickups, or get answers from support.
Target's Response and the Path Forward
Target officially acknowledged the disruption through its customer service channels. The company's AskTarget account on X described the incident as a "system issue" impacting some apps and services, assuring users that technical teams were working on a fix. In a more formal statement issued at 11:33 a.m. ET, the retail giant confirmed it was "aware of intermittent issues with our digital experience" and that a resolution was underway.
In an attempt to mitigate the situation, Target emphasized that its physical stores remained open for business, encouraging customers to shop in-person for last-minute holiday items. The company also apologized for the inconvenience caused. However, for many affected online shoppers, this offered little consolation as they grappled with uncertain order statuses and pre-authorized charges on their payment methods.
The incident highlights the growing reliance on digital platforms for retail and the significant customer experience fallout when they fail. As of the latest updates, Target has indicated the fix is in progress, but the event serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of seamless online shopping, especially during the critical holiday season.
