Is Google still down? Search engine stops working for thousands of users

The technology company said the problem was due to a software update

Google's services stopped working in various parts of the world. AFP

Alphabet's Google services stopped working for thousands of users on Monday night, according to the tracking website Downdetector.com.

The website tracked disruption in the US, as well as Japan, Canada and Australia.

Many users on social media questioned the rare disruption, which appeared to last a few hours.

For some, the availability of Google's suite of programs, including Search, Maps and Gmail, was intermittent.

Users attempting to use the search engine were met with a 502 or 500 error.

The service appeared to have been mostly restored this morning, and Google said the disruption was due to a software update.

“We are aware of a software update issue that occurred late this afternoon, Pacific Time, and briefly affected availability of Google Search and Maps,” the company said.

“We apologise for the inconvenience. We worked to quickly address the issue and our services are now back online.”

Alphabet last month reported a 14 per cent drop in second-quarter net profit on an annual basis, as the company missed analysts' sales expectations.

Net profit at Google's parent company dropped to about $16 billion in the three months to the end of June.

“In the second quarter, our performance was driven by search and cloud [businesses] … the investments we have made over the years in AI [artificial intelligence] and computing are helping to make our services particularly valuable for consumers and highly effective for businesses of all sizes” Alphabet’s chief executive Sundar Pichai said at the time.

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Inside Google's new self-developed Bay View campus

A bicycle path along Google's new Bay View campus. EPA

Workstations in Google's new Bay View campus building. EPA

Sitting area at Google's Campfire Corner in Google's new Bay View campus. EPA

Sitting area at Google's Campfire Corner in Google's new Bay View campus building. EPA

Interior view in Google's new Bay View campus building. EPA

Interior view of Google's Campfire Corner in Google's new Bay View campus building. EPA

Interior view in Google's new Bay View campus building. EPA

An exterior view of building BV200 and Google shared bicycles during a tour of Google's new Bay View Campus. Reuters

A seating area in Google's new Bay View campus building. EPA

Google announced the opening of its new Bay View campus in Silicon Valley, representing the company's first time developing its own major campus. EPA

Art work in Google's new Bay View campus. EPA

An Office directory in Google's new Bay View campus. EPA

Interior and ceiling view of BV200, Google's new Bay View campus building. EPA

The Google bicycle Pedal Park inside Google's new Bay View campus building. EPA

Binary code and art work on the window of Google's new Bay View campus. EPA

The side of Google's new Bay View campus building. EPA

An outdoor weight room in front of Google's new Bay View campus. EPA

Binary code on the window of Google's new Bay View campus. EPA

The Google logo in front of Google's Bay View Building. EPA

An interior view of BV200, Google's new Bay View campus. EPA

An Interior view of BV200, Google's new Bay View campus building. EPA

A Google Android bot in the lobby of BV100, Google's new Bay View campus. EPA

The Bay View campus was designed by architects Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) and Heatherwick Studio, as well as Google's design and engineering teams and spans 42 acres adjacent to the open space, two office buildings, and 1,000-person event centre. EPA

A coffee table made out of a wood stump in the sitting area at BV200, Google's new Bay View campus. EPA

Google employees in the cafeteria area in Mountain View, California. EPA

A Google employee in the cafeteria area in Mountain View, California. EPA

A worker inside Google's new Bay View campus in Mountain View, California. Bloomberg

A seating area inside Google's new Bay View campus. Bloomberg

Inside Google's new Bay View campus in Mountain View, California. Bloomberg

Workers inside Google's new Bay View campus. Bloomberg

A mural inside Google's new Bay View campus in Mountain View, California. Bloomberg

Inside Google's new Bay View campus in Mountain View, California. Bloomberg

Workers in one of the many dining areas inside Google's new Bay View campus in Mountain View, California. Bloomberg

Inside Google's new Bay View campus in Mountain View, California. Bloomberg

Desks inside Google's new Bay View campus. Bloomberg

One of nine pieces of art created by Bay Area artists for the campus. Reuters