Target Website Down: Holiday Shopping Crash Sparks Customer Fury

Target‘s website and mobile app crashed during the final holiday shopping week. The widespread outage on December 19 left millions unable to place orders or track purchases just days before Christmas. Digital services have been restored, but the incident triggered a massive social media backlash from frustrated shoppers.

This technical failure hit at the worst possible time for consumers. According to reports from Bloomberg, the outage disrupted critical services like order pickup and gift card redemption. Target’s physical stores remained open, but the digital collapse underscored the immense pressure on retail systems during peak season.

Critical Systems Failed at Peak Shopping Time

The Target website down incident disabled core shopping functions. Customers reported failures in order pickup, drive-up services, and returns processing. Gift card balances became unverifiable, and order history pages would not load.

Reports on Downdetector spiked early on December 19. Target’s customer service account on X advised shoppers to retry transactions after a few hours. The company acknowledged the problem and stated a fix was in progress.

Chief Stores Officer Adrienne Costanzo confirmed stabilization by December 20. Internal communications obtained by Bloomberg noted improvements in key digital functions. The outage’s timing, however, caused significant disruption during the busiest retail period.

Social Media Erupts with Shopper Complaints

Angry customers flooded social platforms with complaints. Many reported being charged for orders without receiving confirmation emails. Others could not access receipts or track deliveries for time-sensitive holiday gifts.

Target’s customer service team worked to respond individually. The @AskTarget account posted apologies and updates throughout the day. Despite these efforts, user frustration remained high due to the last-minute shopping crunch.

The incident highlights growing consumer reliance on seamless digital experiences. When major platforms fail during critical windows, the reputational damage can be substantial. Target now faces the challenge of restoring customer trust after the disruption.

The Target website down event serves as a stark reminder of digital infrastructure’s fragility during peak demand. Retailers must ensure robust systems to maintain consumer confidence, especially during the high-stakes holiday season.

A quick knowledge drop for you

When did the Target website crash happen?

The major outage occurred on December 19, 2025. This was during the final full week of holiday shopping before Christmas, significantly amplifying its impact on consumers.

What services were affected by the outage?

The crash disrupted order pickup, drive-up services, returns, gift card processing, and order history access. Target’s physical store locations continued to operate normally throughout the incident.

Has Target fixed the website issues?

Yes. Target’s Chief Stores Officer confirmed digital operations stabilized by December 20. The company stated core functions like order pickup and returns were back online.

How did customers react to the crash?

Shopper reaction was intensely negative across social media. Customers expressed fury over failed transactions and lost time during the crucial pre-Christmas shopping period.

Why was this outage so significant?

Its timing during peak holiday spending made it particularly damaging. Adobe reports show U.S. online spending exceeded $187 billion this season, making every hour of downtime costly.

What should affected customers do now?

Shoppers should verify any disputed orders through the Target app or website. Those with unresolved payment issues should contact Target customer service directly for assistance.