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Fix Microsoft Sway Stuck Loading or Running Slowly

Huma Ashraf Ch Oct 1, 2026 868 views

Question details

Users are unable to access Microsoft Sway as it remains stuck on the loading screen or runs excessively slowly across multiple platforms.

How to Fix Microsoft Sway Stuck Loading or Running Slowly

Product: Microsoft Sway
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to open, view, or edit a Microsoft Sway presentation or a shared link.
Observed behavior: The application hangs on the loading screen across various browsers, devices, and accounts. Shared 'Anyone with the link' URLs also fail to open.

Before you start

Before attempting local troubleshooting, verify that your internet connection is stable and check with colleagues to see if they are experiencing the exact same loading delays.

Solution 1Recommended

Check Microsoft 365 Service Health Dashboard

Verify if a global Microsoft service incident (such as SW807143) is causing the application to hang.

Microsoft Sway is a fully cloud-based service. When it fails across multiple browsers, private sessions, and devices simultaneously, the root cause is almost always a Microsoft server outage or degradation.

Access the Admin Center

Navigate to Service Health

On the left sidebar, click on 'Health' and then select 'Service health'.

Look for Sway Advisories

Check the active incidents list for any reports related to Microsoft Sway experiencing slow or intermittent loading issues. If an incident is active, you must wait for Microsoft to resolve it.

Service Incident History: A known incident (SW807143) previously caused exactly this behavior and was formally resolved by Microsoft. If issues persist, a new incident may be occurring.

Solution 2

Test on Alternative Browsers and Networks

Rule out local browser corruption or network firewall restrictions that might block Sway servers.

Solution 3

Submit a Microsoft Support Ticket

Escalate the problem to Microsoft support if no global service incidents are reported and local troubleshooting fails.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do my shared Microsoft Sway links say 'Anyone with the link' but still won't open?

This usually indicates a server-side issue at Microsoft. Even if your sharing permissions are correctly set to 'Anyone with the link', the Microsoft servers must be operational to retrieve and display the content. If the servers are down, the link will hang on the loading screen.

Can I edit Microsoft Sway offline if it is stuck loading?

No, Microsoft Sway is a strictly cloud-based application. It requires an active internet connection and operational Microsoft servers to both view and edit content. Unlike traditional desktop software, there is no offline mode for Sway.

How do I know if the Sway loading issue is my computer or a Microsoft outage?

If you have tried opening the Sway link on different devices (like your phone and your computer), across different networks, and using private browsing windows, and it still fails, it is highly likely a server-side problem with Microsoft.

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