YouTube News

YouTube introduced Temporary Feature Pause for hijacked channels

Flagged accounts lose uploads, livestreams, and several Studio tools while security teams review activity.

By The Creator Wire Staff Published Oct. 21, 2026

YouTube said on October 21, 2026 that it introduced Temporary Feature Pause for channels where it sees unusual or potentially unauthorized activity.

While a pause is active, nobody on the account can upload or update videos and Shorts, start livestreams, create or add videos to playlists, upload custom thumbnails, or change private videos to public or unlisted.

When a channel is hijacked, hackers look to quickly lock account owners out and upload unwanted videos or live streams, YouTube said.

The same limits apply to legitimate owners until reviewers finish. YouTube said its security teams typically complete that review within 24 hours and restore full access when an account is deemed safe.

If a takeover is confirmed, YouTube contacts the creator with recovery steps. Existing videos generally stay available to viewers, monetization status is unchanged, and YouTube Studio displays a banner explaining the restriction.

YouTube has not disclosed what activity triggers an automatic pause. It recommends two-step verification and strong passwords for account protection.