youtube outages leave viewers stuck on 'Just a moment...' interstitial
Shortly before midday ET on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, users across multiple regions found themselves unable to access videos after encountering a persistent "Just a moment... " interstitial that included the phrase "Click here if you are not redirected automatically. " The interruption created confusion for viewers and content creators, and triggered a wave of complaints on social channels.
What happened
For many visitors the experience began with an unexpected gate page bearing the message "Just a moment... " and the prompt to click if no automatic redirect occurred. That interstitial blocked standard playback and navigation on the site for some users, who saw it either when attempting to load individual videos or when accessing the homepage. The message suggested an automated verification or traffic-management process; in several cases the page persisted even after repeated refreshes.
Because the interruption took the form of an interstitial rather than an outright error message, the immediate impression for users was of a temporary holding step rather than a full outage. Still, the effect was the same: viewing stopped, uploads and live streams were interrupted, and creators relying on scheduled content saw planned broadcasts delayed or disrupted.
Impact on viewers, creators and advertisers
Audience members reported interrupted live streams, stalled video loads and a failure to access recommended content. Some users were able to restore access by switching from Wi‑Fi to mobile data, clearing the browser cache, or opening the service in an incognito/private window. Others saw no change and were forced to wait for the holding page to clear.
Creators who rely on real-time engagement described immediate pain points: live chats froze with audiences, scheduled premieres did not begin at the expected time, and some uploads stalled mid-processing. For creators monetizing content, the interruption risked lost revenue during peak viewing windows. Advertisers whose campaigns depend on time-sensitive impressions also faced uncertainty while delivery lagged.
Because the interruption targeted the user entry point rather than producing explicit service-wide error codes, measuring the full scale of disruption was challenging in the moment. That uncertainty compounded frustration for individuals trying to determine whether the problem was local to their devices or part of a wider event.
Why this matters and what to watch next
Large-scale interruptions to a major video service carry ripple effects across media, marketing and creator economics. Repeated or prolonged outages can erode trust, push audiences to alternative platforms and complicate advertisers' scheduling. For creators who operate on tight publishing calendars, even short disruptions can have outsized consequences.
What users can do now: try a basic troubleshooting sequence—restart the app or browser, clear cache and cookies, switch networks or devices, and, if available, try the service's mobile application rather than the web interface. For creators, rescheduling live events with clear audience notices and preserving recorded backups can reduce harm if interruptions recur.
Teams managing the service typically roll out fixes across regions in phases. Viewers and creators should monitor official status updates and community channels for the latest information, keeping times referenced in Eastern Time for coordination across U. S. audiences. Expect incremental restorations over the course of the day if the disruption stems from traffic management or verification systems.
Staff will continue following developments and will provide updates as clarity on the cause and scope becomes available.
