diff --git a/src/collections/YouTubeContent.ts b/src/collections/YouTubeContent.ts
index 2362921..25bf657 100644
--- a/src/collections/YouTubeContent.ts
+++ b/src/collections/YouTubeContent.ts
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import {
 } from '../lib/youtubeAccess'
 import { createTasksOnStatusChange } from '../hooks/youtubeContent/createTasksOnStatusChange'
 import { downloadThumbnail } from '../hooks/youtubeContent/downloadThumbnail'
+import { autoStatusTransitions } from '../hooks/youtubeContent/autoStatusTransitions'
 // TODO: ScriptSectionBlock causes admin UI rendering issues
 // import { ScriptSectionBlock } from '../blocks/ScriptSectionBlock'
 
@@ -39,7 +40,7 @@ export const YouTubeContent: CollectionConfig = {
     delete: isYouTubeManager,
   },
   hooks: {
-    afterChange: [createTasksOnStatusChange, downloadThumbnail],
+    afterChange: [createTasksOnStatusChange, downloadThumbnail, autoStatusTransitions],
     beforeChange: [
       // Auto-Slug generieren
       ({ data }) => {
diff --git a/src/hooks/youtubeContent/autoStatusTransitions.ts b/src/hooks/youtubeContent/autoStatusTransitions.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..aca9642
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/hooks/youtubeContent/autoStatusTransitions.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+import type { CollectionAfterChangeHook } from 'payload'
+import { NotificationService } from '@/lib/jobs/NotificationService'
+
+interface TransitionContext {
+  currentStatus: string
+  youtubeVideoId?: string | null
+  hasAllChecklistsComplete: boolean
+}
+
+/**
+ * Determines the next status based on current state and conditions
+ */
+export function getNextStatus(context: TransitionContext): string | null {
+  const { currentStatus, youtubeVideoId } = context
+
+  // Upload completed → published
+  if (currentStatus === 'upload_scheduled' && youtubeVideoId) {
+    return 'published'
+  }
+
+  return null
+}
+
+/**
+ * Checks if a manual transition should be suggested
+ */
+export function shouldTransitionStatus(
+  status: string,
+  context: { hasVideoFile?: boolean },
+): boolean {
+  if (status === 'approved' && context.hasVideoFile) return true
+  return false
+}
+
+/**
+ * Hook: Automatische Status-Übergänge nach Änderungen
+ */
+export const autoStatusTransitions: CollectionAfterChangeHook = async ({
+  doc,
+  previousDoc,
+  req,
+  operation,
+}) => {
+  if (operation !== 'update') return doc
+
+  const nextStatus = getNextStatus({
+    currentStatus: doc.status,
+    youtubeVideoId: doc.youtube?.videoId,
+    hasAllChecklistsComplete: false,
+  })
+
+  if (nextStatus && nextStatus !== doc.status) {
+    console.log(`[autoStatusTransitions] ${doc.id}: ${doc.status} → ${nextStatus}`)
+
+    await req.payload.update({
+      collection: 'youtube-content',
+      id: doc.id,
+      data: { status: nextStatus },
+      depth: 0,
+    })
+
+    // Notification
+    if (doc.assignedTo) {
+      const assignedToId = typeof doc.assignedTo === 'object' ? doc.assignedTo.id : doc.assignedTo
+      const notificationService = new NotificationService(req.payload)
+      await notificationService.createNotification({
+        recipientId: assignedToId,
+        type: 'system',
+        title: `Video-Status automatisch geändert: ${nextStatus}`,
+        link: `/admin/collections/youtube-content/${doc.id}`,
+        relatedVideoId: doc.id,
+      })
+    }
+  }
+
+  return doc
+}
diff --git a/tests/unit/youtube/auto-status-transitions.unit.spec.ts b/tests/unit/youtube/auto-status-transitions.unit.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2ac97e3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/youtube/auto-status-transitions.unit.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+import { describe, it, expect } from 'vitest'
+import { getNextStatus, shouldTransitionStatus } from '@/hooks/youtubeContent/autoStatusTransitions'
+
+describe('Auto Status Transitions', () => {
+  it('should transition to published when upload is complete', () => {
+    const result = getNextStatus({
+      currentStatus: 'upload_scheduled',
+      youtubeVideoId: 'VID123',
+      hasAllChecklistsComplete: false,
+    })
+    expect(result).toBe('published')
+  })
+
+  it('should not transition if no video ID on upload_scheduled', () => {
+    const result = getNextStatus({
+      currentStatus: 'upload_scheduled',
+      youtubeVideoId: null,
+      hasAllChecklistsComplete: false,
+    })
+    expect(result).toBeNull()
+  })
+
+  it('should transition approved to upload_scheduled when video file exists', () => {
+    const result = shouldTransitionStatus('approved', { hasVideoFile: true })
+    expect(result).toBe(true)
+  })
+
+  it('should not suggest transition for published status', () => {
+    const result = shouldTransitionStatus('published', { hasVideoFile: true })
+    expect(result).toBe(false)
+  })
+})