# `aws:pause` – Pause an automation
<a name="automation-action-pause"></a>

This action pauses the automation. Once paused, the automation status is *Waiting*. To continue the automation, use the [SendAutomationSignal](https://docs.amazonaws.cn/systems-manager/latest/APIReference/API_SendAutomationSignal.html) API operation with the `Resume` signal type. We recommend using the `aws:sleep` or `aws:approve` action for more granular control of your workflows.

**Note**  
The default timeout for this action is 7 days (604800 seconds) and the maximum value is 30 days (2592000 seconds). You can limit or extend the timeout by specifying the `timeoutSeconds` parameter for an `aws:pause` step.

**Input**  
The input is as follows.

------
#### [ YAML ]

```
name: pauseThis
action: aws:pause
timeoutSeconds: 1209600
inputs: {}
```

------
#### [ JSON ]

```
{
    "name": "pauseThis",
    "action": "aws:pause",
    "timeoutSeconds": "1209600",
    "inputs": {}
}
```

------Output

None