Get approvals on files in Google Drive
Requesting an approval is only available for eligible work or school accounts, and you're currently not signed in.
Edit & reset approvals
Important: Once an edit is made, all approvers must approve the new changes.
By default, files with requested approvals stay unlocked. Editors can edit, comment, or make suggestions on the file.
Lock a document
Important: To lock a document on mobile, turn on Lock file before sending approval request before you send the request.
Lock a document to make sure approvers can’t change it until it’s approved. No one can add edits, comments, or suggestions to locked documents.
Unlock a file to edit
Important: When a file is unlocked or edited as part of an approval, recorded approvals reset and previous approvers must re-approve the document with the new changes.
After a file is approved and locked, anyone with edit access can unlock the file and make new edits. When you attempt to edit a locked file on mobile, you’ll be asked if you want to unlock the file. If you agree, the file will be unlocked and you’ll be able to edit the file.
When you make edits after approvals are complete, those approvals are associated with the previous version of the file. Learn how to check approvals on previous versions of a file
Tip: Unlock files after approvals are complete so they don’t get reset.
- On your iPhone or iPad, open Google Drive 👁 Drive
. - Next to the file you want to approve or reject, tap 👁 Image
👁 And then
Approvals 👁 Image
.- To approve the file: Tap Approve. You can also add an optional note.
- To reject the file: Tap Reject. You can also add an optional note.
- Scroll to find "Approvals".
- On your iPhone or iPad, open Google Drive 👁 Drive
. - Open the file you want to approve or reject.
- Tap More 👁 Image
👁 And then
Approvals 👁 Image
.- To approve the file: Tap Approve. You can also add an optional note.
- To reject the file: Tap Reject. You can also add an optional note.
- Scroll to find "Approvals".
Review approval details
Once approval is requested, you can check details about approval status, due date, and approval activity.
- On your iPhone or iPad, open Google Drive 👁 Drive
. - Next to the file you want to review approval details for, tap More 👁 Image
👁 And then
Approvals 👁 Image
to find:- Approval status
- Due date
- Approval activity
- Scroll to find "Approvals".
- On your iPhone or iPad, open Google Drive 👁 Drive
. - Open the file you want to review approval details for.
- Tap 👁 Image
👁 And then
Approvals 👁 Image
to find:- Approval status
- Due date
- Approval activity
- Scroll to find "Approvals".
Edit your request
After you file your approval request, you can change or cancel it.
- On your iPhone or iPad, open Google Drive 👁 Drive
. - Next to the file with an approval request you’d like to edit, tap More 👁 Image
👁 And then
Approvals 👁 Image
.- Scroll to find this option.
- From the approval details view:
- Change approvers: Next to the current approver, tap More 👁 Image
👁 And then
Change approver. - Add approvers: At the top, tap Add approver 👁 Add approver
. - Change the due date: At the top, tap Calendar 👁 Image
and enter a new date.
- Change approvers: Next to the current approver, tap More 👁 Image
- On your iPhone or iPad, open Google Drive 👁 Drive
. - Open the file with an approval request you’d like to edit.
- Tap More 👁 Image
👁 And then
Approvals 👁 Image
.- Scroll to find this option.
- From the approval details view:
- Change approvers: Next to the current approver, tap More 👁 Image
👁 And then
Change approver. - Add approvers: At the top, tap Add approver 👁 Add approver
. - Change the due date: At the top, tap Calendar 👁 Image
and enter a new date.
- Change approvers: Next to the current approver, tap More 👁 Image
Cancel approval request
If you no longer want approval for your document, you can cancel your request.
- On your iPhone or iPad, open Google Drive 👁 Drive
. - Next to the file with an approval request you’d like to cancel, tap More 👁 Image
👁 And then
Cancel Request 👁 Image
.
- On your iPhone or iPad, open Google Drive 👁 Drive
. - Open the file with an approval request you’d like to cancel.
- Tap More 👁 Image
👁 And then
Cancel Request 👁 Image
.
Review previous approvals for a file
- On your iPhone or iPad, open Google Drive 👁 Drive
. - Next to the file you want to review previous approval requests for, tap More 👁 Image
👁 And then
Approvals 👁 Image
.- Scroll to find this option.
- On your iPhone or iPad, open Google Drive 👁 Drive
. - Open the file you want to review approvals for.
- At the top, tap View approved versions.
- On the right, tap View approval detail.