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 and reset approvals

Important: Once an edit has been 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 a mobile, turn on Lock file before sending approval request before you send the request.

Lock a document to make sure that approvers can't change it until it's been 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 has been approved and locked, anyone with edit access can unlock the file and make new edits. When you attempt to edit a locked file on a 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 have been completed, 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 have been completed so that they don't get reset.

From the Google Drive file list

On your iPhone or iPad, open Google Drive .
Next to the file that you want to approve or reject, tap .
- 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.

From the Google Drive preview

On your iPhone or iPad, open Google Drive .
Open the file that you want to approve or reject.
Tap More Approvals .
- 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.

Review approval details

Once approval has been requested, you can check details about approval status, due date and approval activity.

From the Google Drive file list

On your iPhone or iPad, open Google Drive .
Next to the file that you want to review approval details for, tap More Approvals to find:
- Approval status
- Due date
- Approval activity

From the Google Drive preview

On your iPhone or iPad, open Google Drive .
Open the file that you want to review the approval details for.
Tap Approvals to find:
- Approval status
- Due date
- Approval activity

Edit your request

After you have filed your approval request, you can change or cancel it.

From the Google Drive file list

On your iPhone or iPad, open Google Drive .
Next to the file with an approval request that you'd like to edit, tap More Approvals .
From the approval details view:
- Change approvers: Next to the current approver, tap more Change approver.
- Add approvers: At the top, tap Add approver .
- Change the due date: At the top, tap Calendar and enter a new date.

From the Google Drive preview

On your iPhone or iPad, open Google Drive .
Open the file with an approval request that you'd like to edit.
Tap More Approvals .
From the approval details view:
- Change approvers: Next to the current approver, tap More Change approver.
- Add approvers: At the top, tap Add approver .
- Change the due date: At the top, tap Calendar and enter a new date.