How to Build Power Automate Approval Workflow for Beginners

Approval flows are some of the most common flows created using Microsoft Power Automate. Rather than running around the office with a piece of paper trying to get signatures, you can set up a simple flow. There are many ways to use approvals. In this video, we will walk through a common vacation request example using SharePoint as the data source.

Spoiler Alert: I had to go back and film most of this video over because Power Automate is constantly evolving. And I found another update after publishing this video. What I demonstrate is one way to build the flow. Another is to go straight for Outcome. It really depends on your objective.

0:00 Pick the flow trigger
1:04 Begin Building the flow
1:30 Add Approvals Action
3:28 Take 2 build the flow
6:46 Test the flow

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[HeatherMajors]

Upon further research, for a different flow, I discovered you can go straight for condition control if you use Outcome instead of Responses. I don't want to do this video for the 3rd time since the steps I show in the video will work. Just know there is another option if you would like.

[val]

Thank you soo much for posting this! I struggle too often with multi-approval flows but this pushed me in the right direction 😎

[yestomoney]

very clear and easy to follow. Thanks for sharing!

[HeatherMajors]

While creating this video and building the flow I ran into issues. Rather than cut it out and pretend as it all worked out perfectly the first time, I decided to use this video as a way we could all learn together.

[jehbosheva]

Thank you Heather for an interesting walkthrough. I made my vacation approval form but instead ofhaving it shiw in the Teams, I added it to the SharePoint site. The only thing that I am stuck is adding another Update to the 'Condition' when an item is approve, which is to Update the Manager (Approver's) Outlook calendar. I would love if you create another video addining that particular add on. Thanks again.

[CatelloCascone-gxph]

@HeatherMajors, because once the flow is started and approved, I receive other approval notifications for the same document on Microsoft Teams. Many thanks!

[chrisbellerby]

I want to use approvals to approve leave and sickness and populate to a shared teams calendar, do you know if this is possible, thanks chris

[catalinneacsu]

Hi Heather,

I created a flow just as yours and i still have the issue with the flow going to "rejected" side even if the request gets approved.
What could be wrong ?

[Lokesh.Singara]

Do you know how to assign the Existing site design template id to the Newly created website.

[livefreeNH]

I am trying to build an approval flow that will assign approvals to certain people based on what is submitted (eg Mary approves car requests that come in and Joey approves motorcycles). Do you have any pointers?

[ranatahirtahir]

Nice 👍
I want to create and send a documents and get response of this document when documents signed by client in power Automate

[WaliSayed]

Useful tutorial!
but I have the challenge to create multi-level approval inside Power Apps, not on the surface of emails.

[CherryBerrytales]

I am still getting rejected email picked for approval flow

[neuncbv]

Is the request data collected via MS form?