Build an approval flow in Power Automate

You build a flow that starts with a button, asks someone for approval and then sends an email with the outcome. The approver gets the request in Teams and by email. You use everything from the previous lessons: a trigger, actions, a condition and dynamic content.

What do you need? An Outlook mailbox and Microsoft Teams. For the test you can enter yourself as the approver.

How does an approval work?

The action from the Approvals connector sends a request to one or more people and waits for an answer. In the meantime the flow stands still and only continues when someone has replied. You then use that answer, approved or rejected, in a condition.

Step by step

Go to make.powerautomate.com, click Create and choose Instant cloud flow.
Give the flow a name, for example Request approval, choose the trigger Manually trigger a flow and click Create.
Click the trigger, choose Add an input and then Text. Name the input What do you want approved?.
Add an action: search for Approvals and choose Start and wait for an approval.
Under Approval type, choose Approve/Reject - First to respond. Enter a title under Title and choose your own email address under Assigned to. Under Details, choose the dynamic content from step 3.
The approval action is filled in. Tap the image to enlarge. It shows the Dutch interface.
Add a Condition. On the left, choose the dynamic content Outcome of the approval, in the middle is equal to, and type Approve on the right. This word is case sensitive.
In True, add the Outlook action Send an email (V2). Send an email to yourself with the subject Approved. Do the same in False, with the subject Rejected.
Save, click Test, choose Manually and enter some text. You now receive an approval request in Teams and by email.
Approve the request in Teams (the Approvals app) or with the button in the email. You receive the email Approved. Then test again and reject the request this time.
This is how the approver sees the request in Teams. Tap the image to enlarge. It shows the Dutch interface.

No request in Teams? Check your email, because the request arrives there as well. If you see nothing there either, check that the address under Assigned to is correct.

Request approvals via Teams and email

How does an approval work?

Step by step

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Request approvals via Teams and email

How does an approval work?

Step by step

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