Power automate approval reminder

In this Power Automate tutorial, we will see how to automate approval reminders using Power Automate or Microsoft flow.

So, here we will create a Microsoft flow that will automate the approval process. And if you are waiting for a long time for the request to be approved, so it is possible to automate reminder for it.

Microsoft flow approval reminder

Here we will see how to create an Approval reminder using Microsoft Flow.

So, I have created a SharePoint list called Equipment request, here when the requestor(employee) submits a request for equipment like monitor, the approver(manager) gets a request via Outlook mail and Microsoft Teams.

If the approver approves (accept/reject) the request, then the requestor gets the response mail in Outlook and the request gets updated with the current status.

Sometimes, the requestor waits for a long time for approval, in that case, we will send the reminder mail to the approver by delaying a certain period of time.

Once the approver approves the request, the remainder gets stopped, the requestor gets the response mail and the request gets updated.

Create approval reminder using Microsoft flow

Here we will see the steps to create approval reminders using Power automate.

Step 1: Create a SharePoint Online List

So here I have created an Equipment request list in SharePoint Online having 6 columns with the required column type:

Column NameColumn type
Equipment Single line of text
Employee namePerson
CommentsMulti line text
StatusChoice
Request DateDate and time
ManagerPerson
Microsoft approval reminder
Power automate approval reminder
Power automate approval reminder

Once the SharePoint list is created, we will move towards the next step to create a flow.

Step 2: Create a Flow in Power Automate

Now we will create a flow for approval reminder, so when we wait for a long time for the request approval, we will send a reminder for approval request to the approver.

  • Log in to the Power Automate, then click on create from the navigation bar to create a new flow, then select Automated colud Flow.
Microsoft Power automate approval reminder
Microsoft Power automate approval reminder

Next, provide a name to the flow, then select a trigger i.e. When an item is created, to run the flow. Click on create.

Power automate approval workflow reminder
Power automate approval workflow reminder

Check out, Power Automate update the SharePoint list item

Step 3: When an item is created

In this step, we will provide the site address and list name in which you will arise a request.

Power automate approval reminder
Power automate approval reminder

In the next step, we will create a variable to indicate if the request is Approved.

Step 4: Create a variable to indicate if the request is approved

To create a variable click on the Next step, then add Initialize a variable.

Power automate approval task reminder
Power automate approval task reminder

Now we will provide the name of the variable, which will allow the flow to know if the request has been approved.

Then set the type to boolean and value to false from the expression. By default, we will set the value to false until the approver approves the request.

flow send approval reminder
flow send approval reminder

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Step 5: Create an approval

Click on the Next step to add an action i.e. Create an Approval.

Now provide the approval type i.e. custom responses-wait for one response. Next, response item 1 is approved and item 2 is rejected.

Then provide a title for approval, at last, add Assigned to, whom you want to assign (approver).

Power automate approval reminder email
Power automate approval reminder email

Step 6: Wait for an Approval

Click on the next step, to add an action i.e. Wait for an approval, which tells the flow to wait for approval from the earlier step(i.e. Create an approval).

So, provide an Approval id from the dynamic content i.e. Approval Id.

flow send reminder email approval
flow send reminder email approval

Step 7: Update the variable on request status

In this step we will set the approvedDone variable to true, this will indicate that we received a response(approve/reject) from the approver.

So, click on the Next step, then add an action Set variable.

Power automate approval reminder
Power automate approval reminder

Read Move files from OneDrive for Business to SharePoint Online

Step 8: Condition to check if the request is approved or rejected

Now we will check whether the request is approved or rejected, accordingly, we will send an email to the user/requestor then we will update the item in the SharePoint list.

So, click on the next step, then select Condition control, and set the outcome from dynamic content is equal to Approve.

Power automate approval reminder
Power automate approval reminder

If the condition Is true, that the request is approved, so it will run the if yes part.

We will add an Outlook email, to send an email to the requestor, your response is approved. For this click on Add an action in if yes part of the condition.

Power automate approval reminder
Power automate approval reminder

Then we will update the request in the SharePoint list, to update click on the Add an action.

And select Update item action, then provide site address, list name, id, title, and change the status value to approved.

Power automate approval reminder
Power automate approval reminder

If the condition is false then the request is rejected, so it will run if no part.

Similarly, send the email for rejection to the employee by adding an Outlook email action.

flow approval notifications
flow approval notifications

Similarly, update the request for rejection by clicking on Add an action and selecting update item.

Microsoft flow approval reminder
Microsoft flow approval reminder

Also, check out, Power Automate Replace

Step 9: Delay

Now, for the automated reminder process, we will create a parallel flow so that it will run at the same time as the approval process.

After creating an approval step, click on the plus icon -> select parallel branch.

Microsoft flow approval reminder
Microsoft flow approval reminder

Then select the Delay action. We will set the delay count for 1 day that means it will start executing the steps for 1 day. You want to test the automated reminder then you change the delay to 1 minute.

So set the count to 1 and unit to Day in delay action.

Microsoft flow approval reminder
Microsoft flow approval reminder

Read Microsoft Flow Example: Copy files from one SharePoint Online account or folder to another

Step 10: Create a loop to check the request is approved or not

In this step, to check if the request is completed, we will need to loop it using DO-until loop, to check the variable ‘approveDone’, which is set to true.

If ‘approvedDone’ is set to true, that means the request is completed and if the condition does not meet then we will continue to send reminders and wait.

Click on the next step, select Do until action, then set the variable(i.e. approvalDone) is equal to true.

Microsoft flow approval reminder
Microsoft flow approval reminder Do until

Step 11: Set a reminder

So here we will create an email with ‘Respond link’ from dynamic content because we are unable to resend the approval email to the approver. The ‘Respond link’ will help the approver to the approval page of Power Automate.

So inside the Do-until step, click on Add an action and select Outlook email. In the body part attach the respond link from dynamic content.

timing microsoft Power automate approval reminders
timing microsoft Power automate approval reminders

Next to email in Do-until loop add another delay action, and set the count to 1 and the unit to days.

Microsoft flow approval reminder Do until
Microsoft flow approval reminder Do until

Once your flow is ready, save the flow to test the flow manually.

Step 12: Run the Flow

To run the flow we will create an item/ arise a request in the SharePoint list.

So here user5 arise a request for ‘Monitor’, now your manager will get the request like below in Teams notification as well as an outlook email:

flow approval notifications
flow approval notifications

If your manager responds to the approval, then it is good or else your manager will get reminders by a defined period of time through outlook email like below:

power automate approval notifications
power automate approval notifications

Once the manager responds to the approval the employee will get the below email:

flow approval notifications
flow approval notifications

And also your item gets updated with the current status in the SharePoint list.

Microsoft flow approval reminder Do until
Microsoft flow approval reminder Do until

Also, you can check in Power automate whether your flow runs successfully or not.

power automate approval notifications
power automate approval notifications

In this Power automate tutorial, we learned about the Power Automate Approval reminder.

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  • Hi, am trying to send approval reminders for multiple approvers based on your approval remainder but however its not working, could you please help me?

    • Hi, I made it by adding just couple things. Here is how it goes:
      1. I have a “person” column with multiple selection. It is called “Reviewers”.
      2. In the flow is Variable: Name: “Approvers”; Type:String.
      3. Then I have a block “Apply to each”: output is “Reviewers”
      3. Inside that block is a Variable: Name:”Approvers”; Value: Reviewers Emails.
      This last “Approvers” variable I use to assign the approval request.

  • Hi, having an automated approval reminder for multiple reviewers how to set a remined only for people that did not respond to my PowerAutomate Approval request?
    At the moment my flow sends out reminder emails to all reviewers until all respond which leads to confusion and annoyance…

  • Never work for me , may be i am doing something stupid but how come it will be even go further , it keeps wait for Approval flow and does not go further to check for remainder , Sorry may be i am doing something stupid but this does help me 🙂

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