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MC912181 Stay informedUpdated messageNew featureUser impact

Microsoft SharePoint: Add approvals to any document library

From Microsoft 365 Message Center Archive by Merill Fernando · Microsoft may not have sent this notice to your tenant.
SharePoint Online
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Rollout

Roadmap
420336

Rollout dates are often only in the text. When Microsoft moves them, the change shows under "What changed".

Schedule dates changed in the text

Date phrases in schedule sentences differ between the versions this installation saw
  • Seen 8 Apr 2025 late March 2025 → late April 2025
  • Seen 16 Jan 2025 early January 2025 → late January 2025
  • Seen 18 Dec 2024 early December 2024, late January 2024 → early March 2025
  • Seen 20 Nov 2024 early November 2024, late November 2024, late January 2025 → late January 2024, early January 2025, late March 2025
  • Seen 25 Oct 2024 late January 2024 → late January 2025

Read from date phrases in Microsoft's text, not from notice metadata. A changed phrase can be a moved rollout, a new milestone or just rewording; "What changed" below shows which.

What the notice says

Microsoft’s text, safely structured

Updated April 8, 2025: We have updated the rollout timeline below. Thank you for your patience.

As an extension to the previous communication MC757613 (Updated) Microsoft SharePoint: Add approvals to any SharePoint list (originally sent March 2024, updated August 2024), we will soon add approvals to document libraries in Microsoft SharePoint Online.

This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 420336.

When this will happen

Targeted Release: We will begin rolling out late January 2025 (previously early January) and expect to complete by early March 2025 (previously late January).

General Availability (Worldwide, GCC): We will begin rolling out early March 2025 (early January) and expect to complete by late April 2025 (previously late March).

How this will affect your organization

Before this rollout: Users are not able to add approvals to document libraries in SharePoint Online.

After this rollout, users will be able to configure approvals by going to the Automate dropdown menu from the command bar in SharePoint Online document libraries and then selecting the Configure Approvals option to enable and disable approvals on the library. Note: When editing files, any in-flight approvals will be cancelled if changes are saved. To discourage edits of in-progress approvals, files will open in view-only mode in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for the web, and the same Windows desktop applications will show that the document is Marked as final.

After approvals are enabled, a user can create a file and submit it for approval. By creating an approval request and specifying the approver, the request will appear in the Approvals app in Microsoft Teams or can be approved directly in the library in SharePoint. Once approved, the file metadata is updated.

Note: Disabling approvals will only hide the relevant columns. In-progress approvals will still be actionable in Teams. At any time, you can manually add approvals columns back into your views.

Configure approvals in SharePoint Online:

Enable configured approvals:

Approvals column:

Disable configured approvals:

This feature is on by default.

What you need to do to prepare

This rollout will happen automatically by the specified date with no admin action required before the rollout.

Inform your users of the new Approvals functionality for libraries and lists. Share the support documentation Approvals in lists, which will be updated before this rollout begins to include library support.

What changed

Between archive captures, newest first

  1. Updated January 16,April 8, 2025: We have updated the rollout timeline below. Thank you for your … out early March 2025 (early January) and expect to complete by late MarchApril 2025 (late January).(previously late March). How this will affect your organization: Before this rollout: Users are not …

  2. Updated December 18, 2024:January 16, 2025: We have updated the rollout timeline below. Thank you for your patience. … 420336. When this will happen: Targeted Release: We will begin rolling out earlylate January 2025 (previously early December)January) and expect to complete by early March 2025 (previously late January). General …

  3. Updated November 19,December 18, 2024: We have updated the rollout timeline below. Thank you for your … is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 420336. When this will happen: Targeted Release: We will begin rolling out early December 2024January 2025 (previously early November)December) and expect to complete by late January 2024early March 2025 (previously late November).  January). General Availability (Worldwide, GCC): We will begin rolling out early JanuaryMarch 2025 (early December)January) and expect to complete by late March 2025 (late January). How this …

    • Tags New feature, User impact → Updated message, New feature, User impact

    Updated November 19, 2024: We have updated the rollout timeline below. Thank you for your patience. As an extension to the previous communication MC757613 (Updated) Microsoft SharePoint: Add … is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 420336. When this will happen: Targeted Release: We will begin rolling out early NovemberDecember 2024 (previously early November) and expect to complete by late November 2024. January 2024 (previously late November).  General Availability (Worldwide, GCC): We will begin rolling out early December 2024January 2025 (early December) and expect to complete by late January 2025.March 2025 (late January). How this will affect your organization: Before this rollout: Users are not …

  5. … rolling out early December 2024 and expect to complete by late January 2024.2025. How this will affect your organization: Before this rollout: Users are not …

  6. · first version seen

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