M365 Changelog: (Updated) Microsoft SharePoint: Add approvals to any SharePoint list

MC757613 – Updated April 25, 2024: Microsoft has updated the rollout timeline below. Thank you for your patience.

As previously communicated in MC525660 (Updated) SharePoint: New List Templates with Approvals (March 2023), Microsoft is expanding Approvals in lists in Microsoft SharePoint Online.

With this rollout, Approvals will soon be available in any list. Today, two list templates allow for approvals integration: content scheduler with approvals and travel requests with approvals. With this rollout, we’re expanding the ability to enable or disable approvals on any list.

When this will happen:

Targeted Release: Microsoft will begin rolling out mid-May 2024 (previously mid-April) and expects to complete by late May 2024 (previously early May).

General Availability (Worldwide, GCC): Microsoft will begin rolling out late May 2024 (previously early May) and expects to complete by mid-June 2024.

How this will affect your organization:

Users will be able to configure Approvals by going to the Automate dropdown from the command bar in SharePoint Online lists or in the Microsoft Lists app. Approvals will be actioned and available from Microsoft Teams. Note that disabling approvals will only hide the relevant columns and in-progress approvals will still be actionable in Teams. At any time, you can manually add approvals columns back into views.

After Approvals are enabled, a user can create a list item and submit it for approval. By creating an approval request and specifying the approver, the request will appear in the Approvals app in Teams or can be approved directly within the list. Once approved, the list item status is updated.

What you need to do to prepare:

Inform your users of the new Approvals functionality for lists and include Approvals in Lists – Microsoft Support in your end-user documentation and support process. Microsoft will update this message when it has revised Approvals in Lists – Microsoft Support to reflect the rollout.