Who can assign or unassign reviewers for an approval?

Owned by
Robert Alexander Marshall
Last updated: Dec 19, 2023
3 min read

Background

The ability of a user to (un)assign reviewers for each approval depends on

  • the approval configuration
  • the user permissions or whether the user has been assigned to the approval

Approval not assignable

If the approval is not assignable


Then nobody can be assigned to the approval using the workflow popup.



The workflow popup simply displays the approval Approve and Reject buttons.

  • a single user approval decision will transition the workflow

(info) The Approve and Reject buttons will be disabled if the user does not have edit permission for the content.

Assignable approval

If the approval is assignable


The workflow popup displays the + Add reviewer option together with the approval Approve and Reject buttons.



Only a user with edit permission OR assigned users with at least view permission can assign or unassign reviewers.



An assigned reviewer does NOT need edit permission to undertake the decision or assign or unassign reviewers.

(info) Note that an assigned reviewer does not have edit permission they cannot edit the content itself.

Preassigned reviewers

The workflow can be configured to assign reviewers on the transition to a review state.

Users can be preassigned when Users can be assigned through UI is checked in workflow builder for the approval.



The approval will still be assignable. The specified users are preassigned and as reviewers can assign/unassign reviewers.

Both preassigned and manually assigned reviewers do NOT need edit permission to undertake the approval decision or assign or unassign reviewers. Only view permission is required.

(warning) Choosing the Set all reviewers that have to approve option means that the approval is not assignable by anyone using the workflow popup.



The reviewer assignment can then only be changed by a space admin editing the workflow and the workflow transition to the approval state occurs.  A space admin can also initialize the workflow.

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